GARBAGE TOWN

Set in the late 1990s on Staten Island, a group of local teens “Victory Boys” and a special new outsider experience some unusual activity in the Fresh Kills Landfill, the largest landfill in the world. Waste management is big business, and City of Travis Mob is very much into the action. Local politicians wield their influence to use the landfill to its greatest advantage. Teens Rajiv Patel and Valery Ivanicki, along with Georgia Bazemore from the Mississippi Delta, discover some extremely upsetting information associated with the landfill and struggle with how to try to make things better.

Just a really good story about teenagers growing up, loyalty, family, making tough decisions. Lots of good 1990s references - music, movies, clothes, and a terrific feel for the locale. Very enjoyable, fresh and original.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Ravi Gupta, and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

One of the most engaging stories in a long time, the pacing, the gritty reality, the characters all made this tale great. SA Cosby comes to mind but can’t explain why, just take the compliment for what it is

This was a very good book. It was well-written. At times, it was hard to read, but the resolve of people was astonishing. It's amazing how people can survive.

I wanted to like this book. I completely understood The Outsiders comparison, and I loved the modern setting with diverse characters. However, I got a little bored. I didn't understand the point of the love triangle (insta love was just way too much on Raj's side). Raj felt a little one-dimensional, to be honest. I couldn't connect with the characters.

I read this book much faster than I was expecting to. I enjoy a good coming-of-age story, especially ones set in the 1990s. The author excelled at bringing the setting and the time period to life. From small details relating to pop culture and clothing, to larger details surrounding the environment and typical ways of thinking about things, the 1990s and Fresh Kills came to life, creating an immersive read.

The characters were also well written. The teens avoided much (all?) of the angst and off-putting character traits that often get included in YA books. Part of what made the characters feel so strong was how well the author included conflict between the characters, internal conflicts within the individual characters, and wove it together with the plot-driving conflicts.

While this is a YA read, it is quite strong, and I think readers of adult fiction could likely enjoy it still. My thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Great characters and good story. This is an intriguing and adventurous coming og age story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you to netgalley for the arc and a chance to provide my review. The Victory Boys gave off 'Outsiders' vibes. The book followed suit hooking me in the prologue. I enjoyed the story told from Raj's perspective and how everything played out. I am still on the fence about a few characters but overall a great coming of age story for the lower middle class kids of the 90's.

A captivating read. I did not know what to expect with this book but it was entertaining and kept me wanting to read.
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own

Just ok for me. The story had promise but just felt like a student essay at times. I did not feel that the ending felt wrapped up relative to the beginning of the book. The author obviously and drive to write and a good idea for a story.

Ravi Gupta has written a novel that both adults and teens can enjoy. Taking place in the late 90’s, it focuses on a group of teens who get themself entrenched with the local mafia. True to the real story, it is centered around Staten Island, with the main focus on the largest dump site in New York, Fresh Kills. The main character, Raj, finds himself in a huge bind when he meets a girl named Georgia, and they are chased into Fresh Kill trying to evade a rival gang. What they witness, is a young woman being murdered by a couple of mafia goons. Knowing they can’t save her, Raj, is left with a secret from her, that leads the rest of the story into organized crime, corruption of the local authorities, and a hidden secret that has led to the deaths of many people due to Fresh Kills
There is action and deep friendships made between Georgia and Raj, who holds a terrible secret of her own.
I enjoyed the writing and the characters. Raj was smart and brave learning life lessons to not be fearful of taking on the wrongs of society.
Overall, it was a pretty good book and I will read another by this author.

There aren't too many thrillers set in Staten Island, and in particular the Travis neighborhood that abuts the once infamous Fresh Kills landfill. True to its name, it is rumored to contain the final resting place of many criminals. The novel is set in the 1990s, and concerns two social groups: the teens that are trying to get through life and high school and the mobster adults that operate in the area. The bonds formed by the teens come and go as one of them takes a job with the mob, and the adults just seem to ... well, go away to parts unknown. The dialog and characters on both seem realistic and engaging, and this is one of those mysteries where you find out the characters' motivations and how they can live with the lives they have chosen. I found it a great and fast read and highly recommended.

