This book is a blue puzzle pice of emotional genius. I am affected. At first I felt like I was sliding headfirst and upside down a water slide of skittles. The prose was…woah. Like Alice in Wonderland. This is the kind of story that gets lodged in your throat until you either shout or wail about its marvellousness.
I WILL SHOUT.
It’s about living with mental illness. I’ve read books about schizophrenia before, but Challenger Deep is pretty much incomparable. The protagonist, Caden, is hospitalised for most of the book, but we spend so much time in his delusions. Probably more in his delusions than in “real life”. I did appreciate that the book was NOT about labels and boxes. So often I think diagnosis don’t fit in-real-life like they do in books…so this made the book even more real. It took me on a very real roller coaster ride through medication and therapy and the pits of despair and recovery and how mental illness is something you manage, not cure. There is no and-then-boy-met-girl-and-all-his-troubles-ceased! No. THANK GOODNESS. Challenger Deep wins the world.
This is a very personal book too, and you can totally feel that while reading. You HAVE to read the author’s note. He quotes that 1 in 3 people suffer from mental illness, and most of the experiences in this book come from his own personal family life, particularly his son. (His son did the artwork for the book, pictured above.) Imagine putting so MUCH of yourself and your family in a book?!! It’s incredibly brave. And I think it makes a huge difference. I just felt so connected to the book the whole time. It’s literally extraordinary.
Okay, but just so you know before you go in: half the book is imaginary and half is actual life. I confess! I was more interested in the actual real life parts. But I assume, often, it was a parallel. I personally didn’t always make the connections but sometimes I DID. I also love how, subtly, towards the end, the imaginary chapters were leaking into the real-life ones. It was so seamless and sort of terrifying. I had a rocky start with the beginning because NOTHING made sense. But either I got used to it, or it smoothed out, but either way, the writing is flawless. It’s delusional. It explains and makes you experience the fear and horror of being caught in delusions and knowing it’s not real, but having to believe it anyway.
Also, Caden’s family just are great. While Caden’s losing himself in the delusions, they’re there for him. CAN I JUST SAY, THANK YOU? It’s so uplifting and hopeful.
So basically? I LOVE THIS STORY. It’s scary and sad and real and confusing — which sums up what it’s like to be mentally ill. It has incredible parallels and the writing is just everything. It explains Caden’s point-of-view with such detail that I really think anyone would empathises with his condition. I’m pretty sure that’s my heart drowning in a puddle over there. S’OKAY. I’M OKAY. This is easily an extraordinary book.
HOLD ME, I’M HAVING AN EMOTION.
Thank you HarperCollins for the ARC! Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman was published April, 2015.
Caden Bosch is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench.
Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior.
Caden Bosch is designated the ship’s artist in residence, to document the journey with images.
Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head.
Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny.
Caden Bosch is torn.
A captivating and powerful novel that lingers long beyond the last page, Challenger Deep is a heartfelt tour de force by one of today’s most admired writers for teens.
Goodreads
➸ SIMILAR TITLES TO TRY…
So the only Neal Shusterman book I’ve ever read is Unwind which was all levels of fantastic but somehow I still haven’t gotten round to trying any others yet. But mental illness is such an important topic and I love reading good depiction of it, so I’ll add this to the TBR and try not to forget about it. (This is a real struggle.) And the drawings are like super pretty even though they’re sort of messed up? I LIKE ABSTRACT ART. (I just suck at making any form of art.)
I do put some of my experiences in my books — i.e. I incorporate way more Chinese culture than is healthy — but since my books normally concern MAGIC and THRONES and DRAGONS (okay, not really) it’s sort of hard for me to base a whole book around my personal experiences. It would be terrifying, though.
I never finished the Unwind series, but I’m going to! It’s on my (infinitely long) to-do list. I need to reread the first one though, because I read it like 3 years ago and details are too hazy.
Darn. I was getting excited because you said “personal experience” and then “dragons”. DON’T TELL ME YOU DON’T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WTIH DRAGONS. I’LL CRY. DON’T FAIL ME LIKE THIS, ALYSSA.
