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Welcome to Trashland
Theo lives in a vast dumping ground got broken electronics in Ghana. He searches the trash for metal scraps to sell for cash, and dreams of going to school and escaping this harsh life. So when Emanuel turns up with talk of buried treasure, Theo sees a chance to get out of Trashland. But Emanuel draws the attention of a local gang, and Theo realises his new friend is keeping dangerous secrets…
122 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2021
About the author
Steve Cole
310 books109 followersAlso publishes as Stephen Cole.
Steve Cole is the slightly crazy, highly frantic, millions-selling, non-stop author of Astrosaurs, Cows In Action, Astrosaurs Academy, The Slime Squad, Z. Rex and many other books (including several original Doctor Who stories).
He used to edit magazines and books but prefers the job of a writer where you can wear pyjamas and eat chocolate all day.
Steve just can't stop writing - if he does, strange robots appear and jostle him vigorously until he starts again.
In his spare time he loves making music, reading old comics, thinking up ideas for new books and slumping in front of a warm TV.
Steve Cole is the slightly crazy, highly frantic, millions-selling, non-stop author of Astrosaurs, Cows In Action, Astrosaurs Academy, The Slime Squad, Z. Rex and many other books (including several original Doctor Who stories).
He used to edit magazines and books but prefers the job of a writer where you can wear pyjamas and eat chocolate all day.
Steve just can't stop writing - if he does, strange robots appear and jostle him vigorously until he starts again.
In his spare time he loves making music, reading old comics, thinking up ideas for new books and slumping in front of a warm TV.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 17, 2021
If I'm honest, I read this to my class as part of a whole school reading initiative and it fell flat with the kids. I like the environmental theme and focus on the Western world shipping rubbish to Africa, but the dialogue was quite flat and we didn't really sympathise with any of the characters as their personalities were not explored in depth!
June 30, 2021
Welcome To Trash Land is the latest environmentally themed release from children's publisher Barrington Stoke Books, and takes a look at the lesser known part of electronic waste and recycling; and how often it can lead to mass pollution, as well as to children living and working in dangerous conditions.
The story follows Theo, a young orphan boy who was left in Trashland, a huge electrical dump in Agbobloshie, Ghana. Having been abandoned by a father who promised he'd one day return for him, Theo spends his nights sleeping in an old shed with chickens, and his days scavenging through the piles of electrical waste looking for useful pieces of scrap metal that he can sell on for enough money to afford a meal for the day.
When Theo is approached by another boy, Emanuel, his life begins to change. Emanuel claims he needs Theo's help, that he has a map to a stash of treasure buried somewhere in Trashland by his older brother. At first Theo isn't sure whether to believe the boy or not, but as he ends up becoming more and more involved with Emanuel he becomes convinced that there really could be treasure buried out in the dump. Treasure that could change Theo's life forever.
We all know that the world is in trouble, that thanks to pollution and rampant destruction of environments that we don't have long left as a species, that our children and their children will be living in even worse circumstances. Most of us try to do something about this, even if it's only a little bit. We think that instead of putting something in the rubbish bin we can put it in the recycling bin and that helps, that solves a problem. This book, however, reveals how short sighted that idea is, and how even recycling isn't enough.
I had no idea places like this existed in the world. I know that there are mega-landfill's, places where we bury our rubbish in the ground and hope to forget about the problem, but I had no idea that happened to the majority of the things that we recycle too. And the fact that more 'developed' countries like the UK and the US simply ship their waste across the world to let the poorer people deal with it is frankly shameful.
Luckily, Welcome To Trash Land has some hope in it, as we get to see Theo trying his best to make a better life for himself and his friends. Theo is a character that feels like he should have lost all his hope; that he should be a kid who's spirit has been so crushed by where he is and how he's made to survive that he can't see anything else. But he has a strength of character and drive to do better that I'm not sure many would possess in his position. Even before Emanuel turns up talking about treasure and promising to make Theo rich enough to escape Trashland Theo is the kind of kid who still hopes for a better tomorrow.
Steve Cole manages to walk a really fine line between telling a story that is completely hopeless, where the reality of that's going on in the world is so crushing that you can't help but feel awful, yet also telling a story about the power of hope, of striving for something better and never giving in.
The book is also accompanied by a number of illustrations by Oriol Vidal, who provides both the gorgeous cover art for the book, as well as several illustrations throughout the course of the book. Vidal is able to bring a strange sense of beauty to an environment that s literal trash, and is able to convey the strangeness of a landscape where everything around you is rubbish.
