GARBAGE TOWN by Ravi Gupta

Who can they trust in a hall of mirrors?

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. I throughly enjoyed this debut by Ravi Gupta and look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the ebook

The title of this story did not grab me but the story definitely did. Raj is a kid who lives near the dump and has seen some pretty terrible things as a guy who really doesn't fit into any of the good groups. But when he and his friends are chased into the dump by the neighborhood bullies, the situation goes from bad to worse. The story was one that holds the reader's attention, as he goes from townie to mob accountant, but can he remember where he came from and save himself?

The comparisons to Stand By Me and The Goonies were valid. This was a nostalgic read for me, as a child of the nineties, and I suspect it will be popular with others my age.

Garbage Town by Ravi Gupta was a fast-paced story about a place in NY called Garbage Town. Teenagers by sheer accident stumble into a dangerous, deadly event that will change their lives forever. Who can they trust? And what will it take to stay alive?
I was engaged and liked the flow and plot. I thought it was written well.
Thanks, Greenleaf Book Group Press via NetGalley.

Garbage Town by Ravi Gupta is an impressive debut novel about a group of teens growing up near the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, New York. Raj and Val are best friends who, along with newcomer Georgia, are just trying to get by and stay out of the way of rival groups of teens. One night they accidentally witness something they wish they hadn't, and soon the local mafia is on their tail. Can a group of ragtag teens stand a chance taking on a serious crime family? Soon the kids are in over their heads and hoping to stay alive as they find the answer to that question.

The characters are so incredibly developed that I didn't want the story to end. I rooted for Raj and Val and their entire group of buddies who are rough around the edges to say the least. These are kids who come from tough backgrounds but are essentially trying to do the right thing by standing up for themselves, their families and their community. The pacing is intense and the plot is tight. I found the narrative to be compelling, as I had a hard time putting it down. This book will have wide appeal to teens and adults who will appreciate the 1990's nostalgia. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I will recommend this to teens and adults who like to read mysteries about gritty teens who face adversity.

Thank you to Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This isn’t a book I’d normally pick up as a primarily romance reader, but I’m so glad I did! Garbage Town is a book you can read in one sitting, which has been much needed for me lately as l've been in a huge reading slump. The plot is fast-paced, captivating, and kept me hooked through the very end! I loved all the characters and the found family vibes of their friend group. This is set in the 90s, which added an almost nostalgic element I enjoyed.
My only slight complaint was that there were a few side plots that got lost as the main plot picked up, and I would've loved to see those explored more since I was so invested in everything happening in this book! However, this is an absolutely killer debut novel and I'm a huge fan. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and quick read!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy! This book is an excellent demonstration of how setting, place, and environment can really set a scene that is at once foreboding and enticing. Experiencing this story through the perspectives of these protagonists was a wonderful journey. The writing was so evocative, and the reader really doesn’t know who to root for, which makes for a great experience.

First, although I received this as an ARC kindle version, I am purchasing this as a hardcover!

Raj and his friends grew up near a landfill known as Fresh Kills. He and his friends stumble upon a kidnapping and try to help. As a last request, she begs him to find her laptop and not let it fall into anyone's hands. Instead, he turns it into the mob and not only is given a lower level job, but loses the girl he has a crush on and his best friend, also witnesses to the failed rescue.

This begins a year of Raj trying to learn how to protect those he loves, and make fast money with the mob, until he is faced with another dilemma. . .
Should he go to the police?
Should he continue with the mob and ignore what was on the computer?
Should he let go of his friends who no longer talk to him?

During this time, the police have found a skull and are looking for the rest of the body and the killer. Raj has to decide who he can trust, which of the police are affiliated with the mafia? He has to decide how much to tell and how much to hold back so he won't get in trouble with the police or the mafia.

Garbage Town is a thrilling ride.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely 3.75 stars.
Absolutely loved the plot and setting. It was tense at the right moments, and yet still had a coming of age charm when appropriate. I honestly could not stop reading. I also like how it grapples with the main characters conflict, and real world issues the connection between the environment and illness.
Didn’t super like chapter one after the prologue. It was unnecessary and I would rather just get straight to the story after the prologue. Seemed like it was just there to show how intense later parts were going to be, but I think the prologue does that job well enough. I also think one issue is some of the references to the 90s. Some of them are strong and really help the setting, but this book is YA and I can’t imagine modern day teens will understand all the references and there’s just so many.
However like I said I honestly could not put it down. 10/10 plot.