Enjoy your emotion Cait… I know that it’s a rare occurrence!
Being serious though, I think it’s beautiful when authors put themselves and their families into a story, BUT… isn’t that what all authors do anyway? I mean, aren’t books based on the author’s experience usually? I’m not a writer, so I don’t really know!
Beth x
I KNOW RIGHT?! MY COLD HEART IS BEATING LIVELY. :’) I’m so proud of me.
*Adds to infinitely long Goodreads TBR*
The quotes really sold this one 🙂 Seriously, I think I already love the writing style and I’ve read less than 100 words.
As for putting my personal experiences in my stories…yes but no. Sometimes I do, but only if I’ve been through what I’m putting the character through, and it’s more a reference to how I felt than similarities between the two events. Most of the time, I think I’d be too scared – if something happens in reality, everyone is cool with it, if something happens in a story, it somehow has to be MORE believable. (i.e. if someone died by being struck be lightning, everyone would think it sad and tragic and nobody would question the plausability. If you killed someone off like that in a book, people would probably be very sarcastic and complain that the writer just wanted rid of the character.)
*hide so your TBR doesn’t glower at me* I’M SORRY BUT I’M NOT ACTUALLY SORRY. I know, right, though?! Those quotes. I die of happiness with this kind of extraordinary writing. iT DESERVES A SHINY STICKER. Or something.
*nods in agreement with you* And also the fact, I feel, that criticism would be so much more…personal? I would be terrified. :O
DUDE THIS SOUNDS AWESOME. And anything with a five-star rating from you earns my immediate intrigue. How have I not even heard of this book??
As for personal experiences in books…I did that pretty heavily with my NaNo novel last year. I’m reading it back now (since I’ve finished this draft of Daisy) and…it’s pretty confronting. But those stories always seem more real to me. Like It’s Kind of a Funny Story – that books hit me so hard. So I think it’s risky for the individual, but maybe good for readers?
WHAT. YOU HAVEN’T EVEN HEARD OF IT??!! EMILY. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN. heeh. But, no, really, it’s absolutely incredible and you know how stingy I am with the 5-stars. xD (I think I’m growing into a mean ol’ bookworm these days so I feel uber good when I find a book to give 5-stars to.)
I think personal experience is okay, as long as it’s fiction. This book really affected me, because I have had family members with mental illness, and it was so honest. Life goes on, after all. I have read one book (good enough by Paula Yoo) that was very much her about her personal experience(told through fiction) and then she didn’t write anymore novels. So I think it’s dangerous to put so much of yourself out there without creativity or something (like the ship) to counter it. I think personal experience-like diversity or bullying is okay in a book as long as it’s oblique and it doesn’t become about you. Challenger Deep is really awesome, thanks for the review!
I totally think it’s dangerous…particularly if your book isn’t well received because doesn’t it make the criticism really personal?! *gulps*
WOW. THIS. SOUNDS. GOOD. Albeit a little depressing? I’ve never ever read a Shusterman novel before–though I HAVE been meaning to. Definitely adding this to my TBR list xD
It’s actually not as depressing as I thought it’d be!! I feel like the ending was kinda hopeful. I MEAN. KINDA. NO SPOILERS THOUGH. SO YEAH. GO READ IT AND THEN WE CAN TALK. XD
Shusterman is one of my favourite authors. I’ll check this one out, even if it seems different to Unwind. Great review.
I neeeed to finish the Unwind series. The first time I read Unwind (it was like 3 years ago, though) I absolutely freaked myself out. XD
This book sounds AMAZING!!!! You did not steer me wrong with Alice and the Fly so I think I will have to read this one as well. Thank you for adding to my ever growing TBR. 🙂
YES I AM 100% TRUSTWORTHY. *nods* It’s so different to Alice, but they’re both just incredible in different ways. I actually like comparing the different perspectives.
