Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Title: Ship Breaker

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 81% or B-

Buy It: Amazon

In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life.…

My Thoughts::
When I had the chance to review this book when it was first coming out, I didn't take it. I wasn't as into dystopian books back then, and this one didn't even start to appeal to me. But when I was given the offer to review it again for it's paperback publication, I read the synopsis again and was strangely excited and curious about it. I accepted it right after that.

The book painted a vividly different world that I wish we learned more about. Sure, we knew plenty about what life was life for several different kinds of people and even the social hierarchy, but what about the past? I'd love to know what lead to the world becoming that way. I know Bacigalupi is writing more about this new world, and I hope it reveals the answers that I'm seeking. Because the only thing better than a dystopian read, is knowing the events that caused it.

Nailer was great, and amazingly I wasn't in love with him. For some reason we get to know this amazing guy who is so so so good, but I'm not swooning in the least. Maybe since he was the narrator and we don't get to hear about how gorgeous he is, I'm not interested. In books I always have to read about characters taking the wrong path when we're all screaming at the not to, Nailer wasn't like that. He always took the right path even when it was harder for him. Thankfully he didn't come off as the perfect person, just someone who could see right from wrong and make decisions that seem impossible. 

The book contained almost impossible situations to get out of. I know that it's important to keep a book exciting, but it just never ended with this one. It didn't go completely overboard, but a break would have been appreciated. Another thing that bugged me was the lack of explanations. Things just kept happening but I didn't know why or how things got figured out.

Overall I think Bacigalupi crafted an original story that serves as one of the many ways that we can envision our future. I'd recommend this book to someone who enjoys books about seaside life with the ships, or just fans of the dystopian genre.