Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

November Group Read discussion is open for Challenger Deep. Discussion to be led by Jennifer W!

Please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot related surprises.

Posts here should only be about this book.

I just snagged this from the library and will get started soon. How are people liking it so far?

Hi all! Welcome to the read! I haven't read too far yet myself, but I've wanted to read this book for quite a while.

A couple of starter questions,
What are your expectations for the book?
Have you read this author before?

I absolutely loved this book when I read it a couple years ago. Probably going to re-read it to join the discussion. I think it's the kind of book it's best to go in totally cold - don't read reviews or even the Goodreads tags, it spoils too much.

The only other Shusterman book I've read is Unwind, which I didn't care for. It had a neat premise, but all the characters were wooden/dull, which was doubly a disappointment since Caden from Challenger Deep was so vividly written.

I also have Everlost on my shelf but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Does anyone know if the audio version of this book is decent? I don't think I'd be able to finish it this month otherwise, but some books just don't work on audio, so I thought I'd check for this one.

Lauren wrote: "Does anyone know if the audio version of this book is decent? I don't think I'd be able to finish it this month otherwise, but some books just don't work on audio, so I thought I'd check for this one."

I don't know, but it could be great, or it could be terrible. The narration is switching quickly back and forth between Caden's life with his family and friends and his sea journey with the captain, a strange parrot, and various other crew members. If you do try it that way, I'd be curious to know how it is. Also, there are some doodles in the book, which you wouldn't get with the audio version, though so far, they haven't really added anything to the story for me.

I expect this book to bounce between Caden's real life and this sea journey which is likely not real and how they both start blending into each other.

I also have only read Unwind by this author, which I liked. I asked the question because there's about 30 other books by Shusterman listed in the front of my copy. I knew he had written other stuff, but I didn't realize he had written so much!

Caden is clearly an unreliable narrator. His story is jumping back and forth between the ship and his family. Do these elements work for you or bother you as you read a story? Can you relate to Caden?

Just finished the book and really thought it did a good job. The style of 1-3 page chapters alternating view points is one I typically don’t like but really contributed to the needed atmosphere here. (view spoiler)[ the author did an amazing and respectful job of showing the decent into psychosis and recovery from it (hide spoiler)]. It wasn’t always an easy read but it was a very good one.

Picked my copy up from the library last night. Should be getting into it in the next couple of days!

I have my copy and will start reading this week.

I read this for the challenge a couple of years ago and enjoyed it immensely. Shusterman's son did all of the artwork for the book.

How's everyone doing with this? I had to return my copy to the library today, but I'll get it back out in a couple of days.

The audio version is going well so far! I'm about halfway through it. The back-and-forth can get a bit confusing but I think it creates the right mood/feeling for the reader. I've noticed some good lines throughout, but can't add quotes here since I'm listening to it.

So far I can relate to Caden, although not through having similar experiences/challenges.

I just finished the audio version and it was very well done. in general I think the book was absolutely amazing. As someone who suffers with mental illness (though not to the extent Caden does) some of these parts really struck home with me, and I'm not going to lie the ending of the book made me tear up. I have to thank this group bc honestly I wouldn't have found this book let alone have read it.

John wrote: "I just finished the audio version and it was very well done. in general I think the book was absolutely amazing. As someone who suffers with mental illness (though not to the extent Caden does) som..."

Thank you for sharing! Yes, I also thought it was well done. The author used a lot of creativity to tell this story and it certainly pulled at heart strings.

I'm glad to hear the audio version worked for people.

Sorry I haven't posted lately, it's been a hectic week with lots of appointments and limited (Ok, no) reading time. I'm going to try to make a big dent in this book this week and come back with some more questions. Though if anyone else has some burning questions they'd like to ask, feel free!

I just started this book today, and I had zero expectations. I didn't even know what it was about. I didn't expect this at all.

I have not read anything by this author before.

I do relate to Caden a bit as I have had anxiety and compulsive thoughts, though nothing to his extent. I suspect I'm going to read the entire book today (I'm halfway through now) because I can't seem to tear away.

Edit: I did finish the book, and it was amazing!

Teri wrote: "I do relate to Caden a bit as I have had anxiety and compulsive thoughts, though nothing to his extent. I suspect I'm going to read the entire book today (I'm halfway through now) because I can't s..."

Glad you liked it! And I realized that notifications about this group will be overwhelmed by all of the new prompt discussions, so hopefully people remember to check in for the rest of the discussion. :)

I'm about a third of the way through. I'm liking it, there are some great lines in here!

What do you think of the people on the ship? And their roles? Are they meant to correspond to people in Caden's other life, and if so, who are they?

How do the people in Caden's life respond to his apparent decline in functioning? Are they helpful?

What do you think of Caden's artwork? Does it add to the story for you?

I read this book a few years ago and loved it! I’ve also read Unwind, which I liked.

Jennifer W wrote: "I'm about a third of the way through. I'm liking it, there are some great lines in here!

What do you think of the people on the ship? And their roles? Are they meant to correspond to people in Ca..."

