Refuse Generation

What identifies us in a world where the traditional foundations of identity are crumbling? This question means everything to Ferrari Auva’a. Although he has never been outside New Zealand and only speaks English, his ancestry identifies him as Samoan while culturally he identifies with the U.S. and Europe. But if he doesn’t know who he is, at least Ferrari knows what he is: a rubbish collector. It’s his job. Then rubbish collection gives Ferrari a chance to define his identity—though doing so will test all his resources of insight and courage. A letter he finds in the trash describing the finding of Roman codices sets Ferrari off on a dangerousjourney that will take him to the remote reaches of New Zealand and to ancient ruins in Italy. What he discovers may just help him decide who he is.