The Garbage King is a 2003 children's fiction book written by Elizabeth Laird and illustrated by Yosef Kebede.

Mamo goes with a man who claims to be his Uncle Merga but is in fact probably one of his deceased mother's lovers.

Dani's mother is sick and flew to London, England, to receive better medical care.

At the same time, Mamo escapes from the farmer after attempting suicide caused by physical abuse and hitch-hikes back together join a gang of beggar street boys.

Their nicknames are Million (The Joviro or gangmaster), Shoes, Getachew, Buffalo and Karate.