Challenger Deep

by Neal Shusterman

[shannonmiz]

As you may know, I have a deep affection for Neal Shusterman’s writing. I find it incredible, and his books so very vivid and full of genius. This is no different. No, scratch that. This is different, because it is more. Challenger Deep is such an incredible insight into mental illness that is captured in such a way that will leave readers reeling.

I won’t even say I liked this book. Because I don’t think I did. I hate what Caden and so many others have to go through every single day. No, I didn’t like this book, but I appreciated the hell out of it.

The book alternates between moments that Caden has bits of clarity and moments when Caden is living as though he’s on a ship in the ocean with a crew, and he has no idea who is trustworthy. As the book started, I really had no idea what was happening, why was there a ship involved, who are these people, etc. Don’t worry, it all eventually will make sense, as much as a schizoaffective disorder can I suppose. Will you understand it? Nope. Because frankly, I don’t think you can, unless you’ve been there yourself. But Neal Shusterman has somehow managed to the remarkable, giving us insight into the very real struggles of this type of illness.

Let’s talk about Caden, shall we? At first, I didn’t know what to make of him exactly. Granted, he wasn’t exactly sure what to make of himself, so how was I supposed to? But as Caden’s personality was explored more, it became very apparent how utterly enjoyable he truly was. He was witty, charming, and talented. Even in his illness-shrouded moments, it was so clear that he was not just a young man struggling through a mental health disorder, his was, quite simply, a young man. He was a son, a brother, a friend, not just a product of an illness.

I think that’s the real takeaway here for me: This isn’t about a mental illness, or treatment, or recovery, it is about Caden- His journey, his never ending struggle, and the disease that will always be with him. In its honesty and grit, Challenger Deep explores some of the things that no one tells you about mental illness. You don’t see people struggling behind the scenes with the side effects of medication, wondering if taking it is even worth the sheer hell they bring to the table, grappling with the choice between two evils. You don’t see the ramifications for the person affected, for their family and loved ones. No, that’s never talked about. In movies, on television, people with mental illness are portrayed as either “being fixed” after some medication and a few therapy sessions or “just hopeless”, and those are both wholly inaccurate.

Mental health is a struggle, and for a lot of people, it is every single day. It is the rest of their lives, it is constantly changing, evolving. And Neal Shusterman has given us a rare glimpse into a small portion of what that journey has been for Caden. This was more than a book for me, it was an opportunity, one that I won’t likely have again. I was given the opportunity for just a few hours to feel just a small portion of what life is like for someone else, to experience those emotions with Caden, and to understand this type of disorder a bit more clearly.

I am lucky to have been able to read this book, and I implore you to do the same. Challenger Deep epitomizes the idiom of walking a mile in another man’s shoes, and it’s a journey we all should take.


This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight