Challenger Deep

Justification

Challenger Deep written by Neal Shusterman and illustrated by Brendan Shusterman is a National Book Award winner. The book was also on the starred list for Booklist, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Horn Book Guide, Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers weekly and School Library Journal.

Response

Challenger Deep was a very difficult book for me to finish, not because it was poorly written, but because of the strong feelings I had toward the content. When I first picked the book, I had not read any reviews or a synopsis. I was surprised to find that the premise of the book was the struggles of a teenager with a mental illness. (a) Many members of my family struggle with various mental disorders although none as severe as the main character, Caden, struggles with. As I read this book I was brought directly into the mind of this young teen and his struggles to recognize reality. This was an emotional read, with the frequent ups and downs that come with a mental illness. (b) I used to work with teenagers with mental and behavioral disabilities, some quite severe. The situations in this book helped me to understand how some of my students that I have worked with felt, how they viewed the world and how confusing it must be for them. Challenger Deep was an affirmation and somewhat of an eye opener for me. It challenged how I saw my students and their abilities and affirmed that the work I did with them was impactful, if even for a short while. (d) I feel as though anyone who does not fully understand the difficulties a mental illness can cause, should read this book. Awareness of mental illness and its effects on people is an area in society that is frequently shunned away from. People do not want to understand what they fear. Reading Challenger Deep would help individuals become more sympathetic and understanding.

Conclusion

Challenger Deep had a profound impact on me, and I am someone who is familiar with mental illnesses through work and family. I can only imagine its impact on someone far less familiar with mental illnesses. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand mental illness. I also recommend this book for its fantastic plot, characters and style.

Citation

Shusterman, N., & Shusterman, B. (2016). Challenger Deep. HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.