The Dirt on Our Shoes

by Neal Shusterman

T-Bin has been traveling through space for years to deposit its passengers on a new planet, to give them a new life. But now, mere days from arrival, Tanner can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister plot at work. A short story from Guys Other Worlds , edited by Jon Scieszka.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Short Stories, Fiction

50 pages, Unknown Binding

First published August 27, 2013

About the author

Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.

In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.

As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.

Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.

Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”

Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.

Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.

Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."

And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.

Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!

Reviews

[Neil Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gory and gross.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was genius! So clever and so unsettling! The ending has my imagination running wild. It ends in an Adam and Eve note. Tanner and Morena are the first and only humans in Primordius. I'd like to believe the builders truly thought of everything and there are more T-Bins that would arrive in Primordius years down the line.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read most of the Guys Read series and Neal Shusterman’s books. This story is epically great. Yes it is gross. Yes it is nerdy. However, that is exactly what it is was trying to be and it accomplished it profoundly. Short and sweet, this story will entertain SciFi lovers and is perfect for reluctant readers who want some intense reading without 300 pages in between.

[Rikka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short read. Classic Neal Shustermn including all the clever turns of the story.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It follows Tanner, an orphan on a space capsule that was designed by the builders to deliver its contents onto Primordius. His parents have died and he farms his plot of land by himself, but with the water shortage, he barely is able to get enough to drink, let alone wash. Because of his status, he isn't welcome in most places. When he figures out the builder's plan, it's nearly too late for everyone. He manages to save Morena, another orphan after her grandfather died. Everyone who trusted the builders got a horrible surprise - but Tanner and Morena were able to wash and hopefully live.

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story immediately peaked my interest. A colony of people have set off into space in order to establish life on another planet. The people are living in a space craft similar to a canister. It was really brilliant how they had to plan out how they were going to get people to survive in a canister for ~70 years on the journey to the new planet. Of course not everything can go according to plan when your confine ~400 people to living in a can.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a cringe-worthy, belch-inducing, GENIUS short story, the kind I'd expect from the one and only Neal Shusterman.

[Sophia Wordworld · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Dirt on Our Shoes" war meine erste Geschichte der Guys Read Reihe, die ich vor allem gelesen habe, da ich ein großer Fan von Neal Shusterman bin. Und genau wie erwartet: Auf 50 kurzweiligen Seiten wird hier eine intelligente und mitreißende Kurzgeschichte erzählt, die ich sehr gerne gelesen habe.

[Marcin W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting enough short read. Nothing profound here. No point in redo / would not work as longer story IMO or would need to introduce EVERYTHING else to make it go anywhere.
How is there a pristine habitable planet? How is oxygen made?

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not typically a fan of short stories, but this was able to complete an entire story arc. However, I'm not sure the science was accurate, which was distracting. For a short read, this was okay.

[Reba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 50 minute audiobook. Nice for our short road trip. Decent little short story. The irony is strong in this one.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting science fiction YA short story. On the order of Ender's Game. I liked it enough that I'm now reading another book by this author.

[Samuel James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short read

[Philmore Olazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking to populate another planet. Our main protagonist doesn't really think that their mission is what everyone things it is.

[Robert Covey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint is that I wish it was another trilogy by Neal Shusterman. Other than that it was a great short story.