TEEN: Ship Breaker 2: The Drowned Cities - Paolo Bacigalupi

Release Date: 01/05/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
In this exhilarating companion to Printz Award winner and National Book Award finalist Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalupi brilliantly captures a dark future America that has devolved into unending civil wars, driven by demagogues who recruit children to become soulless killing machines. Two refugees of these wars, Mahlia and Mouse, are known as 'war maggots': survivors who have barely managed to escape the unspeakable violence plaguing the war-torn lands of the Drowned Cities. But their fragile safety is threatened when they discover a wounded half-man--a bioengineered war beast named Tool, who is hunted by a vengeful band of soldiers. When tragedy strikes, Mahlia is faced with an impossible decision: risk everything to save the boy who once saved her, or flee to her own safety. Drawing upon the brutal truths of current events, The Drowned Cities is a powerful story of loyalty, survival, and heart-pounding adventure. 

REVIEW:
Having read Shipbreaker last year, I was more than interested to see how the world would develop in future stories as it was dark enough to begin with. What this loose sequel to the original story does is amerces the reader into this dark apocalyptic future and takes them on an adventure where the cost of life and death is measured in seconds and choices have severe consequences. It’s well written, the prose as well as pace sharp and when added to dealing with harsh facts it’s a tale that needs the reader’s full attention as they get deeper within the pages. Add to this Paolo’s wonderfully addictive writing style as well as his ability to take you there in an almost cinematic manner and you know that its definitely a story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned. 

 

TEEN: Ship Breaker - Paolo Bacigalupi

Release Date: 07/07/11

BOOK BLURB:

Nailer's time is running out. He's getting too big for his work ? stripping copper wire from old oil tankers ? and once he's off the crew he's on his own, stuck in a shack on the beach with no food, no money and no way of earning his keep. He has one last chance. The thing all crew members dream about, a lucky strike, has hit in the shape of a clipper ship beached during the last hurricane. If he can hold off the rest of the scavengers long enough to get the oil out, he might just have a future. But oil's not the only thing on the ship. And what Nailer finds is going to change his life forever.


REVIEW:

The Teen market is one that is growing up and doing it fast as this title by Paolo Bacigalupi has gone to prove. Whilst many stick with the sweetness and light of first love, this book dives into the seedy underbelly of a bleak future where the world has gone to hell and the only way for many to make money is to salvage what they can which is the existence (if you can call it that) of Nailer proves in this gripping new title by Paolo.

Back that up with some great prose, decent pace and a lead character that the reader will get to grips with fairly quickly and it’s a title that really will keep you glued as you wonder as to his fate before the final page is turned. All in this was a great find by Atom and one that demonstrates that plenty of foreign authors have a voice that will attune itself to other languages when given a chance. Great stuff all in.