Welcome To Trash Land is a book that confronts younger readers with the reality of the world, with how damaging human beings are to both the environment and other people; yet is doesn't drown its readers in sorrow, nor does it leave you feeling hopeless at the end. If anything, the book will make you want to get out there and do something, to try and make the world a bit better. And that's a hell of a message to give to future generations.
The story follows Theo, a young orphan boy who was left in Trashland, a huge electrical dump in Agbobloshie, Ghana. Having been abandoned by a father who promised he'd one day return for him, Theo spends his nights sleeping in an old shed with chickens, and his days scavenging through the piles of electrical waste looking for useful pieces of scrap metal that he can sell on for enough money to afford a meal for the day.
When Theo is approached by another boy, Emanuel, his life begins to change. Emanuel claims he needs Theo's help, that he has a map to a stash of treasure buried somewhere in Trashland by his older brother. At first Theo isn't sure whether to believe the boy or not, but as he ends up becoming more and more involved with Emanuel he becomes convinced that there really could be treasure buried out in the dump. Treasure that could change Theo's life forever.
We all know that the world is in trouble, that thanks to pollution and rampant destruction of environments that we don't have long left as a species, that our children and their children will be living in even worse circumstances. Most of us try to do something about this, even if it's only a little bit. We think that instead of putting something in the rubbish bin we can put it in the recycling bin and that helps, that solves a problem. This book, however, reveals how short sighted that idea is, and how even recycling isn't enough.
I had no idea places like this existed in the world. I know that there are mega-landfill's, places where we bury our rubbish in the ground and hope to forget about the problem, but I had no idea that happened to the majority of the things that we recycle too. And the fact that more 'developed' countries like the UK and the US simply ship their waste across the world to let the poorer people deal with it is frankly shameful.
Luckily, Welcome To Trash Land has some hope in it, as we get to see Theo trying his best to make a better life for himself and his friends. Theo is a character that feels like he should have lost all his hope; that he should be a kid who's spirit has been so crushed by where he is and how he's made to survive that he can't see anything else. But he has a strength of character and drive to do better that I'm not sure many would possess in his position. Even before Emanuel turns up talking about treasure and promising to make Theo rich enough to escape Trashland Theo is the kind of kid who still hopes for a better tomorrow.
Steve Cole manages to walk a really fine line between telling a story that is completely hopeless, where the reality of that's going on in the world is so crushing that you can't help but feel awful, yet also telling a story about the power of hope, of striving for something better and never giving in.
The book is also accompanied by a number of illustrations by Oriol Vidal, who provides both the gorgeous cover art for the book, as well as several illustrations throughout the course of the book. Vidal is able to bring a strange sense of beauty to an environment that s literal trash, and is able to convey the strangeness of a landscape where everything around you is rubbish.
Welcome To Trash Land is a book that confronts younger readers with the reality of the world, with how damaging human beings are to both the environment and other people; yet is doesn't drown its readers in sorrow, nor does it leave you feeling hopeless at the end. If anything, the book will make you want to get out there and do something, to try and make the world a bit better. And that's a hell of a message to give to future generations.
January 18, 2026
Steve Cole’s Welcome to Trashland, vividly illustrated by Oriol Vidal, is a powerful and urgent middle-grade novel that masterfully blends a heart-pounding treasure hunt with a sobering, vitally important exploration of the global e-waste crisis. This is adventure fiction with a profound conscience, set against the stark and unforgettable backdrop of Agbogbloshie, Ghana, one of the world’s largest electronic graveyards.
Theo is an instantly compelling protagonist. His daily life scouring toxic dumps for scrap metal to fund his dream of an education is portrayed with unflinching clarity and deep empathy. Cole never sensationalizes the hardship; instead, he grounds the story in Theo’s resilient hope and sharp intelligence, making his desperation to escape all the more palpable. When the mysterious Emmanuel arrives with promises of buried treasure, the plot kicks into high gear with the perfect hook for young readers.
What follows is a taut, suspenseful mystery. The threat of a local gang raises the stakes, and Theo’s growing suspicion that Emmanuel is hiding “dangerous secrets” creates a page-turning tension. Cole expertly weaves this thriller narrative with crucial environmental and social commentary. Young readers will be enthralled by the chase while unconsciously absorbing a critical lesson about the hidden, human cost of the digital age, the “toxic consequences of modern life” that are outsourced to the world’s most vulnerable.
The book is “particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8,” making it an accessible and impactful tool for building literacy and global awareness simultaneously. The mature content is handled with care, appropriate for starting deeper conversations.
