Challenger Deep is fantastic. It's a very deep and raw exploration of a young boys mental health. It's uncomfortable and could potentially trigger some readers, so caution should be taken when reading. That being said it's a book that forces you to think about and confront as a reader how you view what mental health is. Thought-provoking and necessary read,

Shusterman takes a close look at a teenage boy struggling with poor mental health. The first-person narrative is direct, forcing the reader to experience Caden's downward spiral, and admission to hospital from close proximity. We see his anxiety grow to become deep-seated paranoia, we see his gradual distancing from his best friends, the impact his deterioration has on his physical health, the growth of obsessive behaviour. Caden's narration demonstrates the bewilderment and fear felt by his parents and younger sister. The period in hospital is deftly conveyed, particularly his interactions with other patients and staff while functioning under the influence of a changing regimen of meds and therapy. The hallucinatory sections are uncomfortably realistic. I found it insightful but it was a tough read for me. A good one for those wanting to understand mental health probs, but could be triggering for those who have suffered/are suffering.