Tools
Ship Breaker 
by Paolo Bacigalupi
Nailer works as part of a disassembly crew for abandoned oil tankers on the US gulf coast, stripping out recyclable materials like copper wiring. If the dangerous conditions and low pay made him think of quitting, there are hundreds of kids begging for the same job. When he lucks out and discovers a windblown luxury yacht that has washed up on the shore with a "swanky" girl on board, it could be the biggest thing ever to happen to him, or it could cause his quick death. The other crews will want to control the yacht, as will his abusive, addicted father, who wouldn't hesitate to hurt Nailer to get what he needs. Soon Nailer and the girl are on the run, with only a beefy, nearly-indestructible, genetically engineered, dog-man named Tool for their companion. Nailer and his new crew must get to safety in the drowned city of New Orleans, or the brutal crews will catch up with them.
(booktalk by Michael Fleming Pacific Cascade Middle School Library)
Ship Breaker
by Paolo Bacigalupi
Hi, my name is Pima. I live in Bright Sands beach on the Gulf Coast with my mother Sadna. My best friend Nailer and I work on light crew, scavenging what we can off of grounded oil tankers, things like copper wire that we can sell so we can have food to eat. Nailer's a good guy, nothing like his father, Richard Lopez. That man is always sliding high on drugs or alcohol and would kill a man without a second thought. Nailer and I, we're always looking for our lucky strike – the discovery that will make us rich so that we never have to go work down in the bowels of a ship again. And then it happens. A big storm, a city wrecker like the kind that took out Orleans one and two, washes a fine new clipper ship ashore, and Nailer and I are the first ones to discover it. The boat is filled with things that we can sell for money – fine china, real silverware, and plenty of brass and copper. Lying on a bed in one of the rooms is a dead girl, pinned under a bookcase, her fingers dripping with gold jewelry. Just as I'm about to cut off her fingers, her eyes open. Blast... I told Nailer we should just cut the rich swank, she's dying anyway, and sell all the scavenge. But I like a said, Nailer's not like his old man. Not only does he rescue the girl, but he swears a blood oath to her. And this isn't just any rich girl – her name is Nita Chaudhury, the daughter of the owner of Patel Global Transit, one of the richest companies in the world. Nailer's hoping that Nita is his ticket to a better life away from Bright Sands beach, but with his father and others on their tail, will he even live to be something other than a shipbreaker?
(booktalk by Rachel McDonald: KCLS teen services staff)
Ship Breaker
by Paolo Bacigalupi
Nailer has lived his whole life in poverty. His one dream is to sail away on a clipper ship. But in this world of ship breakers, Nailer is stuck with his crew. So what will he do when he finds a wrecked ship loaded with treasure? And something else hidden inside...
Now his father is hunting him down. The only way for Nailer to live is to jump on a moving train, and head for the unknown. Where will Nailer's loyalties lie? Read Ship Breaker to find out!
(booktalk and trailer by INLS 530 at UNC, Chapel Hill)
Ship Breaker
by Paolo Bacigalupi
A thrilling concept trailer created by artist Diego G.C. is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJt_gL6r8p0
Last Updated:
April 9, 2012
