November 14

‘Ship Breaker’ by Paolo Bacigalupi

Ship breakerWhat will Nailor choose? The wealth that he dreamed about throughout his whole life and live with guilt that will haunt him for the rest of his life or save this mysterious person and reunite her with her family and risk his own life?

The plot behind this thrilling book is based in a post apocalyptic world where polar ice caps have melted causing flooding in multiple cities. This story is about a fifteen-year-old boy named Nailor, who lost his mother when he was young and was left to live with his drug addicted and alcoholic father (Richard Lopez) who constantly beats him. These characters live in a post- apocalyptic world where “Oil is Scarce, but friendships more scarce” causing everyone to live in poverty, which left Nailor and his father to work as ship breakers and live on the beach in huts. But one day Nailor’s luck changes when he and Pima, his best friend and co-worker, stumble across a beached clipper. What they find on that ship could change his life emotionally, physically and financially. Nailor has to make a life changing decision by either killing a girl named Nita and stealing her gold or helping her on her journey. Nita grew up in a wealthy family; she is introduced into the story when Nalior and Pima stumble across her beached Clipper.

I personally enjoyed this book, because it has an addictive and thrilling plot that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. It used its themes perfectly by combining post apocalyptic with adventure, love and action; and because of its relatable characters. The character that I was personally able to relate to was Pima. Pima was loved by both of her parents until her father passed away. She was a passionate believer in preferring loyalty to wealth. The characters that have been selected for this book are perfectly used to fit into the plot of this novel.

I would recommend this to both males and females, because it has many themes suited for both genders, such as love, adventure, action and sci-fi. This book is also directed at teenagers due to its themes and its plot that will keep the reader occupied. It is a short novel, which may help keep teenagers interested. I think this book is amazing due to its use of characters, themes and its plot. This is why I think everyone should read it. Even if you never read, you should read this book at least once this year or in your lifetime.

Mason F, Year 9

……

Nailer is in a crew that breaks up wrecked ships. Because he is small he is able to access tighter places in the ship. As he works with his crew member Sloth, he falls into a silo of oil. Sloth decides to leave him to die and Nailer ultimately finds his way out and falls into the ocean. He doesn’t get away unharmed because has some metal fragment stuck in his shoulder.

When he reunites with his crew Sloth has to face the penalties of her betrayal and she is thrown off the light crew. That night Nailer and the rest of the crew celebrate his luck and chat about the options they have and the penalties of what Sloth has done. When Nailer returns to his shack to a father high on drugs threatens him so Nailer gives him the rest of the alcohol he had been sharing with his crew on the beach. Eventually they both fall asleep.

In the morning Nailer is woken up by a major storm that has started. Nailer considers leaving his abusive father behind as he escapes to seek higher ground but his conscience gets the better of him.

The book “Ship Breaker” is based in a surreal realm where kids strip down old oil ships taking copper wire and sheets of metal to make money. The main character is Nailer. Nailer finds a sailboat after a enormous storm hits where he lives but what he finds in the boat changes his life forever.

“Ship Breaker” is an electrifying Sci-Fi novel for teenagers aged about 13 – 18. Teenagers can read this novel but the boys would find it more interesting. Paolo Bacigalupi labels these characters and the plot in a way that makes it feel like you are witnessing the plot happen with your own eyes. This novel was immensely different to other novels I have read and this makes it an “out there” book which makes it interesting. I would rate it 9/10 stars because it was a remarkable read and I haven’t read a story like it.

Jack, Year 9

…………

(Welcome to a World Where Oil is Scarce, but Loyalty is Scarcer.)

 Nailer is running out of time. He is getting too big for his work, and once he is sent off the crew he will be on his own, left with his drug driven, violent father in a beach shack with no food or supplies. One day a deadly hurricane hits the coast killing three of Nailer’s crew, but did this hurricane also wash up the ‘lucky strike’ he was wishing for?

Are you the kind of reader who takes interest in action-packed, fantasy sagas with a bit of romance? Does this teaser make your reading senses tingle? If so… you must read this compelling story!

The novel is set in a dystopian future (on the Gulf Coast of New Orleans), where oil is a scarce saleable commodity, and stripping grounded oil tankers is the common form of work. 15 year old, Nailer Lopez and his ‘Ship Breaking’ crew work endless, hard hours to make quota, all in the hope of living another day. Long tiring work and little pay mean Nailer and his friends struggle to survive. Due to Nailer’s size, he is tasked with the dangerous job of stripping copper wire from the wrecked ship’s vents. Nailer knows he will soon be too big for his job and his only hope of survival is hitting a lucky strike. When a devastating hurricane leads him to discover an exquisite clipper ship, and its only survivor a young and wealthy girl, Nailer finds himself at a crossroads. Should he continue stripping ships (yet for how much longer?) or save the mysterious girl, Nita, at a great personal risk, yet with the opportunity to live a life of adventure and wealth.

I really enjoyed the story ‘Ship Breaker’, because of its engaging and bizarre plot, mysterious characters, and Paolo’s brilliant way of describing and expressing the character’s deepest thoughts. After a confusing and intense beginning, the story and its characters started to evolve. This thrilling fantasy novel quickly became impossible to put down. With suspense carried from page to page, each answer brought two new questions. This book also effectively tackles themes that teenagers struggle with each day, such as loyalty, family, violence and greed, which makes it easy for readers my age to relate to.

I would recommend this book to capable readers from the ages of 12 to 20 who are interested in action-packed Sci-Fi, romantic, and mysterious novels. I truly enjoyed reading this story and it’s easy to see why it was a 2010 National Book Award Finalist. I rate ‘Ship Breaker’ by Paolo Bacigalupi – five out of five stars.

Thomas, Year 9

…………..

Where will you be when the world draws to a close? Living in a luxury mansion with five-star housing, famous, rich? Or will you be like Nailer, who spends his life crawling through passages and gaps in old ships and tankers to try and feed his team so they can survive another day? Why does he do this, and who is exactly is Nailer? Find out all your answers to this book here.

Meet your main character Nailer Lopez. Nailer’s job is to climb and crawl around and through old, dead tankers and ships. He does this to find old copper wire, and they use this copper wire to fill up their allowance so they can get the money to eat and survive another day on this world. Nailer has had to collect copper wire since he was twelve years old. Nailer and his team are set in south-eastern United States. The wire Nailer and his team collect go toward a large company that controls commerce around the world. Nailer lives a very hard life; his father Richard Lopez is a dangerous drug abuser. He hasn’t been the greatest father to Nailer. Even though his father viciously beats him, Nailer still respects him and loves him.

Nailer’s biggest dream is to work on a large clipper ship which sails the ocean, and coincidentally, a huge storm hits their area and one of these large clipper ships ends up beached. Nailer takes advantage of this and gets his crew member Pima to go and scavenge the boat before someone else beats them to it. But not only do they find what they are looking for, there is something, far far bigger on that boat, and it could cost them life or death. This something changes your perspective on this book. What could this something be?

I really enjoyed reading Ship Breaker. This is because of the genre of the book. This book is an action packed, gory, violent kind of book, but it also holds quite a deep background to it as well, which is why I enjoy it, and it is quite a popular book from this because a back-story to a book makes it more interesting.

I would recommend this book to girls and boys that are into quite a deep, and dark book, one that has interesting perks but is also quite violent. Boys and girls, ages 12-16, I highly recommend this book to.

Oskar W, Year 9.

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Posted November 14, 2014 by marjk in category Adventure stories, Love stories, Student Reviews

About the Author

Teacher-librarian at Aquinas College, Southport, Gold Coast, Australia

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