Shipwreck

“[S]he’s in the girls’ cabin next door. I guarantee you’ll hate her. I should have been an only child.”

Will is telling Luke about his sister, Lyssa. This quote is important because Will’s character has just been introduced, and he is already trying to sway Luke against his sister. This is the first time Will expresses his desire to be an only child, a sentiment that he repeats numerous times, foreshadowing Lyssa’s presumed death toward the end of the book.

“Luke turned back to where brother and sister were snapping at each other. This family was some piece of work. Real funny to joke about criminal records to a guy who had one that would never go away. Like you could get arrested for sibling squabbles, anyway.”

Luke is watching Will and Lyssa bicker while they clean the deck. Lyssa had just cheerily commented to Luke that they almost got a criminal record for fighting, but their lawyer got the charges dropped. This quote captures Luke’s bitterness at the unfairness of having a criminal record for a crime he didn’t commit, as well as his family’s inability to afford a lawyer, while Lyssa jokes about getting a criminal record for arguing with a sibling. Luke understands that their “sibling squabbles” are not typical moments later, but his bitterness about the lawyers remains.

“Never, ever start the engine of a boat without starting the blower first. Otherwise, fuel vapors that have built up there could explode when the engine ignites […] If you forget everything else you learn here, remember this one thing.”

While Mr. Radford goes to pick up Charla and Ian from Guam airport, Captain Cascadden gives Will, Lyssa, and Luke a tour of The Phoenix. He points out the “most important” instrument on the schooner—the blower switch. He explains why it is critically important, and Luke, Lyssa, and Will remember the captain’s words as they try and start the engine later in the book, but—as foreshadowed in this quote—there is a catastrophic explosion.

“We have our own internet out here […] It’s called teamwork. A ship and her crew, coming together to form a web of comradeship and cooperation. What electronic gadget could give you that?”

Ian has just arrived and is distraught at having to leave his computer and Wi-Fi modem behind. Captain Cascadden reassures Ian by introducing The Power of Teamwork and Friendship to the newcomers. However, it is not until disaster strikes that “comradeship and cooperation” significantly grows between the young crew members. Importantly, Captain Cascadden dismisses the usefulness of Ian’s “electronic gadget” fixation, without which Ian would not have learned the survival skills which ultimately save him, Luke, Charla, and Will.

“You’re a flake, J.J. […] but you’re not an idiot. Even you can see that these little happenings of yours are getting worse and worse. You're going to kill somebody one of these days—maybe even yourself.”

Rapaport is J.J.’s father’s assistant who accompanies J.J. to Guam. Rapaport has been instrumental in keeping J.J.’s “little happenings” (shoplifting, property damage, etc.) out of court and the media. In this quote, Rapaport is giving J.J. some advice before leaving him on The Phoenix. Rapaport’s warning foreshadows upcoming events which result in the death of the captain, as well as J.J.’s own disappearance following the explosion on The Phoenix.

“‘Captain, my father is a powerful man in Hollywood,’ said J.J. smoothly. ‘I know he'd make it worth your while if you put me on a plane back to the States.’ Captain’s eyes never wavered […]. ‘This is the States, crewman.’ ‘You know—the real States. LA.’”

The Phoenix just left the dock in Guam, and J.J. is still trying to persuade the captain to let him go back home. J.J.’s arrogance and ignorance are captured in this exchange between J.J. and the captain. J.J. flaunts his wealth and father’s “power” while insulting the captain by implying that the captain is open to bribery. J.J.’s bigoted snobbery is shown by his ignorance about Guam being a United States territory, and his dismissive response when the captain corrects him reveals that in J.J.’s warped world view, Guam cannot possibly be a part of “the real States.”

“Didn’t it figure? They gave Lyssa the easy sail. It had been like that from the beginning. She was always the sweet little baby, while Will was the older one who should know better. People loved Lyssa. The good looks in her family were all hers; he got stuck with freckles. She was a straight-A student; he struggled.”

The Phoenix leaves the dock, and the new crew are set to work. As Will is raising the mainsail with Charla, he sees that Lyssa has been given the task of working the staysail. In this quote, Will focuses on everything Lyssa does, putting a negative spin on it while pitying himself. Will’s insecurities are deep-seated, and this quote illustrates how far back they go. It is interesting that Will doesn’t mind that J.J., Ian, and Luke have all also been tasked with easier sails, highlighting his single-minded focus on Lyssa as the person he is in constant competition with.

“‘It's your ticket out, Charla…It's your ticket up…Your ticket to college…Your ticket to a better life.’ She heard those words 20 times a day from her father. ‘Pick one sport. You're spreading yourself too thin. It's your ticket to the Olympic team. Go, go, go.’”

