Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

This novel takes place in a not so distant post-apocalyptic future set on the American Gulf Coast. Our protagonist Nailer works light crew; he has the dangerous and dirty job to crawl deep into the wrecks of the ancient oil tankers that line the beach, scavenging copper wire and turning it over to his crew boss. One night a brutal hurricane passes over and a luxurious clipper ship crashes bringing valuable goods that could make them rich. Amid the wreckage, Nailer finds a girl who barely clings to life and will rock his world upside down. He makes tough choices along the way. If he helps her, it could mean his life. This a gritty story with amazing character development. They are complex yet relatable. This is a fast paced read and you'll be taken on quite an adventure. I highly recommend this book as a great summer read.