44 pages 1 hour read

Gordon Korman

Shipwreck

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2001

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Chapters 4-6

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 4 Summary: “Tuesday, July 11, 0730 Hours”

As The Phoenix motors out of the harbor Luke thinks that, while this situation is unpleasant, it is better than being in Williston Juvenile Detention Facility.

J.J. is still arguing with the captain—telling him that his powerful father will make it “worth [the captain’s] while” to put him on a flight back to the US. After pointing out that Guam is in the US, the captain also shares that it was J.J. father who paid for J.J. to be on The Phoenix.

Will, afraid of what is ahead, silently pleads with the sky: “If I get out of this […] I’ll never cheat on another math test […] I’ll floss” (20, 21). Radford interrupts his wishful thinking and sends him to raise the mainsail with Charla. Will sees Lyssa raising the smallest sail with J.J., which triggers his simmering resentment toward her. Will resents his sister’s good looks, academic achievements, and friendly personality. When the sails have been raised, Will looks down at his blistered and bleeding hands. He catches sight of Lyssa enjoying herself, angering him. He remembers why they are there: An argument had escalated into a fight that landed them both in the hospital with a police report.