Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Bac
Series
Collection
Publication
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2011), Edition: Reprint, 352 pages
Description
In a futuristic world, teenaged Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.
Media reviews
Bacigalupi is a highly acclaimed adult sci-fi writer, and Ship Breaker won last year's prestigious Printz award for young-adult fiction in the US. It's a taut, disciplined novel, moving with tremendous coiled energy and urgency. I found it a tad colourless in places, but Nailer is a fine hero,
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complicated and questioning, always wondering whether he's doomed to inherit his father's failings or whether he can make his own destiny.
Which is, of course, the essential question of every dystopia. And basically the essential question of every teenager, too. Why do teenagers like dystopias? Simple. They're looking for proof that there's a way to survive the one in which they're already living. Show Less
Original publication date
2010-05-01
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User reviews
LibraryThing member grizzly.anderson
Ship Breaker is set in the not too far, but far enough, future, when the world is basically out of oil, a new category of "city killer" (category 6) hurricane exists, run-of-the-mill hurricanes are a monthly occurrence, and New Orleans and it's two successors have been wiped off the map.
In this
Into his struggle comes a category 6 hurricane, a wreck of a fabulous clipper ship, and with it a beautiful young heiress caught up in a family/business power struggle, surrounded and beset by her political/business/familial enemies. Nailer brings her into his 'crew', loses her to her pursuers, rescues her, and wins a better life for himself and his closest family (who are not his blood relatives).
Described that way, it is kind of obvious that Ship Breaker is a Young Adult adventure novel to appeal to teen aged boys. But I confess the thought didn't even occur to me until I was reading an interview with Bacigalupi at the end of the novel. There are the YA novels that you read as a kid and love, but don't stand up to time. The characters, ideas, and the writing just don't cut it a decade or three along. Ship Breaker is not one of those novels. Nothing about the language or the story telling is "juvenile" and the fact that the protagonist is a boy makes him no less compelling to an adult audience.
There are lots of elements in the story that could be explored much more in the future, such as the genetically engineered "half men" (a combination of dog, tiger, human and other bits) which come across in no small way like the slaves of the antebellum American South. In fact part of Nailer's journey evoked memories of Huck Finn and Jim.
But the main theme is family and loyalty, and brutally brings home the point that blood relationship where no loyalty exists is no family. Nailer's journey is to shake himself free of that notion and to gather to himself true family. Unlike The Windup Girl, which has no heroes, and leaves the world more bleak and despairing by the end, Ship Breaker says that even when held fast in economic, environmental, social, and personal tragedy there is family, and friendship, and hope.
In this
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setting, along a beach on the Gulf Coast we have Nailer, a boy somewhere in his early to mid teens working "light crew", pulling valuable copper wiring and such out of old discarded freighters. A ship breaker, of the kind you might see or hear about right now along the Indian Ocean, and living in squalor and hopeless economic slavery.Into his struggle comes a category 6 hurricane, a wreck of a fabulous clipper ship, and with it a beautiful young heiress caught up in a family/business power struggle, surrounded and beset by her political/business/familial enemies. Nailer brings her into his 'crew', loses her to her pursuers, rescues her, and wins a better life for himself and his closest family (who are not his blood relatives).
Described that way, it is kind of obvious that Ship Breaker is a Young Adult adventure novel to appeal to teen aged boys. But I confess the thought didn't even occur to me until I was reading an interview with Bacigalupi at the end of the novel. There are the YA novels that you read as a kid and love, but don't stand up to time. The characters, ideas, and the writing just don't cut it a decade or three along. Ship Breaker is not one of those novels. Nothing about the language or the story telling is "juvenile" and the fact that the protagonist is a boy makes him no less compelling to an adult audience.
There are lots of elements in the story that could be explored much more in the future, such as the genetically engineered "half men" (a combination of dog, tiger, human and other bits) which come across in no small way like the slaves of the antebellum American South. In fact part of Nailer's journey evoked memories of Huck Finn and Jim.
But the main theme is family and loyalty, and brutally brings home the point that blood relationship where no loyalty exists is no family. Nailer's journey is to shake himself free of that notion and to gather to himself true family. Unlike The Windup Girl, which has no heroes, and leaves the world more bleak and despairing by the end, Ship Breaker says that even when held fast in economic, environmental, social, and personal tragedy there is family, and friendship, and hope.
Show Less
LibraryThing member crochetbunnii
Nailer works as a ship breaker on the grounded and abandoned oil tankers strewn across the oil-soaked coast of New Orleans where he strips the copper wire from the ancient vessels. The climate is awful and most people struggle to survive, except those who live in the wealthy north and use fast and
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sleek clipper ships to transport goods. Nailer stumbles upon a wrecked Clipper and while in the process of looting the ship to buy his freedom, he finds a wealthy girl still alive aboard the ship. Deciding to save her, Nailer is thrown into the middle of a struggle to overthrow one of the largest shipping companies in the world. Will he get the girl back to her wealthy father, will she reward him as she has promised to do, and will Nailer ever make it off the beach and away from his abusive and drug-addicted father? Show Less
LibraryThing member EBT1002
I don't read YA lit. And my experience with SiFi is limited to decades-ago readings of [The Martian Chronicles], [Dune], and [The Left Hand of Darkness]. I enjoyed all of them, but the genre didn't stick.
So, reading this for my new RL book group was an exercise in the interest of social
The story is set about 100 years from now. It's a mildly dystopic exploration of what the world might be like when three things have come about: the rise of the oceans (resulting in drowned coastal cities, most notably New Orleans), the accompanying development of regular Category 6 hurricanes, and the near-complete depletion of oil for fuel. Unlike my notion of other dystopic futuristic novels, Bacigalupi's vision doesn't involve a few straggling human survivors desperately trying to survive. There are plenty of humans still inhabiting the earth and they are doing all the things that humans tend to do: exploiting one another, fighting over resources, engaging in business practices designed to make money, and -- sometimes -- loving and taking good care of one another. Their contempt for those of us who lived in "the Accelerated Age" is probably well-placed given the earth they have inherited. And this is what I loved about the novel: how realistic it seemed to be. I mean, there were bits of the fantastical (the "half-men" count as one of these -- creatures genetically engineered from humans, dogs, tigers, and some fourth animal that I'm not remembering), but the world is still very recognizable. The people rely largely on wind and solar power, but there are biodiesel fueled engines used to advance the work of those renewable sources (e.g., to raise the sails on a ship).
The novel follows a classic boy meets girl, boy considers killing girl, boy saves girl, boy loves girl plot line, but it's the vision of the future that I found interesting. Nailer, our hero, is a "Ship Breaker," using his small frame to root around in old wrecked oil tankers searching for salvage: copper, brass, steel, anything that can be sold for a bit of China red cash. Early in the novel, he falls into a pocket of oil in one of these now-useless ships, and the description of his experience as he tries desperately to escape is a wonderful, heartbreaking look at the experience marine animals must have when caught in one of our deadly oil spills. As Nailer seeks to escape his brutal drunk of a father and to help Nita, the girl he finds on a wrecked wind-powered clipper, get back to her people, he faces a variety of moral dilemmas and (of course) tends to make the right choices. That is, he tends to be led by compassion rather than be greedy self-interest. Still, he is no patsy and when it might be a matter of his life or, say, his father's, I was glad to watch him demonstrate some strength of will.