This book sounds terrific. I didn’t know Neal Shusterman used a lot of personal experiences in it. That’s also amazing that his son did the illustrations. I haven’t read any of Neal’s books before, but I’m seriously interested in this one.
His books are sooooo good. Well. I’ve only read 3 altogether now, but they’ve all been 4.5 and 5-star reads. SO YEAH. I’m just a microscopically bit addicted.
The cover. *_*
Those quotes. *_*
The topic. *_*
His (mentally ill?) son drew the pictures. *_*
OMG, I’m freaking OUT!
YOU NEED IT BASICALLY. YES.
I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BEGINNING TOO, and I didn’t understand some parts, but I guess that’s okay because this was such an eye opener to schizophrenia and it made me aware of what the mental illness ACTUALLY IS. And I love how this is based on his son.
ME TOO. I was really freaking out that I wouldn’t be able to get onboard (har har) with it because of the wildness and weirdness and I was like “What the heeeck is going on”. But it turns out that was PERFECT. I couldn’t love it more, tbh.
I have not read Challenger Deep yet but I so need to!!!!!! I’ve been hearing so many good things about it, and I love the write-up. Gah, how could make me want it more, Cait! It’s very cruel of you. *pouts* I loved the quotes you included–and also, I am in awe of your photography skills. 🙂 Also, five stars–I have seen one of the mythical five star reviews. I have to go read this book now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES SEE? I AM CAPABLE OF 5-STAR REVIEWS!!! *flails* I actually have a few 4-star reviews coming up too. 😉 And then I’ll hit you guys with the mini-reviews-of-horror again. Gah. I’m awful.
I actually haven’t read anything by this author, but this book sounds like the kind of books that will make me cry, which I like. Gonna add this to my tbr now!
Anyway, I think it’s great of author put their real experiences in their book. It’ll make the book feel more realistic 🙂
Books that make one cry are THE BEST. Although I didn’t actually tear up in this one I just felt…woah. Emotional roller coaster.
This sounds brilliant, I’m adding it to my TBR right now.
I agree that it’s very brave to put your own experiences into a novel, but I think that’s what makes them more realistic. As we said on your blog post about diverse characters, unless you experience it yourself, it’s hard to make it 100% authentic feeling, so I applaud authors including their own experiences.
EXACTLY. And it makes me trust the book so much because I know the author’s been there!
I read this book a couple of months ago for review and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I don’t very often connect with books with a male protagonist, for some reason, but this one really worked for me. I loved how the story was structured and how the illustrations actually contributed something to the story.
FJADKLF I JUST HAVE SO MANY EMOTIONS ABOUT THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. *hyperventilates quietly* I really connected to Caden too.
I’m ashamed that I haven’t read ANYTHING by Neil, and I own Unwind, I just need to read it, you know? *sigh* I’ll get there, but this? THIS SOUNDS FABULOUSLY HEARTBREAKING. Thank you for putting it on my radar!<3
OKAY. AMANDA. YOU NEED FIX THIS ASAP. I’m going to reread Unwind eventually because I want to finish that series and also see if it terrifies me as much as it did the first time. Zomg. I was absolutely a mess after reading it the first time (maybe like 3 years ago now? So I could be too coldhearted to be affected, hhehhh. WE SHALL SEE)
I think it’s great when authors are brave enough to put real experiences into their books (and then actually admit it). I’m too much of a chicken to ever want to do that, but I’m always impressed with people who are completely unashamed of who they are.
NO I HAVEN’T READ THIS YET, THANKS FOR RUBBING IT IN. 😀 Still waiting for the obnoxiously slow readers at my library to finish up. Soooooon.
I AM A CHICKEN TOO. I would just freak. heeh. The criticism would be so muh more personal, right? GAWSH. THOSE OBNOXIOUSLY SLOW READERS NEED TO BE SUBTLY GLARED AT.
I think that you always put something of yourself in anything you write. To me writing is about how you view the world and the way people interact with each other and themselves so in a way it’s inevitable.
