Nailer

In his late teens, Nailer is the principal protagonist and main character of the novel “Ship Breaker” by Paolo Bacigalupi. Nailer works the light crew on salvage, going into ducts to retrieve copper wire. He is close friends with crew mate Pima, and her mother. Nailer’s mother is dead, and his father is a drunkard and a drug-addict who routinely, savagely beats Nailer. Nailer struggles to survive.

When Nailer is nearly killed at work, Sadna tells Nailer that his life is a gift and he has been spared for a reason. Nailer and Pima later find Nita’s clipper wrecked on the shore, and they struggle to keep her alive. Nailer ultimately travels with Tool and Nita to Orleans to find captains loyal to Nita’s father. Nailer rescues Nita when she is captured. He is given work as a grease monkey on the Dauntless when the...