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A review by isabelreads
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
5.0
Ever since I read the Unwind Dystology, I've been a huge fan of Neal Shusterman and his writing. Challenger Deep did not let me down in the slightest.
Firstly, Shusterman's writing remains top-notch. There were plenty of places I had to put down the book for a moment to allow myself a moment to think about what was being said. He makes use of plenty of more flowery language, metaphor and simile especially, and it might be seen as excessive by someone who doesn't relate well to that type of writing. However, I believed it was balanced well with dialogue and plot-heavy chapters, and helped those who have never had to deal with mental illness relate to it a little more.
In the same vein, poignant first-person-narration allowed me to really get into protagonist, Caden's, head. Since I have never suffered mental illness, I thought he would a difficult character to understand. However, the further I read, the more I was able to understand what he was going through in a way I really haven't before with many other books I've read. The illustrations, which I discovered in the author's note were drawn by Shusterman's son while he was in the throes of mental illness, also aided my understanding of what someone going through such things might feel. Also, the second-person narration, which appeared throughout the book, particularly when Caden seemed extremely dissociated with himself, was an interesting choice and one I felt really paid off. I felt how separated Caden felt for himself without it being explicitly stated again and again.
Also, the comparison between mental illness with being on a ship was very successful. I enjoyed how it revealed itself slowly. At first, before Caden is at the mental hospital, it seems rather abstract but understandable, becoming more concrete as we meet the characters and see the places the ship is supposed to represent. However, it did leave me with one question. We meet characters like the navigator, Carlyle, and Calliope before Caden goes to the mental hospital. Did the portions of the book that take place before Caden gets there also take place before those aspects of his delusion began or was it coincidence or something I'm missing entirely? That's really my only criticism with this book, and probably easily fixed with a re-read.
There's so much more I could say if I hadn't lent out my book (so other people can enjoy the loveliness) but it's definitely recommended, as a well-executed, suspenseful, and beautiful book about the difficulties of mental illness and one boy's attempt to overcome mental illness, with an uplifting, but realistic ending.
Firstly, Shusterman's writing remains top-notch. There were plenty of places I had to put down the book for a moment to allow myself a moment to think about what was being said. He makes use of plenty of more flowery language, metaphor and simile especially, and it might be seen as excessive by someone who doesn't relate well to that type of writing. However, I believed it was balanced well with dialogue and plot-heavy chapters, and helped those who have never had to deal with mental illness relate to it a little more.
In the same vein, poignant first-person-narration allowed me to really get into protagonist, Caden's, head. Since I have never suffered mental illness, I thought he would a difficult character to understand. However, the further I read, the more I was able to understand what he was going through in a way I really haven't before with many other books I've read. The illustrations, which I discovered in the author's note were drawn by Shusterman's son while he was in the throes of mental illness, also aided my understanding of what someone going through such things might feel. Also, the second-person narration, which appeared throughout the book, particularly when Caden seemed extremely dissociated with himself, was an interesting choice and one I felt really paid off. I felt how separated Caden felt for himself without it being explicitly stated again and again.
Also, the comparison between mental illness with being on a ship was very successful. I enjoyed how it revealed itself slowly. At first, before Caden is at the mental hospital, it seems rather abstract but understandable, becoming more concrete as we meet the characters and see the places the ship is supposed to represent. However, it did leave me with one question. We meet characters like the navigator, Carlyle, and Calliope before Caden goes to the mental hospital. Did the portions of the book that take place before Caden gets there also take place before those aspects of his delusion began or was it coincidence or something I'm missing entirely? That's really my only criticism with this book, and probably easily fixed with a re-read.
There's so much more I could say if I hadn't lent out my book (so other people can enjoy the loveliness) but it's definitely recommended, as a well-executed, suspenseful, and beautiful book about the difficulties of mental illness and one boy's attempt to overcome mental illness, with an uplifting, but realistic ending.