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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Significant violence; fights and deaths in a brutal survival world
Language
Some
Some strong language; gritty dystopian register
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
Drug use is part of the dystopian world-building
Emotional Intensity
Some
Class exploitation, moral choice, and the psychological demands of survival
What this book is about
Nailer scavenges oil tankers on a flood-ravaged Gulf Coast, working the light crew in poisonous tunnels. When he finds a wrecked clipper ship with a valuable girl inside, he must choose between profit and conscience. Bacigalupi's YA National Book Award finalist is a propulsive dystopian adventure with genuine moral weight and vivid world-building.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Significant violence
Child labor themes
Drug use in world-building
Reader Verification
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