So, reading this for my new RL book group was an exercise in the interest of social
Show More
interaction. Halfway through, I set it aside for more meaty fare, but I found myself thinking about the story, wondering where it was going next. So I picked it back up and I'm glad I did. The story is set about 100 years from now. It's a mildly dystopic exploration of what the world might be like when three things have come about: the rise of the oceans (resulting in drowned coastal cities, most notably New Orleans), the accompanying development of regular Category 6 hurricanes, and the near-complete depletion of oil for fuel. Unlike my notion of other dystopic futuristic novels, Bacigalupi's vision doesn't involve a few straggling human survivors desperately trying to survive. There are plenty of humans still inhabiting the earth and they are doing all the things that humans tend to do: exploiting one another, fighting over resources, engaging in business practices designed to make money, and -- sometimes -- loving and taking good care of one another. Their contempt for those of us who lived in "the Accelerated Age" is probably well-placed given the earth they have inherited. And this is what I loved about the novel: how realistic it seemed to be. I mean, there were bits of the fantastical (the "half-men" count as one of these -- creatures genetically engineered from humans, dogs, tigers, and some fourth animal that I'm not remembering), but the world is still very recognizable. The people rely largely on wind and solar power, but there are biodiesel fueled engines used to advance the work of those renewable sources (e.g., to raise the sails on a ship).
The novel follows a classic boy meets girl, boy considers killing girl, boy saves girl, boy loves girl plot line, but it's the vision of the future that I found interesting. Nailer, our hero, is a "Ship Breaker," using his small frame to root around in old wrecked oil tankers searching for salvage: copper, brass, steel, anything that can be sold for a bit of China red cash. Early in the novel, he falls into a pocket of oil in one of these now-useless ships, and the description of his experience as he tries desperately to escape is a wonderful, heartbreaking look at the experience marine animals must have when caught in one of our deadly oil spills. As Nailer seeks to escape his brutal drunk of a father and to help Nita, the girl he finds on a wrecked wind-powered clipper, get back to her people, he faces a variety of moral dilemmas and (of course) tends to make the right choices. That is, he tends to be led by compassion rather than be greedy self-interest. Still, he is no patsy and when it might be a matter of his life or, say, his father's, I was glad to watch him demonstrate some strength of will.
Show Less
LibraryThing member amandacb
I couldn't stomach The Windup Girl, but I was pleasantly surprised by Bacigalupi's dystopic version of our future in Ship Breaker. It's bleak yet entirely comprehensible; our protagonist is likeable and believable. Some of Bacigalupi's overwrought similes were distracting, but overall it was
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well-written and paced nicely. Show Less
LibraryThing member kukulaj
Good fun. I gather it is classified as young adult fiction, but I don't see why beyond the ages of the main characters.
It's a very nice picture of an age when the ocean has risen maybe 50 feet. Lots of desperate people but then lots of privileged people too. Some advanced technology but more just
I read through this in a day. It's a genuine page turner. Nice plot twists and turns, nice ways to bring things together, paths diverging and converging.
No profound philosophical reflection here, but good action set in a thoughtfully put together situation.
It's a very nice picture of an age when the ocean has risen maybe 50 feet. Lots of desperate people but then lots of privileged people too. Some advanced technology but more just
Show More
adaptations to the difficult circumstances. No miraculous cures for our ills. I read through this in a day. It's a genuine page turner. Nice plot twists and turns, nice ways to bring things together, paths diverging and converging.
No profound philosophical reflection here, but good action set in a thoughtfully put together situation.
Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
This combination YA dystopia and adventure story is a rip-roaring good read, as well as a sober look at a post-apocalyptic world resulting from environmental havoc that doesn't sound far-fetched.
Nailer, the protagonist, is 15 or so (he isn’t sure) and is a ship breaker on a scavange gang. In
Nailer’s mother is dead, and his father, Richard Lopez, is a violent, amphetamine-addicted thug who beats him regularly. But note the beauty of this passage in which Nailer compares his father's rages with the furious tempests that now regularly blow in from the ocean:
"…Nailer could tell that dangerous gears were turning now, fueled by the rattle of drugs and anger and whatever madness caused his father’s bouts of frenzied work and brutality. Underneath the man’s tattooed features a storm was brewing, full of undertows and crashing surf and water spouts, the deadly weather that buffeted Nailer every day as he tried to navigate the coastline of his father’s moods.”
Nailer’s salvation is another family – Pima, his crewmate, and her mother Sadna, who has healing skills. They provide the acceptance and refuge that Nailer lacks in his own life with his father. As Nailer realized:
"The blood bond was nothing. It was the people that mattered. If they covered your back, and you covered theirs, then maybe that was worth calling family. Everything else was just so much smoke and lies.”
Nailer and the other “Beach Rats” know they could never hope to bridge the chasm between rich and poor that defines the post-apolcalyptic world. But still, Nailer sees the clipper ships of the “swanks” in the distance and dreams about being on one someday. After a huge storm, one of them actually runs aground and washes up near their beach. Nailer and Pima check it for salvage and find a young girl, Nita, still alive among the wreckage. They call her Lucky Girl, and try to hide her from Nailer’s father and the others who will see her as a body they can sell for parts, but to no avail. Richard, aided by “half-men” – creatures engineered from a genetic mix of humans, tigers, hyenas, and dogs, catch the three and hold them captive.
The book then transitions from a bleak, dark tale into an adrenaline-fueled adventure as efforts to escape turn into a battle of wits and luck and good versus evil.
Discussion:
I loved the descriptive passages of the so-called Accelerated Age, with its rusting monoliths; desperate poor; rich struggling between greed and humanity; and nature still asserting itself in a way that recognized no difference between classes as it reclaimed what was hers:
"The great drowned city of New Orleans didn’t come all at once, it came in portions: the sagging backs of shacks ripped open by banyan trees and cypress. Crumbling edges of concrete and brick undermined by sinkholes. Kudzu-swamped clusters of old abandoned buildings shadowed under the loom of swamp trees.”
I also loved the multiculturalism of this book, in this near-future scenario in which survival skills take precedence over superficial characteristics. And I appreciated the realistic depiction of future political and economic hegemony as belonging to China and India, rather than the West.
And oh, an evil character with subtlety: how rare! How wonderful!
Evaluation: This is a terrific story with realistic world-building and nuanced characters you don’t often find in dystopias. Neither the good nor the evil characters are without shades of gray, and the changes they go through, the resourcefulness, compassion and courage they exhibit, and the lessons they learn make this book a rewarding and thought-provoking book for all ages. The “half-men” which have received canine genes for loyalty are particularly good characters, and I say that as someone who generally does not like deviations from realism. Bacigalupi’s visions stick to the possible, which makes them all the more fearsome and compelling.