Sixteen year old Raj Patel and his buddies clash with mobsters in Garbage Town, a coming-of-age tale with the backdrop of the Fresh Kill landfill in Staten Island, NY. The world’s largest dump plays a prominent part in this highly entertaining, if implausible story of a group of friends who become entangled with a Staten Island crime family after being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The plot is straightforward, as the Victory Boys, as Raj’s gang is called, try to stay one step ahead of the mafia, as well as the cops and other various hazards. The colorful cast of characters propels this novel, which is basically a “Goonies meets Goodfellas” meld, is a quick read, and was unexpectedly better than anticipated, with sharp writing and witty dialogue. Overall, definitely enjoyed this one. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book is certainly worthwhile. The insight into how carefully all the bits and pieces of life were handled and cataloged after 9/11 was nothing short of the best of the best. I really appreciated the reminder of how beautifully all of that was handled.

And of course the insight into overworked policemen, bureaucratic red tape and hopelessness in the lives of the residents of Staten Island was very sad. It's been a while since I've read a teenage coming of age book so looking at the lives of young teens in 2001 was highly depressing.

Just as there was a lot to sift through from the Twin Towers, there's a lot to sift through in this book - a lot that is highly worthwhile and a lot that I chose to skip over.

A well written, original story line, with the theme of the health risks in a small town from the largest landfill outside New York city. This book contained all the elements of a propelling story. You connected with the characters and their mission to uncover the truth, and the moral complexities. The storyline kept you engaged and reading on from page one to the end. I would be interested in reading more works of fiction by this author. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a very good coming of age/mystery book. Parts of it I absolutely loved:characters, plot but the pacing left me with a little whiplash. The begging and the epilogue needed mote. The crime needed more of the police background.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a coming of age, mafia, suspense novel with fascinating characters, a well paced plot, and a few surprise twists. I literally could not put this down, I read it straight through in one day. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an advance reader copy.

Garbage Town by Ravi Gupta takes us to the Fresh Kills landfill and in the middle of a murder by the mob. Raj, a sixteen year old, and his friends are struggling to discover the truth while staying alive. The story takes place in the 90s and is reminiscent of Stand By Me and The Outsiders.

I recommend this book for mystery and new adult readers. It’s a captivating story full of grit, courage, and insurmountable odds. The characters feel so real and the situations so dire that you will be fighting for the underdog all the way.

Thank you Greenleaf Book Group and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Can you say Alex Award? A tale with teen protagonists just trying to survive in a small world with big mobster men. I really loved so many things about this. The characters were so interesting, I only wish I knew more about all of them. Especially for the fact that we found out the most intriguing information about one of them nearly at the end. So many feels toward the Victory Boys. Worth the read!

As a lover of HBO's "The Sopranos", I figured I was due reading a novel that revolves around a crime family. And I am so glad this was my first read of this subgenre.

In Gupta's "Garbage Town", a perfectly mismatched group of Staten Island teens encounter a dark truth and face impossible circumstances that will put their lives at risk, but is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The stakes only keep getting higher and higher, which made this book unputdownable and I lost sleep over it.... Definitely recommend it!

Although, I do wish the novel took a little bit more time to develop our characters, and wish we spent more time with the Victory Boys as well.

Gritty and gripping, this story’s complex characters and compelling plot make it hard to put down. The ending felt too abrupt, but otherwise, the pacing is great. The setting and story are fascinating. Even though the tale is fictional, it has enough echoes of true evils that it could be perfect to discuss with a book club - or a class of college students or mature high-schoolers. I think just about anyone will enjoy this story if you can stomach its darker aspects. It is going to stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

This review is cross-posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon upon the book’s publication.

A very interesting and fun coming-of-age story set in the ‘90s! I always enjoy coming-of-age stories where the setting feels just as much a main character as the people in the story. This one is no exception, with its unique backdrop of a Staten Island dump—an almost post-apocalyptic landscape that adds to the atmosphere.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.