Charla’s painful memories of her father pushing her to work harder, shown in this quote, are triggered by Luke’s compliments about her sporting skills: “You’re the perfect kid! What—your parents signed you up because you’re too good?”(29). Charla’s father made her feel that she was never good enough, and it was her duty to be the best so that her poor family could have a better life. The words in this quote were spoken to Charla by her father when she was only 12, and his pressure resulted in her psychological crisis that led her to the CNC course.

“Luke had never seen the mate this happy. Rat-face was so nasty that it took everybody’s combined misery to put him in a good mood.”

This quote highlights the evil core of Radford’s nature. Luke notes that Radford’s delight stems from his success in making the young crew seasick by feeding them greasy food during rough weather. Seeing the adolescents’ blistered hands and watching them throw up in misery fuels Radford’s joy, which makes Luke determined to throw up in private. At this point in the story, Radford’s behavior is tempered by the presence of the captain, who does have the crew’s well-being at heart. When the captain dies, Radford will let his true nature take center stage.

“The captain threw back his head and laughed heartily. ‘Steady on, my boy, this is an ordinary day at the office for The Phoenix. She's been in seas twice this size and come through with flying colors. She's a fine ship, seaworthy in every way.’”

This quote is Captain Cascadden’s reply to Will’s question, asking whether they are in trouble. A storm is tossing the schooner around, but this quote shows that the captain has the boat under control. This quote is important because it provides context for the huge mistake that J.J. makes in taking over and trying to raise the sail. The Phoenix was never in trouble, and if J.J. had simply followed directions, which presents his core flaw, they would have come through the storm “with flying colors.”

“‘No!’ J.J. protested. ‘We don’t have to get blown around like this!’ Radford shot him a fierce look. ‘You gonna ask your famous daddy to pay off the storm and make it go away?’ ‘We can outrun it!’ J.J. argued. ‘We've got more wind than we know what to do with! Just put up the sails and fly!’ Radford shook his head in disgust and rushed away.”

This quote captures the pivotal moment that J.J. decides to take things into his own hands and raise the sails. It is important to note Radford’s comments. Radford mocks J.J. and, rather than explain why they can’t raise the sails, Radford sneers at J.J. and “rushes away.” J.J. is responsible for the accident that ultimately sinks the schooner and kills the captain, but the tragedy could have been avoided if Radford had responded to J.J.’s suggestion in a reasonable way or attempted to explain the circumstances to him. Therefore, the tragic sequence of events is also Radford’s fault.

“Luke was in a trance, experiencing a few seconds in a slow, almost lazy time warp of crystal-clear thought. He was going to drown—he was sure of that […] It was almost funny. Luke Haggerty had avoided Williston. Instead he had chosen—a death sentence.”

In the moments before this quote, the captain is thrown overboard, and The Phoenix plunges underwater, taking Luke down with it. This quote is important because it is the first time that Luke, the protagonist, faces the possibility of death. Even in this dire situation, Luke does not panic, but rather muses on the bizarre journey leading to this moment, highlighting his accepting, reflective character.

“It was tough to be the captain's pet when the captain wasn't around anymore. Instantly, Will felt terrible for his thoughts. A man was dead and gone, and he was almost celebrating the fact that it made things harder for Lyssa.”

Will watches Radford yell at Lyssa when she tells him the ERIRP is broken, and Will’s instinct is to take pleasure in seeing Lyssa get scolded. However, his ability for self-reflection is shown by his quick recognition that this response is completely inappropriate. This quote shows that Will’s feelings for Lyssa are more complicated than simply wishing she wasn’t his sister.

“‘Tomorrow’s another day […]. Why don’t you kids get some sleep? I’ll look after things up here […]. You can’t save your life if you kill yourself doing it […]. You did a lot of good work today—in a tough situation. I’m—’ His face twisted. ‘I’m proud of you.’”

Radford is talking to the young crew in this quote. Earlier in the day, J.J. mistakenly opened the life-raft, after which Radford became silent and deep in thought. This quote captures Radford’s dramatic change of character—for the first time, he seems reasonable and kind. However, it turns out that this is Radford’s way of saying goodbye to the kids that he is about to abandon on the sinking schooner: By sending them to their bunks, he gives himself time to prepare for his escape. The authenticity of his statement of pride in the children is unlikely given that he will soon abandon them.

“‘I’ve got news for you,’ Luke told him. ‘You’re not the center of the universe. Nobody’s watching you through hidden cameras. If this boat sinks, you’re going to drown along with the rest of us, because the ocean doesn’t care who your daddy is!’ ‘That’s your opinion,’ J.J. said smugly.”

The six young, inexperienced crew members are alone on the sinking schooner. J.J. calls the others “saps” for not realizing that their situation is a setup, created by CNC to test them. This ridiculous suggestion is met with outrage by Luke. In this quote, Luke is laying out the facts to J.J., which are promptly dismissed by J.J.’s smug response to the obvious truth. Luke’s words and J.J.’s response capture J.J.’s arrogance, but the quote also hints at something sadder: J.J. knows that he is not the center of his father’s universe, which is why he acts up, but he still chooses to believe that his father is involved in an elaborate scheme for his benefit.

