TRAILER TRASH

An enthralling book that explores the depths of loyalty and life choices.

The term trailer trash is a popular media stereotype depicting beer-swigging, slow-witted, poor folks. Hanley draws heavily from this image as the foundation for his story, which combines elements of a coming-of-age novel with aspects of suspense and romance. The novel slowly unfolds the relationship of the narrator Billy, his cousin Leland and his best friend Eddie Ray, who all live in the Shady Oaks Trailer Park. As grade-school boys, the characters share the charms of an East Texas childhood. They swim naked in a nearby pond, go “crawdadin’ ” and take a camping trip where they shoot and roast a rabbit for dinner. But it’s not all innocent escapades. Each boy has trauma hovering over him. Billy’s mother left him while she rode around with her trucker boyfriend and never returned. Eddie Ray’s father is the town’s vicious drunk who beats and humiliates him. Leland is gay and feels forced to hide it in this small-minded, backwoods environment. Their misfortunes bond them and as well as dictate their paths. Hanley creates well-developed characters who draw readers in with fine details. For instance, Leland boasts feathered hair and a room plastered with Andy Gibb posters. The boys soon grow into young men who face the consequences of their friendship and loyalties. Eddie Ray protects Leland and sacrifices himself for Billy’s future. The plot twists and turns as the story reveals the connections between Billy’s bravery and the pain that each boy struggles to conceal. Some of the phrases and sentences in the book aren’t always sound. Hanley describes his town as nestled between crawfish boils and barbecued brisket, which demonstrates picturesque, if not entirely accurate wording. Beyond these wording flaws, the book flows with effective storytelling that captures the courage sometimes displayed in tragic lives.

An appealing slice of fiction about growing pains and poverty.