This book is starting to accumulate awards, for good reason. Highly recommended.
Nailer, the protagonist, is 15 or so (he isn’t sure) and is a ship breaker on a scavange gang. In
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brutal and dangerous work conditions, the crews take apart the huge iron vessels washed up near the formerly-inhabited Gulf coast. The materials are then sold to huge international companies, and the crews are granted subsistence (and survival) in return. Nailer’s mother is dead, and his father, Richard Lopez, is a violent, amphetamine-addicted thug who beats him regularly. But note the beauty of this passage in which Nailer compares his father's rages with the furious tempests that now regularly blow in from the ocean:
"…Nailer could tell that dangerous gears were turning now, fueled by the rattle of drugs and anger and whatever madness caused his father’s bouts of frenzied work and brutality. Underneath the man’s tattooed features a storm was brewing, full of undertows and crashing surf and water spouts, the deadly weather that buffeted Nailer every day as he tried to navigate the coastline of his father’s moods.”
Nailer’s salvation is another family – Pima, his crewmate, and her mother Sadna, who has healing skills. They provide the acceptance and refuge that Nailer lacks in his own life with his father. As Nailer realized:
"The blood bond was nothing. It was the people that mattered. If they covered your back, and you covered theirs, then maybe that was worth calling family. Everything else was just so much smoke and lies.”
Nailer and the other “Beach Rats” know they could never hope to bridge the chasm between rich and poor that defines the post-apolcalyptic world. But still, Nailer sees the clipper ships of the “swanks” in the distance and dreams about being on one someday. After a huge storm, one of them actually runs aground and washes up near their beach. Nailer and Pima check it for salvage and find a young girl, Nita, still alive among the wreckage. They call her Lucky Girl, and try to hide her from Nailer’s father and the others who will see her as a body they can sell for parts, but to no avail. Richard, aided by “half-men” – creatures engineered from a genetic mix of humans, tigers, hyenas, and dogs, catch the three and hold them captive.
The book then transitions from a bleak, dark tale into an adrenaline-fueled adventure as efforts to escape turn into a battle of wits and luck and good versus evil.
Discussion:
I loved the descriptive passages of the so-called Accelerated Age, with its rusting monoliths; desperate poor; rich struggling between greed and humanity; and nature still asserting itself in a way that recognized no difference between classes as it reclaimed what was hers:
"The great drowned city of New Orleans didn’t come all at once, it came in portions: the sagging backs of shacks ripped open by banyan trees and cypress. Crumbling edges of concrete and brick undermined by sinkholes. Kudzu-swamped clusters of old abandoned buildings shadowed under the loom of swamp trees.”
I also loved the multiculturalism of this book, in this near-future scenario in which survival skills take precedence over superficial characteristics. And I appreciated the realistic depiction of future political and economic hegemony as belonging to China and India, rather than the West.
And oh, an evil character with subtlety: how rare! How wonderful!
Evaluation: This is a terrific story with realistic world-building and nuanced characters you don’t often find in dystopias. Neither the good nor the evil characters are without shades of gray, and the changes they go through, the resourcefulness, compassion and courage they exhibit, and the lessons they learn make this book a rewarding and thought-provoking book for all ages. The “half-men” which have received canine genes for loyalty are particularly good characters, and I say that as someone who generally does not like deviations from realism. Bacigalupi’s visions stick to the possible, which makes them all the more fearsome and compelling.
This book is starting to accumulate awards, for good reason. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member pmwolohan
Note: This review originally was published on my review blog: yetistomper.blogspot.com
30 words or less: Although slightly restrained by the YA nature of Ship Breaker, Bacigalupi demonstrates the talents for developing realistic characters and show-not-tell worldbuilding that won him a Nebula
My Rating: 4/5
Pros: Stellar worldbuilding that only explores a fraction of its depth; dynamic characters that are deeper than your average YA protagonists; story is accessable on multiple levels and appropriate for both teenagers and adults
Cons: The events of the novel don't match the bleakness of the setting; Bacigalupi occasionally resorts to YA cliches; Bacigalupi tones back on the darker elements that he usually writes about (if that is your thing)
The Review: Paolo Bacigalupi has a knack for capturing the best and the worst humanity has to offer and his latest novel is no exception. Readers experienced with his fiction will discover yet another brilliantly constructed dystopia filled with intriguing ideas. Newer readers will find the same thing but for the first time. More adult than Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan and no-less imaginative, Ship Breaker is poised to introduce a whole new set of eager readers to the rising SF talent that Bacigalupi represents.
Ship Breaker chronicles the adventures of Nailer, a teenage boy eking out an existence working salvage on the Gulf Coast of a future America on the catastrophic side of peak oil. Exploring the inner workings of derelict freighters is hard, dangerous work and Nailer longs to escape the daily collection quota of feet of wire and pounds of scrap. Bacigalupi does an excellent job of quickly capturing the harsh reality of this future, making the first portion of the book particularly gripping as we accompany Nailer through a particularly memorable day in his scavenging career as things go awry deep within the bowels of an oil tanker.
With every page of Nailer’s introduction we learn more about his character and the world he inhabits. Where the average author resorts to what is derogatorily referred to as infodumping, Bacigalupi demonstrates his world in enviable show-not-tell fashion. As a result, the future culture of Ship Breaker feels authentic and rooted in our own history rather than an artificial construct. The strong foundations of the novel allow for more fully developed characters and in turn, a more enjoyable narrative.
After the strong opening that cements Nailer in the hearts of the audience, the main plot is realized as the young protagonist stumbles upon a shipwrecked state-of-the-art clipper ship and its priceless cargo: a discovery beyond his wildest imaginations. Nailer soon must make a difficult decision and make it fast before his abusive, alcoholic father discovers his son's secret and claims it for himself. As the action ramps up, the plot quickly travels in interesting directions, exploring the boundaries of a future begging to be exposed and leaving ideas in the background that could support entire novels in their own right.
It's worth repeating that Ship Breaker is being published as a YA novel. Ignoring the debate over what should or shouldn't be allowed in a YA book, there is no denying that some of his early work is by no means appropriate for younger audiences. Bacigalupi has written stories full of shocking material, covering topics that include population control squads hunting down and executing illegal children in cold blood and the traumatic regenesis of beings created primarily for sexual pleasure as they come to terms with the perverted nature of their existence. Bacigalupi writes this dark material well, using it to provoke thought rather than to shock and disturb but it can get pretty messed up, even for seasoned genre veterans.
