Craphound

"Craphound" by Cory Doctorow is a science fiction story about Jerry, a guy who loves hunting for cool stuff at rummage sales, whose life gets turned upside down when he meets Craphound, an alien who has a super special talent for spotting amazing junk. Set in modern times, the story looks at what happens when humans and aliens connect, raising questions about what we own, what we think is important, and how different cultures see things. Their friendship deepens even more when they start fighting over an awesome old cowboy trunk packed with memories; as Craphound's secret is revealed, so too is the importance of old junk and what they mean to people. In the end, Jerry and the reader learn a powerful lesson about what it means to value someone or something, who we are, and how special old items can be to all sorts of people.