Welcome to Trashland is more than just a story; it’s an invitation to see the world differently. It’s a call to adventure that reveals the resilience of the human spirit and the hidden connections of our planet. Thrilling, educational, and deeply moving, this is an essential and unforgettable read.
Theo is an instantly compelling protagonist. His daily life scouring toxic dumps for scrap metal to fund his dream of an education is portrayed with unflinching clarity and deep empathy. Cole never sensationalizes the hardship; instead, he grounds the story in Theo’s resilient hope and sharp intelligence, making his desperation to escape all the more palpable. When the mysterious Emmanuel arrives with promises of buried treasure, the plot kicks into high gear with the perfect hook for young readers.
What follows is a taut, suspenseful mystery. The threat of a local gang raises the stakes, and Theo’s growing suspicion that Emmanuel is hiding “dangerous secrets” creates a page-turning tension. Cole expertly weaves this thriller narrative with crucial environmental and social commentary. Young readers will be enthralled by the chase while unconsciously absorbing a critical lesson about the hidden, human cost of the digital age, the “toxic consequences of modern life” that are outsourced to the world’s most vulnerable.
The book is “particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8,” making it an accessible and impactful tool for building literacy and global awareness simultaneously. The mature content is handled with care, appropriate for starting deeper conversations.
Welcome to Trashland is more than just a story; it’s an invitation to see the world differently. It’s a call to adventure that reveals the resilience of the human spirit and the hidden connections of our planet. Thrilling, educational, and deeply moving, this is an essential and unforgettable read.
September 5, 2022
We all have to survive here however we can.
Theo is a trash picker, a child dealt a difficult hand who is just trying to make it from one day to the next. His days of finding scrap metal are routine, predictable. B that all changes the day a "treasure" map lands in his hands.
The writing is for its intended audience, reluctant and/or struggling readers. It is accessible, just over 100 pages, and the mature cover art will be welcomed by older readers who need a "just right" text. Another review mentioned how this book didn't land as a read aloud...I agree. It would definitely be better used for independent or partner reading. If you are in need of something more captivating with stronger writing, Trash by Andy Mulligan, is your book. Recommended for GR 5-7.
Theo is a trash picker, a child dealt a difficult hand who is just trying to make it from one day to the next. His days of finding scrap metal are routine, predictable. B that all changes the day a "treasure" map lands in his hands.
The writing is for its intended audience, reluctant and/or struggling readers. It is accessible, just over 100 pages, and the mature cover art will be welcomed by older readers who need a "just right" text. Another review mentioned how this book didn't land as a read aloud...I agree. It would definitely be better used for independent or partner reading. If you are in need of something more captivating with stronger writing, Trash by Andy Mulligan, is your book. Recommended for GR 5-7.
January 20, 2024
Theo and Gifty were way too nice to Emanuel. Some quotes I liked were ;
“So you take it to the dump and you go home and it stops being your problem. Instead , it becomes ours.”
“There’s only dirt to eat , but if you don’t eat it , you die.”
“Everything comes to Trashland broke. If it can’t be fixed , we have to help turn it into something new.”
“So you take it to the dump and you go home and it stops being your problem. Instead , it becomes ours.”
“There’s only dirt to eat , but if you don’t eat it , you die.”
“Everything comes to Trashland broke. If it can’t be fixed , we have to help turn it into something new.”
August 3, 2021
Whilst the storyline is good and it is eye-opening to hear about these places in the world, the language is definitely not suitable for the age range. Barrington Stoke claims it is for readers aged 8-12 and I wouldn't give this to my class of 10 year olds to read unfortunately.
April 28, 2025
The book's story didn't quite hook me, but Theo's discussion on sustainability through Reuse, Repair, and Recycle really caught my attention. His goal of reducing waste for a better future is inspiring.
March 31, 2022
Really good. Hoping it will be a good book to read aloud to my students.
August 7, 2022
a nice easy read, plus i learnt alot about parts of the world were broken things get stored
October 28, 2022
a light reading for kids and teenagers with a nice way to convey an important message to the young.
December 2, 2025
Of all the books I picked up from the library lately this is the one I have been putting off, but it turned out to be the best. A conspiracy mystery set in the most unlikely setting. I loved it.
February 13, 2026
Jätte bra fast man ville veta mer om Theo’s pappa❤️❤️❤️
September 27, 2026
Dyslexia friendly. ‘Bad’ language (jackass, crap, bitch, hell).
June 19, 2021
I really enjoyed the setting of this and found it to be a 'window' to another world/life-experience. But ultimately the plot didn't grip me and didn't connect with the characters. A good book but not a good fit for me.
September 11, 2024
Great message behind this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews