Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (2015)

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With two very distinct lives, and maybe a third, Caden Bosch’s life is turning into a walking catastrophe. Technically, he’s a talented, but strange, high school student that is experiencing a steady decrease in human interaction, even from his best friends. Technically, he is also a crew member of a ship that is traveling to the deepest part of the ocean. Until now, Caden has been able to keep his two lives apart, with one almost never impacting the other. But things are starting to collide, and Caden’s recurring dreams to the White Plastic Kitchen are starting to affect the control he has concerning his body. While his family, friends and counselor suspect drug use, Caden is left by himself to discover the territory that connects his lives, as well as his own internal chaos. Written with a honesty that can’t be found without experience, Challenger Deep inspects the harsh reality of how mental illness can impact someone and their family.
It took me a really long time to get into this book, and honestly, I would’ve stopped reading it if it wasn’t the book of the month. Still, I’m really glad I didn’t. I think the hardest part of reading this book was definitely the writing style. The narrative in constantly switching between Ship Caden and Reality Caden (which is expected), and sometimes it isn’t clear which narrative is speaking. However, the writing style did expose just how chaotic it is to have schizophrenia. That being said, I really appreciated that the author. Neil Shusterman, had actual facts and experience with schizophrenia, since his son does have the disorder. Because he has first-person experience, he was able to clearly communicate what schizophrenia actually is, which in the end will help him and his son break down stereotypes concerning schizophrenia. And, if learning about the life of someone with schizophrenia doesn’t already convince you to read the book, know that the ending is absolutely spectacular. Every puzzle piece came together, and finally the puzzle of Caden Bosch’s life was revealed.

A book meant for a patient and open-minded reader, Challenger Deep tells a story that is worth to be heard.  
3 Stars

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