To put that much of yourself in a book however is just brave and I admire that. I think that of course some of the criticism might hurt more but you have to weigh that against what I think would be a rather liberating feeling. Like talking to your best friend about something difficult.
That is so true! I think it’s unavoidable to put us into our writing…although I think this takes it to a BIG level. I would be so nervous of how people received it. *gulps* But I haven’t heard anything negative about Challenger Deep so far.
Yeah. I’ve been toying with a couple of play ideas inspired by my own life but I don’t think I’m quite ready yet for that. One thing to see it written, another to see it out on stage. They’re still there though. one day.
I MUST READ THIS! It sounds so good!!!!! I’m putting it on my TBR list right now!
Personally, I love it when an author uses their real experiences in books–things are so much more believeable, somehow. As I writer, I use a lot of myself and my own story in my books, but sometimes it just feels like I’m being lazy…somehow…I’m probably just downgrading myself and that’s bad. 🙁
Anywhoo I WANT TO READ THIS BOOK NOW.
~Jamie
YOU MUST GO READ IT, HONESTLY IT IS THAT GOOD. And I totally agree…it makes things sooo believable. It’s nice to shut up my over-analysing brain for once and just say “ACCEPT THIS. THE AUTHOR LIVED IT.” HEHE.
Oooh, this sounds amazing! I wish I knew about it sooner. I have been holding Mental Illness May on my blog, and this sounds like a really intriguing and interesting, yet poignant read. I must get hold of a copy! Thank you for the brilliant review, Cait!
I think it’s really wonderful when an author bases a book on their own experiences. It’s so brave, and it just feels like an honour that they’ve shared something so personal with you; although anyone can read that book, when the book is in my hands, it’s just me and the author’s words, and I get just so overwhelmed at their courage. Like with All the Bright Places. I think that book hit me harder knowing that it was based on Niven’s own experiences. I was a mess when I met her because I was just in so much awe, but kind of hurting at the same time because Finch… and yet her… Too much. But wonderful. (I didn’t cry, I just wasn’t as coherent as I wanted to be. I was emotional.)
So yes! More books with authors being brave, please! If they feel they can, no pressure. Really want to read It’s Kind of a Funny Story too, thought I’d not heard of Alice and the Fly before, so I’ll look that up.
Omg, yes, I nearly forgot about the origins of All the Bright Places. *mops copious amounts of tears* And have you heard of The Last Time We Say Goodbye? The author based it off her own brother’s suicide. ZOMG. I would not be strong enough to write like that. These authors are so admirable. (Alice and the Fly is INCREDIBLE.)
I’ve not heard of The Last Time We Say Goodbye, but I am going to immediately look it up! Thank you for the rec! 🙂
I MUST read this! My sister has been struggling with mental illness for a very long time, and my mother has been ill all of my life. Mostly there are just questions and questions and false diagnostics and everyone trying to tell everyone that everyone’s FINE, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Thanks for the review- I’ll be sure to pick this up!
DUUUUDE I THINK YOU WILL LIKE THIS ONE, THEN. I have experience with MI (although not schizophrenia) in my family too so these kind of books are all very personal and…yeah. I adore it when they’re done right. MY PINEAPPLE HEART IS GLAD.
This book looks SO good, and I can’t wait to read it! I don’t think I’d be too afraid to include real experiences in my writing, since we all unconsciously do that one way or another. I might be too afraid to admit that I’ve experienced that, though. And writing is already a personal endeavour, so why not go all the way?
YES! EXACTLY! I feel like it’s making yourself very vulnerable, right? But still, I absolutely admire Neal Shusterman for saying how personal this is.
I just got this from the library and am so excited to start it Cait! I feel like so many books about mental illness being published aren’t really representations of mental illness – they’re more romanticized than anything else, you know? But I’m so glad this wasn’t like that. Not everyone who has mental illness finds the perfect guy and is rescued from their illness, you know? And wow…those quotes are stunning and I love the sound of the parallels.