The dichotomy between the unadulterated humanity of Bacigalupi’s early work and the restrictions of the YA market was one of my primary concerns going into Ship Breaker. After reading, it’s clear that he is capable of toning down some of the more adult themes that have been prevalent in his early work without losing his touch. There is a strong balance to the novel as Bacigalupi includes the trademark darker elements but relegates them to the background. There are drugs, slaves, and organ thieves in the periphery of the story but at its core, Ship Breaker is about a boy overcoming his fears.
At the same time, there is no denying that Ship Breaker is guilty of conforming to certain YA staples. A budding romance between the two main characters develops. Young characters must face older antagonists in “authoritative” positions and eventually decide the type of person they want to be in the face of pressure. Even the ending is a little bit too positive when you consider the bleak background that Bacigalupi has painted behind his cast. However, when this occurs, it’s not to excess and the strengths of the characters and the setting clearly outweigh any perceived weaknesses.
Ship Breaker is an excellent novel and a worthy successor to the Nebula-Award-Winning The Windup Girl. Bacigalupi makes worldbuilding look easy, explaining complex ideas clearly with an economy of word that allows for richer characters and a dynamic plot. Every Bacigalupi story demands further exploration of the well-crafted worlds that he only hints at. Based off the strength of his first two novels, limiting him to only one imagined world would be a mistake, both for his creativity and the good of the genre as a whole. Despite the occasional blunder into YA tropes, Ship Breaker is still thought provoking science fiction at its best; effortless to read and difficult to forget.
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30 words or less: Although slightly restrained by the YA nature of Ship Breaker, Bacigalupi demonstrates the talents for developing realistic characters and show-not-tell worldbuilding that won him a Nebula
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award.My Rating: 4/5
Pros: Stellar worldbuilding that only explores a fraction of its depth; dynamic characters that are deeper than your average YA protagonists; story is accessable on multiple levels and appropriate for both teenagers and adults
Cons: The events of the novel don't match the bleakness of the setting; Bacigalupi occasionally resorts to YA cliches; Bacigalupi tones back on the darker elements that he usually writes about (if that is your thing)
The Review: Paolo Bacigalupi has a knack for capturing the best and the worst humanity has to offer and his latest novel is no exception. Readers experienced with his fiction will discover yet another brilliantly constructed dystopia filled with intriguing ideas. Newer readers will find the same thing but for the first time. More adult than Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan and no-less imaginative, Ship Breaker is poised to introduce a whole new set of eager readers to the rising SF talent that Bacigalupi represents.
Ship Breaker chronicles the adventures of Nailer, a teenage boy eking out an existence working salvage on the Gulf Coast of a future America on the catastrophic side of peak oil. Exploring the inner workings of derelict freighters is hard, dangerous work and Nailer longs to escape the daily collection quota of feet of wire and pounds of scrap. Bacigalupi does an excellent job of quickly capturing the harsh reality of this future, making the first portion of the book particularly gripping as we accompany Nailer through a particularly memorable day in his scavenging career as things go awry deep within the bowels of an oil tanker.
With every page of Nailer’s introduction we learn more about his character and the world he inhabits. Where the average author resorts to what is derogatorily referred to as infodumping, Bacigalupi demonstrates his world in enviable show-not-tell fashion. As a result, the future culture of Ship Breaker feels authentic and rooted in our own history rather than an artificial construct. The strong foundations of the novel allow for more fully developed characters and in turn, a more enjoyable narrative.
After the strong opening that cements Nailer in the hearts of the audience, the main plot is realized as the young protagonist stumbles upon a shipwrecked state-of-the-art clipper ship and its priceless cargo: a discovery beyond his wildest imaginations. Nailer soon must make a difficult decision and make it fast before his abusive, alcoholic father discovers his son's secret and claims it for himself. As the action ramps up, the plot quickly travels in interesting directions, exploring the boundaries of a future begging to be exposed and leaving ideas in the background that could support entire novels in their own right.
It's worth repeating that Ship Breaker is being published as a YA novel. Ignoring the debate over what should or shouldn't be allowed in a YA book, there is no denying that some of his early work is by no means appropriate for younger audiences. Bacigalupi has written stories full of shocking material, covering topics that include population control squads hunting down and executing illegal children in cold blood and the traumatic regenesis of beings created primarily for sexual pleasure as they come to terms with the perverted nature of their existence. Bacigalupi writes this dark material well, using it to provoke thought rather than to shock and disturb but it can get pretty messed up, even for seasoned genre veterans.
The dichotomy between the unadulterated humanity of Bacigalupi’s early work and the restrictions of the YA market was one of my primary concerns going into Ship Breaker. After reading, it’s clear that he is capable of toning down some of the more adult themes that have been prevalent in his early work without losing his touch. There is a strong balance to the novel as Bacigalupi includes the trademark darker elements but relegates them to the background. There are drugs, slaves, and organ thieves in the periphery of the story but at its core, Ship Breaker is about a boy overcoming his fears.
At the same time, there is no denying that Ship Breaker is guilty of conforming to certain YA staples. A budding romance between the two main characters develops. Young characters must face older antagonists in “authoritative” positions and eventually decide the type of person they want to be in the face of pressure. Even the ending is a little bit too positive when you consider the bleak background that Bacigalupi has painted behind his cast. However, when this occurs, it’s not to excess and the strengths of the characters and the setting clearly outweigh any perceived weaknesses.
Ship Breaker is an excellent novel and a worthy successor to the Nebula-Award-Winning The Windup Girl. Bacigalupi makes worldbuilding look easy, explaining complex ideas clearly with an economy of word that allows for richer characters and a dynamic plot. Every Bacigalupi story demands further exploration of the well-crafted worlds that he only hints at. Based off the strength of his first two novels, limiting him to only one imagined world would be a mistake, both for his creativity and the good of the genre as a whole. Despite the occasional blunder into YA tropes, Ship Breaker is still thought provoking science fiction at its best; effortless to read and difficult to forget.
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LibraryThing member CuteMcGinn
"Ship Breaking" by Paulo Bacigalupi immediately captured my attention but in the end let me down. The story took off right away as we meet Nailer, living on the beach of the Gulf Coast in a world where corporations have taken control, he fights daily to stay alive and employed. Nailer is a ship
Ship breaking is hard work and dangerous, but more frightening is the thought of being without work and left at the mercy of his drug addicted, violent father. On the beach, Crew is everything and Nailer knows it better than anyone. When Nailer and Crewmate Pima find a shipwreck to scavenge for themselves, they discover a half dead girl and Nailer makes the difficult to decision to save her life and thus the adventure begins.
Bacigalupi really created his own lingo for this novel which worked amazingly and I loved it. However, I did not like the fact that a lot of these words were thrown around without much description. For instance, the half-men, although information seems to be revealed about them little by little, I was still left slightly confused by these creatures in the end.
The corporate wars got a bit muddy and confusing at times. I wish we had seen more of exactly what was happening and had a little more explanation. My biggest problem came when they left the Orleans to sail and then the story seemed to get very stagnant, boring, and overwhelmed with detail. There were much more details about the gears and sails of the ship then Nailer's emotions at the time.
