Bacigalupi, Paolo. Ship Breaker. New York, NY: Little Brown and Company, 2010.
ISBN: 9780316056212
Plot
Summary:
Nailer, a seventeen year old boy who lives on the
Gulf Coast, works on a light crew crawling into small spaces stripping old
ships of reusable copper and holding out hope that he will live to see another
day. After a level 7 hurricane, Nailer and his friend Pima discover a washed up
clipper ship and think they have come across their lucky strike. They soon
discover a wealthy girl clinging to life who promises them a better life if
they save her. Although it may seem it is a life worth saving, problems soon
arise when Nailer’s drug-addicted father and half-men also want to use the girl
to get more wealth for themselves.
Critical
Analysis:
Bacigalupi creates memorable characters in Ship Breaker. The main character,
Nailer, undergoes a credible change early on in the story when he has to save himself
while he is trapped in a ship’s holding room of oil because one of his crew
members selfishly leaves him to die. This near-death experience and feelings of
abandonment are a major force in his decision to help the wealthy girl who is
near death in a wrecked ship. Readers have more respect and admiration for Nailer
because he doesn’t just help her for a chance of getting rich, he helps her
because he knows how it feels to be left to die. Shipwrecked-rich-girl, Nita also
grows into a survivor as she must overcome her circumstances. Readers will also
build strong connections to Pima, her mother Sadna, and Tool the half-man because
these characters show strength and vulnerability as they overcome their tough
and difficult life. The concept of the genetically altered half-men will cause
readers to want to learn more about this new species (they’re really cool). Bacigalupi
also creates a strong villain in Nailer’s father, Richard Lopez. The drug
addiction, beatings he gives Nailer, and his brutal actions build real fear
within the reader and help the reader to relate to Nailer’s own fears of his
father.
The plot is action packed and will easily hold the
attention of readers. As Nailer and Tool journey to return Nita back to her
father, they face obstacles at almost every turn. Their choices and hardships
are consistent with the setting of the story and the circumstances of the
characters. Bacigalupi works to develop background for readers on ship breaking
and half-men which makes the story easy to follow for readers. The setting also
carries added interest for the reader as the time period is futuristic. The
story seems to take place after an apocalypse in a time where resources such as
oil have run out and must now be scavenged.
Bacigalupi’s style of writing helps to create vivid
images and deep understanding for readers. For example, when he says, “Nailer
had felt his belly up against his spine enough times,” readers can actually
feel what hunger feels like and they will get a better sense of the character’s
circumstances. Bacigalupi has a way with words. If ever the action slows down,
his words have a way of holding you in the story.
Bacigalupi does a lot to develop different themes in
the book. There is opportunity to compare and contrast characters in poverty
and characters that have it all. The futuristic theme has lots of possibilities
as well. Climate change, natural resources, and genetic mutations are all
concepts that can carry lofty discussions. Other interesting themes include
loyalty, greed, and trust. It is clear at every point in the story why this
book was chosen as a major contributor to young adult literature.
Awards
and Reviews:
2011 Printz Award Winner
National Book Award Finalist
“Vivid, brutal, and thematically rich, this
captivating title is sure to win teen fans for the award-winning Bacigalupi.”--Booklist
"This thriller will grab and keep readers'
attentions as Nailer and Nita 'crew up' in their fight to survive."--The Horn Book
Connections:
*Create a Brown-Bag Book Review. Place items in the
bag that reflect major characters and events in the story.
*Compare and contrast the characters Nailer and
Nita.
*Create a digital book trailer for the book.
*Do further research on ship breaking.
*Listen to the audio version of the book.
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