Definitely can’t wait to start this! Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥
Oh I agree. Or sometimes they’re just portrayed really…oddly. AND IT’S JUST NOT LIKE THAT. SO HUZZAH FOR BOOKS THAT ARE REALISTIC. I reeeally hope you like this one!!
On the one hand, putting real-life experiences into a book can be risky… especially if it paints some people in a less-than-positive light. On the other hand, there’s the whole “write what you know” thing, and who better to write about something than someone who’s actually lived it?
EXACTLY! It’s kind of a hard decision, right? Plus if people really hate the book and criticise it, as the author, wouldn’t you feel absolutely attacked?! Scary prospect. :O
I don’t believe in perfection but this was a perfectly gorgeous expressive review, Cait. I loved it, like a lot. It’s so fantastic that books about mental illness are being more fairly and accurately represented now- I think the world and the people who are lucky enough to have access to these books need it so badly and I’m just thrilled that it’s happening.
This sounds like such a personal novel, so powerful and intense and painful, and I am absolutely going to give it a go. I think it’s going to be incredibly important. x
N’awww. YA MAKE ME BLUSH, ROMI. *flails* Definitely powerful and painful and….yup. I need chocolate to recover. And basically more Shusterman books asap.
You used the quote! THAT QUOTE!! In- in the title!
Ahem.
This sounds like an amazing book! When I find this book (okay, I’ve been watching Once Upon a Time. . .), I will read it! This sounds realistic. Because “the love interest ships out for the ocean and lives happily ever after,” yeah, that doesn’t happen. I mean, just look at Once Upon a Time- okay, maybe that had nothing to do with mental illnesses (come on, I’m sure some of those fairytale people have some, and if they don’t, surely they’ve developed some now).
Wow, the fact that the author was so personally invested in the book- Wow! I can see that being a good thing for the book. I think it helps the readers a lot. Because the author knows. It’s one thing to hear if from someone who’s researched it; it’s another thing to hear it from someone who goes through this stuff/personally knows people who go through this stuff. They know the reality of it.
It’s also incredibly brave. I don’t know if I could do something like that. I wouldn’t so much be afraid of the criticism from other people. I would fear my family and their criticism. I would fear the people who know me, the people who think they know, the people who recognize themselves in the book (to whose faces I would probably lie blankly to, “You are so paranoid! That’s not you. Don’t be ridiculous.” Not that they would believe me. . .). I would fear the people who feel as if I did them some injustice or who don’t like how I perceive them. I would fear the angry mob with torches banging on my door while I sleep, crying out for my blood!!
Okay, that got a little crazy. But, yeah, I don’t know if I could do that. All the respect goes out to Shusterman! I need to read his books now.
I haven’t watched OUAT but if it’s like most tv series…PSTD is probably there?! heheh. TV SHOWS ARE CRUEL TO THEIR CHARACTERS. (I kind of want to watch it for Peter Pan. xD He sounds evil and epic.) But yesss! It does make me really trust the content of the book when the author has such first-hand experience. But exactly, that’s my worries: The criticism becomes so much more personal, right? That would definitely worry me. HIDE US FROM THE ANGRY MOB AND PITCHFORKS.
YES!! For the first half of the book, the parts where you’re in Caden’s fantasy world are just completely perplexing, but then it all comes together and you realize that it’s amazing!!
I started this week ago but had to put it aside after 12%. Writing style – wise, it reminded me too much of some novels by Don DeLillo. And while I love such novels from time to time, I need to be in the right mood to enjoy them. So I am saving Challenger Dep for some other time. The fact that you had rocky start as well gives me hope that I may get pass 12% in the future and enjoy this book myself. Great review, Cait!
Fair enough!! I was basically sweating at the beginning because I was SO THROWN. I didn’t expect it to be like that and I really struggle with that kind of writing usually…but, gah. I did fall in love. I hope you do manage to get back to it sometime!
