Written by: Neal Shusterman
APA citation: Shusterman, N. (2015). Challenger deep. New York: HarperTeen.
Cover image: https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/18075234-challenger-deep
My summary of the plot: Caden is on a ship that is going to the deepest part of the ocean. Caden is also a high school student/artist who is designing a game with his friends. His friends and family are starting to notice his increasingly erratic behavior. Caden is torn between his two realities. Is he on a ship or living with his parents?
Keywords: Schizophrenia, teenage artists, mental institutions
My assessment: Challenger Deep was interesting. I figured out pretty quickly that the boat sequences were imaginary or fantasy. I didn’t expect them to be hallucinatory because of the main character’s mental illness so that was an interesting twist. I thought this book was weird in a cool way if that makes any sense. This book was scary, and confusing, and heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful. It was very well written.
“Dead kids are put on pedestals, but mentally ill kids get hidden under the rug” (N.P.).
Audio review: Michael Curran-Dorsano is believable as a teen.
Citation for audio book: Shusterman, N. (2015). Challenger deep. [Audio Recording]. Ashland, OR: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Review from a library journal:
Gr 9 Up— Caden Bosch lives in two worlds. One is his real life with his family, his friends, and high school. There he is paranoid for no reason, thinks people are trying to kill him, and demonstrates obsessive compulsive behaviors. In his other world, he’s part of the crew for a pirate captain on a voyage to the Challenger Deep, the ocean’s deepest trench. There he’s paranoid, wary of the mercurial captain and his mutinous parrot, and tries hard to interpret the mutterings of his fellow shipmates as they sail uncharted waters toward unknown dangers. Slowly, Caden’s fantasy and paranoia begin to take over, until his parents have only one choice left. Shusterman’s latest novel gives readers a look at teen mental illness from inside the mind of Caden Bosch. He is a credible and sympathetic character, and his retreat into his own flawed mind is fascinating, full of riddles and surrealism. Shusterman based the novel on his son’s mental illness, and Brendan’s input regarding his diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and psychiatric care makes the novel ring true. Teens, especially fans of the author’s other novels, will enjoy this book. VERDICT This affecting deep dive into the mind of a schizophrenic will captivate readers, engender empathy for those with mental illnesses, and offer much fodder for discussion.
Citation for book review: Miller Cover, H. (2015). Challenger Deep. School Library Journal,61(2), 108.
Recommendations for library or classroom use: I would recommend this book to anyone (adults also) that is interested in learning more about mental illness.
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