I received this ARC from Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGalley for an honest review. The story takes place during the summer of 1999 in Staten Island in the town of Travis. A group of “dump rats” from the local school formed a friendship while living next to the town dump called Fresh Kills. Val , Georgia and Raj witnessed a young woman being murdered by the local mafia thugs. Before she is killed, the stranger asks the kids to go to her house , get her computer and give it to the proper authorities. She has some damaging evidence against the mafia leaders and wants the kids to help put the crime bosses and mobsters behind bars. The mafia runs the dump with its illegal dumping, cancer causing waste disposal and toxic waste. The story starts slowly and introduces many different characters and plots. As the book progresses, it gets very interesting and very good. . I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it ended.

The synopsis of this book sounded interesting but unfortunately it just didn't deliver for me. It reads like a YA novel, not something I read a lot. The characters were minimally constructed, I found myself wanting to know more about them than was provided. It was also implausible, high school kids working for the mafia? Really? I will give the author points for an original setting, and the main character was quite likable and amusing.

Taking place on Staten Island during late 90s is a group of teens who unearth buried secrets in Staten Island’s Fresh Kills landfill — the largest landfill in the world. This is a coming-of-age thriller debut that is full of adventure and intrigue. We meet sixteen-year-old, Raj Patel, along with his group of friends, called the Victory Boys, who find themselves entangled in the web of the Staten Island crime family. Genre is YA but I recommend for adults as well. The story is gripping and full of wit, the characters are compelling and believable, and some will pull at your heartstrings.

Garbage Town by Ravi Gupta is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that takes you on an emotional journey through the complexities of life in a marginalized community. Gupta’s writing is vivid and immersive, bringing the gritty yet hopeful setting to life. I was particularly drawn to the way he portrays his characters—each one feels incredibly real, with their own struggles, dreams, and flaws. The narrative is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as it explores themes of poverty, resilience, and the search for dignity in an often unforgiving world. Gupta’s ability to balance social commentary with deeply personal stories is what really makes this book stand out. It’s an unforgettable read that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

3.5/5. Well written and engaging for a YA coming of age novel, but it the depth of the characters and solidarity with community still struck me as superficial.

This book was like a breath of fresh air. As soon as I saw that it was set in the 90’s I knew I wanted to read it. I loved the friendship between the characters as it reminded me of my own friendships. This was a really good read and I’d definitely recommend others give it a try!

Thank you to Green Leaf Book Group Press and the author for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I picked up *Garbage Town* with curiosity and left with mixed emotions. The book is a raw and quirky dive into a community teetering on the edge of chaos and charm. Ravi Gupta does an excellent job painting vivid characters—some lovable, some downright infuriating—who all feel real enough to step out of the pages. I could imagine their voices, their mannerisms, and their personal struggles, which added a lot of depth.

The story explores big themes like resilience, environmental neglect, and the idea of redemption, but at times, it felt like the narrative tried to juggle too much. Some plot points came across as rushed or underdeveloped, leaving me wishing Gupta had lingered longer on certain moments. The pacing, too, fluctuated—there were stretches where I felt completely captivated, but then others where I had to push through.

Still, I can't deny how unique this book felt. It has a distinct tone that's both humorous and unapologetically gritty, which I appreciated. It also challenges the reader to consider what makes a community worth saving, and it does so in a way that's unconventional but impactful.

I wouldn't say *Garbage Town* is perfect, but it left enough of an impression that I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something fresh and a little outside the mainstream. A solid 3.5 stars—it’s not pristine, but it’s got a lot of heart!

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3PY4FIWF8PHJG/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This will go down as one of my favorite books of 2025.
I love coming of age stories that aren't your normal, everyday, perfect childhood. This story has so much depth and drama..
Highly recommend