The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. The background is dark blue. At the top of the cover, a thin white line in a tangle. A line coming out of the tangle is attached to the figure of a person at the bottom of the cover. Text along the bottom curve of the line reads:
“The bottom is only the beginning.” in small white writing,
Text to the lower right of the line reads:
The title “Challenger Deep” with “Challenger” in large white capitals and “Deep” in large blue capitals,
Immediately below this, the phrase “A novel by New York Times best selling author” in very small white writing,
The author’s name “Neal Shusterman” is immediately below this in slightly larger white capitals.
At the top of the line, below the tangle, a quote reads “”A brilliant journey across the dark sea of the mind, frightening, sensitive, and powerful. Simply extraordinary”- Laurie Halse Anderson, award-winning author of Speed” in smaller white writing, with the reviewers name capitalised. /end]

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Content Warning:

• Mental Illness
• Schizophrenia and Pyschosis
• Forced Institutionalisation
• Attempted Suicide
• Suicidal Thoughts
• Panic Attacks
• References to Rape
• Bullying

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Summary:

Caden Bosch is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench.

Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behaviour.

Caden Bosch is designated the ship’s artist in residence to document the journey with images.

Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head.

Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny.

Caden Bosch is torn.

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Notes:

This book won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, and the 2015 California Gold Book Award Young Adult Fiction.

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Archivist Comments:

At the moment of writing this entry, there at least two entries on my spreadsheet that deal with the Mariana Trench and they are just giving off completely different vibes. Good stuff.

Most people seem to be in agreement that this is a raw but interesting story. Half of it is told while the MC is in his hometown and half is told while he’s on the boat.

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