Challenger Deep

Challenger Deep, by Neal Shusterman

Publication Information: New York : HarperTeen, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2015

Summary: In high school student Caden Bosch, Neal Shusterman has created a young hero who finds a way not just to navigate his own schizophrenic breakdown but to ease the struggles of his fellow patients.  Poetic, compassionate, and thrillingly inventive, Challenger Deep affirms the power of narrative to describe the indescribable and enlighten us all. 

Caden Bosch is on a galleon that's headed for the deepest point on Earth, Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench.  Bosch is a brillant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior.  He is designated the ship's artist in residence to document the journey with images.  Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by thoughts in his head.  He is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny.  He is torn.  He is dealing with schizophrenia...and as fantasy and paranoia begin to take over, his parents have only one choice left.

Book Trailer:

Read-a-Likes:

All the Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven

Before My Eyes, by Carolyn Bock

Calvin, by Martine Leavitt

Catalyst, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Cut, by Patricia McCormick

It's Kinda a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini

Mosquitoland, by David Arnold

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Michael Hodkin

We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart

A World Without You, by Beth Revis

You Remind Me of You, by Eireann Corrigan


Links of Interest:

Author website:  storyman.com       

Educator Guide:  HERE     

Mental Health: 

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Bring Change 2 Mind

The Ocean State Libraries catalog listing contains a book profile, professional reviews, reader reviews, reading level, subject headings, and awards.  Scroll down to view all the content on the page.
Classic Catalog version and Encore catalog version