Ship Breaker

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Publisher: Little, Brown Books         

Year: 2010

ISBN: 9780316056212

In this post-apocalyptic adventure the main character, Nailer, is a light crew worker stripping copper wire from the inside of stranded old, oil tankers. His days are filled with back breaking work, lack of food, and the almost impossible task of evading his abusive father. In this violent world where most people will do anything for money and “family” are those that watch your back, Nailer is just trying to survive. When a super storm leaves a “swank” ship wrecked upon the beach a lone survivor will live or die depending on the choices Nailer makes. Will he let his friend Pima slit the girl’s throat so they can claim salvage or will he help the beautiful, rich, girl find her people and perhaps change Nailer’s fortunes forever? Complex characters with multilayered personalities, untenable choices, and futuristic dog men make Bacigalupi’s gritty look into the future of Earth a compelling read that you won’t put down until the very end. 

Awards/Reviews:

Exciting and sometimes violent, this book will appeal to older fans of Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" series (S & S) and similar action-oriented science fiction. School Library Journal

Starred Review: Vivid, brutal, and thematically rich, this captivating title is sure to win teen fans for the award-winning Bacigalupi. Booklist

Connections:

Encourage students to use descriptions of the characters in the story to become “sketch artists”. Have them create impressions of characters who have distinctive physical descriptions (scars, tattoos, piercings, clothing, hair, facial features, etc.: Nailer, Richard Lopez, Pima, Moon Girl, Nita, Tool and the half-men, Lucky Strike, etc.

Sadna opens the last chapter of the book by reminding Nailer that “killing always costs.” Elaborate on this quote for characters such as Nailer, Sloth, Richard Lopez, Sadna, Lucky Strike, and Tool.