A lot of new characters were introduced around the same time as the sailing scenes and it was just too overwhelming for me. I couldn't keep the characters straight and had to keep reminding myself who each one was. I had to really force myself to pay attention for those chapters.
The ending of the book was slightly redeeming. I loved Nailer's relationship with his father and his revelation that family is not simply blood. I felt every moment of Nailer's conflicted relationship and his love for Sadna and Pima. I say the ending was only slightly redeeming because I felt that everything was wrapped up a little too neatly in the end.
I always think it is better to go in expecting to be disappointed by a book and perhaps that was my problem. I was so excited over "Ship Breaking" that I didn't allow for any disappointment. I do think it is a good read and probably geared more towards a male audience.
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breaker, working with his crew to strip shipwrecked boats for their scrap metal and wires. Ship breaking is hard work and dangerous, but more frightening is the thought of being without work and left at the mercy of his drug addicted, violent father. On the beach, Crew is everything and Nailer knows it better than anyone. When Nailer and Crewmate Pima find a shipwreck to scavenge for themselves, they discover a half dead girl and Nailer makes the difficult to decision to save her life and thus the adventure begins.
Bacigalupi really created his own lingo for this novel which worked amazingly and I loved it. However, I did not like the fact that a lot of these words were thrown around without much description. For instance, the half-men, although information seems to be revealed about them little by little, I was still left slightly confused by these creatures in the end.
The corporate wars got a bit muddy and confusing at times. I wish we had seen more of exactly what was happening and had a little more explanation. My biggest problem came when they left the Orleans to sail and then the story seemed to get very stagnant, boring, and overwhelmed with detail. There were much more details about the gears and sails of the ship then Nailer's emotions at the time.
A lot of new characters were introduced around the same time as the sailing scenes and it was just too overwhelming for me. I couldn't keep the characters straight and had to keep reminding myself who each one was. I had to really force myself to pay attention for those chapters.
The ending of the book was slightly redeeming. I loved Nailer's relationship with his father and his revelation that family is not simply blood. I felt every moment of Nailer's conflicted relationship and his love for Sadna and Pima. I say the ending was only slightly redeeming because I felt that everything was wrapped up a little too neatly in the end.
I always think it is better to go in expecting to be disappointed by a book and perhaps that was my problem. I was so excited over "Ship Breaking" that I didn't allow for any disappointment. I do think it is a good read and probably geared more towards a male audience.
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LibraryThing member 1morechapter
Printz Award, 2011
Nailer works on a crew in the Gulf who scavenges parts from rusted out ships along the shoreline. Crew life is difficult. He’s always having to make quota while also making sure he doesn’t get on the wrong side of his superiors. One step out of line and he could be cut from
A bleak book and eerily timely with the Gulf oil disaster, Ship Breaker is probably not too far off from what could happen in the future if we let greed go unchecked.
This book has been getting some really great reviews so I was excited to read it. An additional plus was that I love dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction. I will say it’s a good book, but I was a little disappointed after all the hype. While I liked it and thought the story was good, I wasn’t enamored with the writing. It probably didn’t help that I was reading Charlotte Bronte’s Villette on the same day. Not a fair comparison, but it couldn’t be avoided.
Nailer works on a crew in the Gulf who scavenges parts from rusted out ships along the shoreline. Crew life is difficult. He’s always having to make quota while also making sure he doesn’t get on the wrong side of his superiors. One step out of line and he could be cut from
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the crew; there really are no other work options. Nailer’s always hungry even with his job because his Dad spends most of his time drinking, doing drugs, and then abusing him. Nailer’s world is cutthroat enough even without his father. Bring him into the picture and it’s even worse. He wonders, too, if he’s like his father or if he’s going to turn into him. Fairly quickly in the story, his fears are severely put to the test.A bleak book and eerily timely with the Gulf oil disaster, Ship Breaker is probably not too far off from what could happen in the future if we let greed go unchecked.
This book has been getting some really great reviews so I was excited to read it. An additional plus was that I love dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction. I will say it’s a good book, but I was a little disappointed after all the hype. While I liked it and thought the story was good, I wasn’t enamored with the writing. It probably didn’t help that I was reading Charlotte Bronte’s Villette on the same day. Not a fair comparison, but it couldn’t be avoided.
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LibraryThing member zephyrsky
I'm so torn as to how to rate this book. I'm going to wind up going with 3.5 stars
See, Bacigalupi paints a disturbingly vivid and well-imagined world. The writing is perfect for the gritty dystopian setting and I appreciate that he writes a YA novel that doesn't dumb itself down for its audience.
But part of me feels as though so much effort went into creating the backdrop that the characters and plot suffered. When i found myself wanting to know more about the world itself, I realized that the SETTING had become the character I was most interested in. Nailer was fleshed out, but many of the others I found myself forgetting who precisely they were or what their motivation was. The plot felt more light a series of vignettes as a support for this well-imagined world, rather than the other way around.
Will I read the next book in the series? Yes. The writing itself, despite the story construction flaws, was worth it. Did it meat the expectations that had been set out for it in my mind? Not quite so sure
See, Bacigalupi paints a disturbingly vivid and well-imagined world. The writing is perfect for the gritty dystopian setting and I appreciate that he writes a YA novel that doesn't dumb itself down for its audience.
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But part of me feels as though so much effort went into creating the backdrop that the characters and plot suffered. When i found myself wanting to know more about the world itself, I realized that the SETTING had become the character I was most interested in. Nailer was fleshed out, but many of the others I found myself forgetting who precisely they were or what their motivation was. The plot felt more light a series of vignettes as a support for this well-imagined world, rather than the other way around.
Will I read the next book in the series? Yes. The writing itself, despite the story construction flaws, was worth it. Did it meat the expectations that had been set out for it in my mind? Not quite so sure
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LibraryThing member horomnizon
Personally, I had a hard time getting into this book, but I really loved the adventure of the last 75 pages or so. I was surprised when somebody called it science fiction, because while it takes place in a future Earth, it was a believable one...one that could conceivably happen based on many of
I don't completely agree with some of the other reviews that Bacigalupi expertly lets the reader in on what's going on in this future world....I felt at times like I was missing some details that I would have liked to have known. On the other hand, for being an uneducated, extremely poor person, Nailer seems to know a heck of a lot about the past and how the 'swank' live. I found that somewhat unbelievable - if they are really at a remote location and stuck in their classes, how does he have all this knowledge? (Yeah, so-and-so told him or he read it in a magazine....even though he can't read....hmmmm.)
The story didn't really captivate me until Nailer needs to try to save Lucky Girl from a ship...and the hands of his father. Getting to that point wasn't painful, but I didn't love the setting or the characters. The whole "family is not just blood" concept was too blatantly stated too many times to be the nice sentimental realization that it could have been for Nailer.
Could be a good pick for intelligent YA male readers in particular.