Good questions! I remember thinking about this while I was listening, but I already can't remember most of the characters. I think I assumed the parrot and the captain where Caden's alter egos, or something like that?

And his relationship with his family as he was going through this was sad to read, and probably very realistic.

I'm still early in, and I'm not sure I get it. But will keep going!

What do you think of the people on the ship? And their roles? Are they meant to correspond to people in Caden's other life, and if so, who are they?
(view spoiler)[I think the parrot would be Poirot, his psychiatrist, who is trying to get him to see through the captain. And I think the captain is Caden's illness itself. The other people on the ship are the people in the hospital. The scarecrow might be his family. At least this is what I was thinking while I was reading it. (hide spoiler)]

How do the people in Caden's life respond to his apparent decline in functioning? Are they helpful?
It was frustrating how long it took them to understand what was going on, but then again that is probably pretty common. Most families probably don't think every problem their teen is having is due to schizophrenia. And he did a decent job of hiding it for awhile. But honestly, they did the best they could. They were loving and supportive.

(view spoiler)[What do you think of Caden's artwork? Does it add to the story for you? (hide spoiler)]
I'm not really a visual person, so I didn't pay a lot of attention to his artwork. It was interesting how others noticed his abilities declined as his illness increased.

What about the ship itself? It changes. From what I've read so far, it's gone from wood to copper (apparently at Caden's suggestion). Also, there are long coridors that all come out at the same place on deck, and the crow's nest that is large enough for parties. Oh, and it heals itself! I'm not sure what to make of all this.

I've also gotten to the point where both the parrot and the Captain want Caden to spy on the other, for nefarious ends. Are either of them trustworthy? I have to admit, reading that gave me a little chill... something's about to go down!

Ah... ship world and real world are coming together.

Possibly a random question, but what's with all the C's? Caden, Carlyle, Calliope, Captain?

Just finished this one Friday and am so impressed with Shusterman's writing and slowly revealing the multi levels of most of the characters and especially the captain's reveal. Brilliant!

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

What do you think of the people on the ship? And their roles? Are they meant to correspond to people in Caden's other life, and if so, who are they?

I definitely think the ship people correspond to real people. I'm not sure who they are, though. I also am having a hard time figuring out the roles- navigator, prophet, etc. I feel like that's a group therapy session, but I can't imagine how those designations would come about for real people.

How do the people in Caden's life respond to his apparent decline in functioning? Are they helpful?

I found it interesting that everyone seems to think he's using drugs. I think it shows a sad state of general education around mental health. Some drugs might make him act like that. It's hard to be around people who are experiencing a different reality. Most people's reaction is to insist it's not real, but it's real to the person experiencing it.

What do you think of Caden's artwork? Does it add to the story for you? I like them, but I don't feel that they're necessary.

I almost managed to finish last night! I've got about 30 pages left and I'm going to try to sneak it in on my breaks at work today. That ship fight was epic! I'll be back later with some questions on the ending!

Teri wrote: "What do you think of the people on the ship? And their roles? Are they meant to correspond to people in Caden's other life, and if so, who are they?
[spoilers removed]

How do the people in Caden's..."

Yes, that sounds about right. It was harder for me to match everything up through the audiobook, but I think your suggestions here make sense.

Hi all! Sick kid plus holiday weekend equals no time to post. Ha! But I did finish a few days ago and really loved this one. I thought it was an excellent look at the realistic struggles of mental health.

Some final questions....
(view spoiler)[ Were you surprised by Hal's suicide attempt? Did he die? What guilt do you think Caden will carry around about it? What about the people who got fired as a result? Who, if anyone, was to blame?

What did you think about Carlyle being ill himself and volunteering at the hospital?

Were you surprised at who the Captain was? How about the fact that he reappears at the end to take Caden on another voyage?

Neal Shusterman says "CHALLENGER DEEP explores the depths of mental illness through fantasy blended with reality. It was inspired by my son, Brendan's, battle with schizophrenia, and the artwork he created in the depths of his worst episode. For that reason, it is my most personal, most heartfelt work - the book that all the others were preparing me to write..."
Does that change how you view the story or the artwork of the book?

How do you think teens would respond to this book?

(hide spoiler)]

I had a really hard time getting into this book. Up until the time I sat down to finish the last 100 pages or so I wasn't sure I was going to finish. But I am so glad I did. Now that I have I'm sure the book will stay with me.

I found it very powerful and did an incredible job of portraying what that loss of control could feel like.

I really appreciated Carlyle. I think a lot of people in the mental health world have personal reasons for being there. And they can certainly have an ability to relate that not everyone would.

I was in a ward like that when I was about Caden's age. Not for anything as severe, but enough to recognize the surroundings (mine was a big 0 to do laps in too). I don't have any kids, but I'm older now and I appreciated that as Caden got a little better he was able to acknowledge how hard it had been on his parents/family. I think that added a maturity to the book that wasn't necessarily a given.

I never would have picked this up if not for the group read and I'm really glad I did. So thank you guys :)