In a futuristic world, Nailer, a teenage boy works stripping
grounded ships of copper wiring to make quota for his harsh employer . His employer is his father, an abusive and
unpredictable man. But when he and his
friend Pima come across a clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, he
must make a very important decision.
This ship could set him up for life.
If he and Pima strip the ship before anyone else finds it, they’ll be
very rich. But there’s a problem. A very beautiful and wealthy girl (a swank) is
trapped on the ship. Should Nailer
rescue her and face an uncertain future (possibly even a better future), or
should he let her die and take what he can from the ship, securing his financial
situation forever?This is a fast-paced thriller set in a believable future, where oil is scarce and life is harsh. Nailer is a very likeable character who works hard and believes in loyalty. Although his mother is gone and he can’t count on his father, Nailer has some true friends . His co-worker Pima, and her mother Sadna have always been there for him, even taking him in at night when he needed to get away from his addict father. I really cared about Nailer and his friends and couldn't wait to see what the outcome of his big decision would be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Nailer lives in a dangerous world of drowned
cities, where genetically engineered “half-men” are created to be loyal to
their owners, and survival depends on so many unpredictable situations and who
you know. A National Book Award Finalist, and A Michael
L. Printz Award Winner. I highly recommend this for intermediate
students.
