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Jul 27, 2016BWilsoned rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a great example of a children's book that can be enjoyed by all ages of readers. Icebreaker is the original function of the ship, <i>Oyster,</i> sent out to the southern seas during an anti-machine craze. Three hundred years later, the <i>Oyster</i> is still at sea and its crew has developed into three tribes in relation to their jobs and workplaces on board: Braid (officers), Grease (engineers), and Duff (cooks). Only 12-year-old Petrel, the Nothing Girl, has no tribe on the ship, and spends hers days, and nights, dodging bullies, scrounging for food, and mastering her particular art of hiding and appearing dull and stupid so she won't be noticed. Petrel's only friends are 2 curiously long-lived rats named Mister Smoke and Missus Slink, until one day Petrel spots a boy on a berg. With the newcomer on board, tensions and accusations rise, culminating in a world-changing climax. Truths are revealed, the sleeping captain is awakened, and the Nothing Girl reclaims her rightful name.