Oooops I haven’t read anything by him. I GUESS THIS IS YOUR PLEA COUGH I MEANT ORDER FOR ME TO START SOMETHING BY HIM? Ha! “I did appreciate that the book was NOT about labels and boxes.” this is literally one of the most important things ever! And I love that it’s a diverse book tackling mental illness. Ah, I love the fact that this is so personal. Makes you feel all the more emotions tbh. EEEEEEEEP!!!! *holds you* I am so very intrigued by this book, Cait! I think your job here is done 🙂
*cries in your arms* I BASICALLY NEED CHOCOLATE AND COMFORT, TBH. And yes, you need to read Neal Shusterman. Unwind is terrifying (first book that I ever lost sleep over) and Bruiser is adorable and sad.
Okay, so I didn’t really read the review because I want to dig into this novel without preconceived expectations but THAT first quotation. Gaaah. I. Want. This. Book.
And I think it’s risky, but drawing from personal experience also gives the author edge, in that they know first-hand. They understand. Speaking of which, Jen’s author’s note in All the Bright Places. Paint me shuttered hearts.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. If I’m uber excited about a book I skip all reviews. x) Ohmigosh, yes, All the Bright Places did it too. And I don’t know if you’ve read The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand? But her book is a response of her brother committing suicide. I don’t understand how they’d be strong enough to write about it. AMAZING HUMANS, THEY ARE.
I haven’t! But it’s in my TBR. I don’t think I’ll be able to write something so personal and raw like this. So props to all the amazing, brave authors!
Listen, I have nothing to add because everything you said is fabulous. I love the pictures you took, and the quotes you used. The quote you did with the picture.. when I read that in the book, it spoke to my soul. I had to stop reading, sob, and thank Neal Shusterman for existing. And now I am crying again just thinking about it. This book. No words.
We definitely need to thank Neal Shusterman for existing. We should give him cake and a very shiny sticker that says You Are Incredible Please Never Stop Writing.
Wow this book sounds really emotional and memorable too – I can imagine something like this would be moving to read. It definitely is a risk writing about personal experience (especially when people can criticise elements of the story), but it also can make the whole meaning more profound. I’m definitely adding this to my TBR Cait, fantastic review!
So, I fell in love with this book from just reading your review. I was going to go add it to my TBR right away – then I go check my Twitter & I won it! Woo, I cannot wait to get my hands on this one! 🙂
I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was awesome. I wasn’t as confused as everyone else, I guess… I don’t know why, but the entire book just spoke to me in such a way that it really worked out for me in the end. It was beautiful, as you said, and it was awesome making those connections between real life and his delusions. And, in the end, I think it gave me a better understanding of schizophrenia in general, which is good, because a member of my extended family also deals with it.
Anyway, all the agreements! 🙂
I read this book a few days ago and loved it! A definite 5 star read for sure. I’ve had a close experience with mental illness and thought this book portrayed it so beautifully.
This is actually the first Shusterman novel I’ve read but it’s definitely compelled me to pick up some of his other books! I agree with the beginning being a little (a lot) confusing, but once I was finished and I could see how it helped give a full picture of the story it made it completely worth it.
On a side note I love the photography you’ve been including in your posts recently!
As soon as you said it was about mental illness, I was totally sold. Then you talked about how half the book is about the delusions and half is real life and what no boy meets girl and everything is alright and the author being able to relate and YES I NEED THIS BOOK NOW.
Thank you.
Whoa. O.o
This sounds so intense and amazing. I’ve never read any Shusterman books. Honestly, I didn’t know what I was missing out on!
Yours is the first review I’ve read for this book and apart from that, I haven’t heard anything about this one, which is unfortunate. It sounds incredible and like it tackles mental illness with such care. Anyway, definitely want to check this one out! You’ve sold me. Lovely review and loved the quotes you shared.
YAY I AM SO GLAD!!
Oh wow, I saw this book around but I definitely misjudged, I knew it was about mental illness but I didn’t think us as readers would be able to connect so deeply with this book as you seemed able to! I know I am going to have to try this one out because it seemed to be so close to the mind of the character and it sounds like such a good portrayal as well :3
After reading your review, I’ve open this book right away. I can already tell : I’m going to love it !!