“My own father sends me halfway around the world just so he won’t have to look at me, but you don’t want anyone to find out you’re a star!”

As J.J. speaks to Charla, he clearly knows his father doesn’t care about him after reading their personal files. Not only is this quote important because it reveals a possible reason for J.J.’s obnoxious behavior, but it is also the turning point for J.J., who starts helping the others pump out water rather than sunbathe. J.J. claims he is helping because he is “bored,” but in reality, he has finally accepted that his father is not coming to save him. This quote also speaks to J.J.’s anger upon realizing the truth, as he turns his anger to Charla, even momentarily.

“‘She knows this stuff,’ Will said fervently. ‘She got an A on that science project.’”

Will is talking to Luke in this quote. Lyssa is teaching the others how to fan the engine room while she tries to start the engine, and Luke simply questions the safety of her plan. Will has consistently put Lyssa down in his thoughts—even regarding the science project mentioned in this quote, but here, he jumps to her defense. This shows the deep love and pride that Will truly feels for Lyssa, hidden beneath his insecurities and jealousy.

“The decision was made. A slim chance was better than no chance at all. Luke threw himself off the cabin top and hit the water.”

Luke manages to climb onto the upturned cabin top floating amongst the burning wreckage of The Phoenix. He hears Will and sees him struggling in the water. Luke is unable to paddle the cabin top to Will, so he must decide: risk his own life and swim to Will or stay on cabin top. This quote captures Luke’s noble decision and the reasoning behind it. Luke thinks that a slim chance at saving someone else’s life is worth risking his own life for, highlighting the stark contrast between Luke’s honorable character and Radford’s selfishness.

“‘Ian!’ Luke cried. ‘Drop that sail!’ […] The younger boy was ready to sink to the bottom of the ocean rather than let go of a large piece of half-charred foresail and a yellow rubber rain hat.”

In this quote, Luke—who is on the floating cabin top—is shouting to Ian, who is struggling to swim to the cabin top while dragging the foresail and rainhat. Ian does not let go of the sail or hat—items which end up saving the survivors by providing shade and a vessel to collect rainwater in. This quote shows the determination and clear-mindedness of Ian despite being the youngest member of the crew, as well as revealing a silver lining to his addiction to TV.

“Then Will spoke. ‘Aw, Lyss, I knew you’d bust it.’ Luke gazed at him in concern. ‘Will? You okay?’ ‘That’s the last thing I said to her […] She rebuilt the engine on guts alone, and that was the thanks she got from me.’”

This quote is Will musing out loud on the floating cabin top after a period of silence as the survivors think about J.J. and Lyssa, who are missing. Will’s words show that he is full of regret about the way he treated Lyssa, underscoring that his true feelings toward his sister are those of love and pride.

“‘J.J. was right all along!’ Will explained. ‘The captain and Radford are watching us! The others were in trouble, so they moved in and saved them. They haven’t saved us yet because we’re doing okay.’”

J.J. came up with the theory that the captain going overboard and the damage to The Phoenix were all special effects created by CNC to test the young crew. J.J. invented this scenario rather than admit that he caused the captain’s death—a method of self-preservation. In this quote, Will is shown using the same technique and latching onto J.J.’s outlandish proposal rather than facing the fact that Lyssa has likely drowned. The truth for both J.J. and Will is too hard to accept.

‘‘Hey, Ian,’ mumbles Luke listlessly. ‘Don’t you think it’s time to close up the Encyclopedia Boronica and give us all a break?’ The boy flushed redder than his harsh sun and windburn. ‘I talk too much,’ he said sadly. ‘I’m boring.’ ‘I was just kidding.’ Luke was instantly sorry. ‘If it wasn’t for you and the Discovery Channel, we’d be dead already. Talk all you like.’”

The survivors have been floating on the ocean for days, and Ian has been incessantly regurgitating facts he learned from the Discovery Channel. When Luke finally can’t take it anymore, he tells Ian to stop. Ian seems devastated, flushing and putting himself down, highlighting his low self-esteem. Luke, true to his kind nature, immediately retracts his criticism and rebuilds Ian’s confidence, giving Ian credit for their survival and telling him to carry on talking. This quote reinforces the characteristics of both Ian and Luke and reinforces Luke’s character as a leader.

“None of them deserved this, but the little kid was the most innocent of them all, guilty of nothing more than watching too much TV. Now here he lay, with a bird perched on his head.”

Luke is the only conscious survivor on the floating cabin top, and in this quote, he is thinking about their situation and how they don’t deserve to die like this. This quote underscores Luke’s kind and empathic nature as he dwells on young Ian’s innocence rather than his own. This quote also covers the moment that Luke realizes they are close to land, as he sees a bird on Ian’s head. Luke initially dismisses the bird as a hallucination, convinced it is an image generated by his dying mind.