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the environmental issues and business tactics of today. It doesn't fall into what I typically think of as 'science fiction'...it was more of a fantasy adventure story to me.I don't completely agree with some of the other reviews that Bacigalupi expertly lets the reader in on what's going on in this future world....I felt at times like I was missing some details that I would have liked to have known. On the other hand, for being an uneducated, extremely poor person, Nailer seems to know a heck of a lot about the past and how the 'swank' live. I found that somewhat unbelievable - if they are really at a remote location and stuck in their classes, how does he have all this knowledge? (Yeah, so-and-so told him or he read it in a magazine....even though he can't read....hmmmm.)
The story didn't really captivate me until Nailer needs to try to save Lucky Girl from a ship...and the hands of his father. Getting to that point wasn't painful, but I didn't love the setting or the characters. The whole "family is not just blood" concept was too blatantly stated too many times to be the nice sentimental realization that it could have been for Nailer.
Could be a good pick for intelligent YA male readers in particular.
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LibraryThing member ChristianR
Sometime in the future the world has lost much of its coastline to flooding, the poles have melted, and chaos reigns. Nailer is a ship breaker, a kid who scavenges for precious materials off of useless abandoned ships. Oil is in such short supply that the only workable ships are powered by wind and
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solar power. When one of those glorious ships runs aground, he is launched into a cat and mouse struggle for survival along with the only person found alive -- the daughter of the owner of a huge corporation who is being hunted by disloyal employees of her father. Nailer has to make difficult choices of good/evil and survival. Show Less
LibraryThing member KClaire
Nailer Lopez lives on a Gulf Coast beach in a dystopian future. To survive he works on a crew that scavenges beached ships and oil tankers for wire, scrap metal, and fuel. It is a harsh, primitive, and dangerous way of life. Out in the distance Nailer can see the modern clipper ships that fly over
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the waves, and longs to be on one. In this future world there are also human/dog hybrid slaves, crews who salvage body parts, the very wealthy "swank", and the very poor. At the center of the story is Nailer's love/hate relationship with his abusive drug-addicted father. One day a storm shipwrecks one of the clipper ships. The wreck could be Nailer's "Lucky Strike", however, he discovers the owner, a girl, still alive in the wreck. Thus begins a series of events that require Nailer to make life and death decisions, in this fast paced, gritty, Sci-Fi adventure story. Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
Having a maritime background made this book even more thrilling for me. Communities of ship breakers exist in the Indian Ocean and I can imagine that life is similarly dangerous and violent for them as it is portrayed in this book.
Nailer is a teenager who works as a scavenger on old oil-powered
A real page turner. Lovers of the Hunger Games series should find this book exciting too.
Nailer is a teenager who works as a scavenger on old oil-powered
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vessels that are washed up on the shore. He discovers a sailing ship (no more oil in this dystopia) that was caught in a typically violent storm known as a "city killer" and rescues a girl caught in the damage. Trying to stay clear of his drugged up, violent father, Nailer tries to help Nita avoid capture by her father's enemies and reconnect with her father's friends.A real page turner. Lovers of the Hunger Games series should find this book exciting too.
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LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
Another tale of environmental disaster by Bacigalupi! This book follows a young man named Nailer, who's one of the eponymous ship breakers. These workers break down ships left after the current global economy collapsed, and sell the spare parts to the recycler conglomerates. It's an existence on
The plot sets in motion after a storm wrecks the beach shantytown where Nailer lives, and also washes up a cutting-edge ship with one surviving girl (Nita) on it. Against his own material interests, Nailer defends Nita against those who would sell her to the highest bidder, and thus starts their journey to confront her history.
The book is a coming-of-age story, so you already know that Nailer will have to confront his own past as well as Nita's. The story overall is well plotted, the end is excitingly written, and while the story reaches a natural stopping point I found myself wishing for a sequel.
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the edge, showing the desperation of the life and the bonds that form between people when their lives depend on each other - and what happens when those bonds are broken.The plot sets in motion after a storm wrecks the beach shantytown where Nailer lives, and also washes up a cutting-edge ship with one surviving girl (Nita) on it. Against his own material interests, Nailer defends Nita against those who would sell her to the highest bidder, and thus starts their journey to confront her history.
The book is a coming-of-age story, so you already know that Nailer will have to confront his own past as well as Nita's. The story overall is well plotted, the end is excitingly written, and while the story reaches a natural stopping point I found myself wishing for a sequel.
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LibraryThing member galleysmith
Ship Breaker is definitely one of those dystopian novels that scares the pants off you. You know, the kind of story that’s built around a world the reader could actually see becoming a reality. Yea, this book is that type of dystopian.
Set in a post apocalyptic Gulf Coast region — New Orleans
I admit, for awhile I found it difficult to follow who really was who. The introduction of so many characters in a very short period of time had them all sort of bleeding into each other for awhile. This difficulty arose from the fact that most everyone was described the same way. They all had the same job and had many of the same characteristics. Sure, there were some notable differences between each but there wasn’t a lot to distinguish different characters until some of the larger plot started to play out. I was finally able to wrap my head around it some when they started going their separate ways. I was able to gain much more focus then.
The bulk of the plot revolved around Nailer, Pima and Lucky Girl’s quest to find their way back to the latter’s family safely. Family being one of the issues delved into as well. It was fast-paced, interesting and filled with a fair amount of intrigue. Don’t worry, though there were some sparks of romance was in the air it wasn’t a large part of the story. There were subtle hints here and there that feelings were increasing between Nailer and one of the lovely ladies in his company but it wasn’t the prevailing point of the story. This worked in its favor as this story really wasn’t about love, it was about people.
The strength of Ship Breaker is in the world that Bacigalupi has built. We can feel the grime and and taste the salt in the water air. I kept envisioning a world that looked like one of those disaster movies where the Statue of Liberty’s head is sticking out of 400 feet of water. Bright Sands Beach was interesting, one the one hand it was as dark and seedy as the scariest back alley, yet it still had pockets of purity. Then when on the sea and in the Orleans areas I got a very distinct old world vibe. It was, without a doubt, the best part of the book.
Ultimately I will say that this wasn’t my most favorite dystopian, however, it’s a pretty dang good one. An interesting departure from those that tend to focus a bit more on the more futuristic qualities. It was real (dare I say current), there is no mistaking that. It was compelling, no mistaking that either. Know that if you read Ship Breaker you’re in for a very distinct and quality read.
Set in a post apocalyptic Gulf Coast region — New Orleans
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and surrounding areas have been virtually wiped out by “city killers”. Described as larger than life hurricanes, these storms decimated whole urban areas and swept them under the sea. As a result of the devastation beach dwelling colonies arose to perform the task of salvaging what was left. Most specifically anything and everything that can be removed from old ship wrecks. This is where readers meet Nailer and his crew of scavengers for hire. In Bright Sands Beach they are one of the resident “light crews” crawling down into a shipwreck’s smallest and tightest places to retrieve valuables for swanky bigwig’s.I admit, for awhile I found it difficult to follow who really was who. The introduction of so many characters in a very short period of time had them all sort of bleeding into each other for awhile. This difficulty arose from the fact that most everyone was described the same way. They all had the same job and had many of the same characteristics. Sure, there were some notable differences between each but there wasn’t a lot to distinguish different characters until some of the larger plot started to play out. I was finally able to wrap my head around it some when they started going their separate ways. I was able to gain much more focus then.
