Book Chop: Ship Breaker

Title: SHIP BREAKER
Author: Paolo Bacigalupo
Genre: Dystopia YA

I first heard about this book at the Writers and Illustrators for Young Readers conference in Sandy, UT last June. The editrix who worked on the book was presenting at the conference, and read samples of books she'd worked on as a way of showing us what she likes. I filed it away in the back of my mind and kept listening.

Last month when I signed with my own agent, she told me that my manuscript reminded her of SHIP BREAKER, as far as the world and the voice. So I decided to check it out.

The premise is a common one for sci-fi: in the future, the world is too polluted by human activity, and [Evironmental Disaster X] changes the layout of the world. In this one, sea levels have risen to dangerous highs, the climate has altered, and there's an overabundance of workers with a major shortage of work to be done. One has to bust butt all day for very little pay in order to survive.

Enter Nailer, a kid who works on a ship-breaking crew. They salvage old tanker ships and sell the material. When a freak hurricane hits the Gulf of Mexico, a high-dollar luxury yacht washes up on shore with a few rich people inside, all dead.

Except one.

Nailer and his friend Pima face a choice: kill the last survivor, salvage her ship and live like kings off what they make, OR, save the survivor and help her get home. Having just had his own near-death experience, Nailer chooses the latter, and the adventure begins.

I can honestly say there was never a dull moment. The narrative was great, the dialogue was engaging, and the characters all had clear and meaningful motivation. The world felt very realistic, and I don't feel like any of the major plot points were contrived or poorly established.

A good, fun book.

I'd probably rate it a PG-13 for language, so be aware of that.