Ship Breaker-Meaning of Family

In this book there are several meanings of family.  For Nailer his family is his father, who beats him and does drugs in front of him.  The only family Nailer has ever known is his father that is currently searching for him so he can kill him.  This is very different from the thought of family that Nita knows.

When she gets kidnapped by Pyce, her father is willing to do anything to get her back.  Nita's father will ruin his company for Nita so Pyce can take it over.  She knows her father would do anythig for her.  She sees family as the most important part of her life. 

This difference isn't just because of their class or where they were raised.  For example, Pima's mother.  Nailer knows that she would protect both he and Pima.  Nailer considers them more of his family than his dad.  In both cases however who each person considers their family the ones who care about them the most.

There are two different definitions of family.  One is the dictionary definition which is, "a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not" (dictioary.com).  The other is the people you love and spend your time with.  Both of these definitions of family are present in Ship Breaker. 

The people I call my family are my mom, dad, sister, and brother.  These are the people related to me by blood and also the people that I spend my time with.  I can relate my family to the connection between Nailer and Pima's mother.  My family is also looking out for me and always wants the best for me. 

Family is a large concept in Ship Breaker.  It gives both types of family and what they do for one another.  I t shows the importance of family in each characters life and how their family has effected who they are.