Synopses & Reviews
Survival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working.
Just when things seem worst, Sang Ly learns a secret about the ill-tempered woman they call "the rent collector" who comes demanding money--a secret that dates back to the Khmer Rouge and sets in motion a tide that will change the life of everyone it sweeps past.
The Rent Collector powerfully illustrates how literacy can change lives and how anyone can "rise from the ashes" in the most unlikely of places.
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"The written word offers hope for a brighter future in Wright's fact-based new novel. Wright's book…shimmers."—Publishers Weekly
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"A beautifully told story about the perseverance of the human spirit and the importance of standing up for what is right."—Booklist
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"Through Sang Ly and the rent collector, readers will discover a wealth of insights: the lingering ravages of war, the common bonds of humanity, and the uplifting power of literature."—School Library Journal
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“An amazing piece of literature, a must read for every book club!”
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“Compelling, insightful, and engaging.” —Wendy Ulrich,
New York Times bestselling author
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“Stunning! A passionately poignant work.” — A. Todd Smith, Emmy-winning director
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ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Gold Award
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Great Southwest Book Festival Honorable Mention
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Utah Book Award Finalist 2014
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Whitney Awards Best General Fiction Novel 2012
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Nominated for the International Impac Dublin Literacy Award
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"Working as “pickers,” Sang Ly and her husband, Ki Lim, earn their living by sifting through the trash at Stung Meanchey, Cambodia’s large city dump…An unlikely friendship blossoms between the two women, and Sang Ly learns that the Rent Collector’s gruff exterior hides unspeakable personal tragedies and a life shattered by the Khmer Rouge. Undergirding Sang Ly’s literary journey is the support and care of the Stung Meanchey community, illustrating how beauty can be found in even the ugliest of places. Drawn from the real lives of the residents of Stung Meanchey, this is a beautifully told story about the perseverance of the human spirit and the importance of standing up for what is right. This inspirational multicultural story will strike a chord with teen readers."—Booklist
About the Author
Camron Wright is the author of the international bestseller Letters for Emily. It was a Reader's Choice award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. He holds a master's degree in writing and public relations. Camron lives with his wife, Alicyn, in Utah. They are the parents of four children.