The bulk of the plot revolved around Nailer, Pima and Lucky Girl’s quest to find their way back to the latter’s family safely. Family being one of the issues delved into as well. It was fast-paced, interesting and filled with a fair amount of intrigue. Don’t worry, though there were some sparks of romance was in the air it wasn’t a large part of the story. There were subtle hints here and there that feelings were increasing between Nailer and one of the lovely ladies in his company but it wasn’t the prevailing point of the story. This worked in its favor as this story really wasn’t about love, it was about people.
The strength of Ship Breaker is in the world that Bacigalupi has built. We can feel the grime and and taste the salt in the water air. I kept envisioning a world that looked like one of those disaster movies where the Statue of Liberty’s head is sticking out of 400 feet of water. Bright Sands Beach was interesting, one the one hand it was as dark and seedy as the scariest back alley, yet it still had pockets of purity. Then when on the sea and in the Orleans areas I got a very distinct old world vibe. It was, without a doubt, the best part of the book.
Ultimately I will say that this wasn’t my most favorite dystopian, however, it’s a pretty dang good one. An interesting departure from those that tend to focus a bit more on the more futuristic qualities. It was real (dare I say current), there is no mistaking that. It was compelling, no mistaking that either. Know that if you read Ship Breaker you’re in for a very distinct and quality read.
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LibraryThing member ndeyton
Meet Nailer, a wiry teenager who works the light crew. It's his job to crawl through the dangerous ducts and narrow passages of abandoned tanker ships to scavenge copper wire that his crew can then strip and sell. He's lucky, he has a job and a crew but as soon as he gets too big for the ducts,
Those who are too small to make heavy crew end up like his father, mean and addicted to drugs or worse, at the mercy of the Life Cult, harvesters of body parts. He knows he'll need a lucky strike if he wants to make it out, and he may just get his chance when he and Pima (crew boss girl) find a wrecked boat full of rich salvage. Along with the boat, however, is one survivor - a girl. Should Nailer be smart and "pig stick" the girl to recoup the salvage, or let her live in hopes that she and her rich family will take him out of his hell-hole and away from his abusive father.
Bacigalupi does an amazing job developing this dystopian world in which the polar ice caps have long since melted away, swamping the coastal regions leaving entire cities under water. Oil is still a commodity, but hard to come by, even though it pollutes the water. His characters are equally well developed and tragic, and we find ourselves struggling right along with them as the story line twists and turns.
This is a dark young adult novel that challenges the definition of family and questions moral issues surrounding survival. What would you be willing to sacrifice in order to survive or make a better life for yourself?
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he'll get stripped of his crew tats and left to fend for himself on the beaches. Those who are too small to make heavy crew end up like his father, mean and addicted to drugs or worse, at the mercy of the Life Cult, harvesters of body parts. He knows he'll need a lucky strike if he wants to make it out, and he may just get his chance when he and Pima (crew boss girl) find a wrecked boat full of rich salvage. Along with the boat, however, is one survivor - a girl. Should Nailer be smart and "pig stick" the girl to recoup the salvage, or let her live in hopes that she and her rich family will take him out of his hell-hole and away from his abusive father.
Bacigalupi does an amazing job developing this dystopian world in which the polar ice caps have long since melted away, swamping the coastal regions leaving entire cities under water. Oil is still a commodity, but hard to come by, even though it pollutes the water. His characters are equally well developed and tragic, and we find ourselves struggling right along with them as the story line twists and turns.
This is a dark young adult novel that challenges the definition of family and questions moral issues surrounding survival. What would you be willing to sacrifice in order to survive or make a better life for yourself?
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LibraryThing member Tatiana_G
This was quite a ride! I know I will probably sound blasphemous here, but I think Ship Breaker is a much better suggestion for fans of The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1) as the next dystopian YA fix than other popular offerings in the genre - The Maze Runner, Birthmarked, Gone, Incarceron, Uglies,
Written by a male author, Ship Breaker is, of course, lighter on lurve, kissing and emotional "stuff" than The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1), it is more of a boy book. But in...moreThis was quite a ride! I know I will probably sound blasphemous here, but I think Ship Breaker is a much better suggestion for fans of The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1) as the next dystopian YA fix than other popular offerings in the genre - The Maze Runner, Birthmarked, Gone, Incarceron, Uglies, etc.
Written by a male author, Ship Breaker is, of course, lighter on lurve, kissing and emotional "stuff" than The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1), it is more of a boy book. But in terms of world building, pacing, characterization, and conflict, it is almost as good.
The dystopian future Paolo Bacigalupi creates is grim and rusty. The planet's natural resources are exhausted, the global warming is happening, Antarctica is gone, cities drowned. Nailer, the main character, makes his living stripping old ships off of their metals which will be then sold to big corporations to be recycled over and over again. His life takes a turn when he comes across a wrecked ship whose only survivor is a girl who is the heir to one of the biggest corporation in the world. Nailor has to decide what to do about this girl - to help her or take advantage of her strained circumstances...
The novel is remarkably well paced. The action never slows down, but without being overwhelming. The intricacies of this damaged new world are presented in a measured way.
I am very much excited to read the follow up to Ship Breaker - The Drowned Cities, there is just so much more to learn about the book's universe. This novel has a satisfying ending, but hints at bigger challenges to come.
And, of course, I will read Bacigalupi's adult works. He promises much grimmer and twistier themes in them in his interview. This sci-fi writer, unlike some, has something to say about where our world might be heading and what we could get ourselves into if we continue treating our planet the way we are now.
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etc.Written by a male author, Ship Breaker is, of course, lighter on lurve, kissing and emotional "stuff" than The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1), it is more of a boy book. But in...moreThis was quite a ride! I know I will probably sound blasphemous here, but I think Ship Breaker is a much better suggestion for fans of The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1) as the next dystopian YA fix than other popular offerings in the genre - The Maze Runner, Birthmarked, Gone, Incarceron, Uglies, etc.
Written by a male author, Ship Breaker is, of course, lighter on lurve, kissing and emotional "stuff" than The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1), it is more of a boy book. But in terms of world building, pacing, characterization, and conflict, it is almost as good.
The dystopian future Paolo Bacigalupi creates is grim and rusty. The planet's natural resources are exhausted, the global warming is happening, Antarctica is gone, cities drowned. Nailer, the main character, makes his living stripping old ships off of their metals which will be then sold to big corporations to be recycled over and over again. His life takes a turn when he comes across a wrecked ship whose only survivor is a girl who is the heir to one of the biggest corporation in the world. Nailor has to decide what to do about this girl - to help her or take advantage of her strained circumstances...
The novel is remarkably well paced. The action never slows down, but without being overwhelming. The intricacies of this damaged new world are presented in a measured way.
I am very much excited to read the follow up to Ship Breaker - The Drowned Cities, there is just so much more to learn about the book's universe. This novel has a satisfying ending, but hints at bigger challenges to come.
And, of course, I will read Bacigalupi's adult works. He promises much grimmer and twistier themes in them in his interview. This sci-fi writer, unlike some, has something to say about where our world might be heading and what we could get ourselves into if we continue treating our planet the way we are now.
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LibraryThing member jakehlyn
Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker is a fast paced adventure novel set in a future American dystopia. I enjoyed Ship Breaker quite a bit but was really surprised it was awarded the 2011 Printz. As I read it I was reminded of 2009 Printz Honor Book, Nation by Terry Prachett, however, Ship Breaker fell far
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short of Prachett's eloquent, moving, thought provoking gem. That being said, Ship Breaker is a crowd pleaser with wide appeal. Show Less
LibraryThing member Aerrin99
A fantastic dystopian world with solid characters but a plot that sadly fizzles a bit near the end.
I was captivated through the beginning of this novel, where we met Nailer, a teenage 'shipbreaker' who works in a crew to strip ancient lumbering oil-burning ships of anything of value, like copper
Nailer's world changes when a city killer leaves one of the sleek and modern - and very expensive - clipper ships crashed on their beaches. He finds a salvage there worth a great deal of money - but only if he makes the right choice and beats his alcoholic, abusive father to the punch.
The plot itself, which hinges around the swank 'Lucky Girl' and touches on the broader politics of money and energy and business, falls a bit flat. Once we moved beyond Nailer and his life on the beach, I cared less about the characters, although I'm still invested in Nailer's discovery of and desperate hope for a life beyond the extreme poverty of his beach.
I'll probably pick up the sequel because I'm interested to see the other side of this world - what the haves look like in tandem to the have-nots - and what Nailer does if he manages to secure his foothold there. But it's not a must-have.
I was captivated through the beginning of this novel, where we met Nailer, a teenage 'shipbreaker' who works in a crew to strip ancient lumbering oil-burning ships of anything of value, like copper
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wiring or steel screws. He and his crewmates live in abject poverty on a beach regularly pounded by 'city killer' hurricanes, and it's difficult for them to imagine a different life. This world is fascinating and a little terrifying. Nailer's world changes when a city killer leaves one of the sleek and modern - and very expensive - clipper ships crashed on their beaches. He finds a salvage there worth a great deal of money - but only if he makes the right choice and beats his alcoholic, abusive father to the punch.
The plot itself, which hinges around the swank 'Lucky Girl' and touches on the broader politics of money and energy and business, falls a bit flat. Once we moved beyond Nailer and his life on the beach, I cared less about the characters, although I'm still invested in Nailer's discovery of and desperate hope for a life beyond the extreme poverty of his beach.
I'll probably pick up the sequel because I'm interested to see the other side of this world - what the haves look like in tandem to the have-nots - and what Nailer does if he manages to secure his foothold there. But it's not a must-have.
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LibraryThing member twonickels
Now here’s a YA dystopian novel with some serious teeth. This is a world that is nasty, where everything and everyone is out to get you, but these kids are way too busy staying alive to whine about it. Fast pacing, fantastic central relationships, and a story that raises a lot of great questions
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about environmental stewardship and class issues without ever feeling like it’s moralizing at you. Nailer’s dad deserves a nod in any discussion of the scariest fathers in YA. Show Less
LibraryThing member 59Square
This is one of the National Book Award finalists for Young Adult Literature, and I decided to try and read them all this year. This is the first one, and wow, it was good and a total adrenaline rush. Nailer is on light crew, scavenging ships for usable materials when the book opens. He has a
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terrible life, but dreams of better things. Then there are a series of events, including a “city killer” storm, that cause him to take his life in his own hands and gamble for something better. The book is full of adventure that would keep teens reading. The science fiction was pretty easy to understand – while Bacigalupi doesn’t spend a lot of time explaining backstory, it all is very apparent. When you begin the book, you feel like you are in another place, but it is clearly the United States in the future, after global warming and climate change has done its part. But the adventure is truly mind-rocking. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading, just hoping for the characters to survive. Bacigalupi deals with prejudice and other current topics in this book, and it is very violent – there are many deaths, but they are purposeful and realistic. Basically, just a really great ride. Plus I was so happy that it was not a series opener. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephxsu
Bacigalupi's writing is vivid and tense, and I love the world that he has created here, full of gritty danger and dog-eats-dog, eye-for-an-eye, every man for himself competition. I never fully felt much empathy for the characters though; for me, it felt like, while the writing was superb and great
In addition, this book was just not for me because of the extreme cruelty of the adults. It is horrifically fascinating to consider a world in which this occurs, where adults will betray their own children in the hopes of getting ahead economically, but my stomach was constantly unsettled by the adults' gruesome actions. SHIP BREAKER is not for the faint of heart, but is an otherwise very well conceptualized dystopian novel.
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for the genre, the characters were lacking in the heart and humanity that I crave from any book I read. They seemed like stonehearted actors playing out their roles instead of real people, real teenagers with typical adolescent worries in addition to their life-or-death ones.In addition, this book was just not for me because of the extreme cruelty of the adults. It is horrifically fascinating to consider a world in which this occurs, where adults will betray their own children in the hopes of getting ahead economically, but my stomach was constantly unsettled by the adults' gruesome actions. SHIP BREAKER is not for the faint of heart, but is an otherwise very well conceptualized dystopian novel.
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LibraryThing member jenniferthomp75
Bacigalupi's YA science fiction debut warns the reader of the dangers of climate change. He does so in a creative, adventurous yarn about Nailer, a teenage ship breaker who tears through old ships in search of copper for his boss.
What I really appreciated about the book was how it never talked down
This thrill ride is highly recommended to those who love science fiction.
What I really appreciated about the book was how it never talked down
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to the reader. All of the main characters are wonderfully developed and rich. I liked how he made many of the women characters have powerful jobs and there was never one mention of "oh, but she's just a woman. How could she possibly do that?" from any of the characters. This thrill ride is highly recommended to those who love science fiction.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
This one fell victim to over-hype, I think. I started it several times, picking it up, reading a bit about crawling through ductwork, putting it down, picking it back up... It wasn't until I got to Nailer's dad finding the clipper wreck that it really seemed to pick up for me. It kept my interest
It was good, and dark, but ultimately unsatisfying for me - I wanted to know more about the side characters and less about Nailer and Nita...
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then, but I couldn't help but keep thinking, "These are the Nation (Terry Pratchett's book) kids grown up a bit!"It was good, and dark, but ultimately unsatisfying for me - I wanted to know more about the side characters and less about Nailer and Nita...
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Pages
352