about the book
Caden can’t remember when he started his journey on the pirate ship, but it doesn’t feel quite right. It’s like he’s always been here, and time seems to move sideways. He’s always been 15 years old on this ship. There is a captain with an eye patch and a parrot. The other kids his age only speak to him to say that he’s in their way or, “Keep your hands off my stuff.” He feels like he should be doing other things, feels bad about not being home to help his little sister with her math.
In a different reality, Caden is home. His dad is tucking his little sister in bed. He admits to his dad that he thinks a boy at school wants to kill him, but his dad gives him a reality check. Caden’s parents have noticed that he’s been feeling anxious a lot lately.
Back on the ship, Caden’s artistic abilities are noticed by his new roommate, the ship navigator. The ship is heading for the deepest point on Earth, and Caden is soon assigned to document the journey with drawings.
At school, Caden is brilliant, but something is off. The anxieties are getting worse. His friends are noticing that something is different. Maybe joining track team would help, but instead he spends his time walking for miles, thinking, thinking, thinking—lost in his head.
Caden finds himself torn between these worlds. Torn by his thoughts. Torn between what’s real and what’s not.
about the author
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Neal Shusterman dreamed of being a writer, actor, doctor, rock star, artist, architect, and film director. In ninth grade, one of his teachers challenged him to write a story each month. After that year, he realized that writing was his passion over all his other interests.
Neal studied psychology and drama at the University of California. During the summers he worked as camp counselor where he gained a reputation as a great storyteller. Some of his early books began as stories over the campfires.
Neal also wrote a humorous column in college which was picked up for syndication. He took a job at a talent agency, which led to his first book deal and movie script.
Neal has since written more than thirty books, in addition to musical and stage plays, and screenplays for motion pictures and television. He always carries a notebook, laptop, and micro-cassette recorder, so he can write during every spare moment. He usually writes in longhand and rewrites to computer. Some of Neal’s works are under the pen name of Easton Royce.
Neal lives in southern California with his four children—who have forgiven him for his poor organizational and laundry skills, but appreciate him for his fantastic homemade guacamole!
Sources:
Author website
Author biography: SFBookcase
Author interview: Fiction for Young Adults
Author interview: Simon & Schuster
Also by Neal Shusterman:
Scythe (Book 1). Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. November 2016.
Unbound (Unwind, Book 5). Simon & Schuster. 2015.
Undivided (Unwind, Book 4). Simon & Schuster. 2014.
Unsouled (Unwind, Book 3). Simon & Schuster. 2013.
Ship Out of Luck (Antsy Bonano Novels, Book 3). Dutton Juvenile. 2013.
Unwholly (Unwind, Book 2). Simon & Schuster. 2012.
Everfound (Skinjacker Trilogy, Book 3). Simon & Schuster. 2011.
Bruiser. Harperteen. 2010.
Everwild (Skinjacker Trilogy, Book 2). Simon & Schuster. 2009.
Antsy Does Time (Antsy Bonano Novels, Book 2). Dutton Juvenile. 2008.
Unwind (Book 1). Simon & Schuster. 2007.
Duckling Ugly (Dark Fusion, Book 3). Dutton Juvenile. 2006.
Everlost (Skinjacker Trilogy, Book 1). Simon & Schuster. 2006.
Red Rider’s Hood (Dark Fusion, Book 2). Dutton Juvenile. 2005.
Dread Locks (Dark Fusion, Book 1). Dutton Juvenile. 2005.
Schwa Was Here (Antsy Bonano Novels, Book 1). Dutton Juvenile. 2004.
Full Tilt. Simon & Schuster. 2003.
about the illustrator
Brendan Shusterman, Neal’s oldest son, helped Neal discover the title of Challenger Deep years before Neal even knew what the novel would be about—in third grade Brendan was doing research with his father when they discovered that Challenger Deep is the deepest place on Earth.
In high school, Brendan began showing signs of mental illness. He couldn’t tell the difference between reality and what was in his mind. He told Neal, “Sometimes it feels like I’m at the bottom of the ocean screaming at the top of my lungs and no one can hear me.” It gave Neal the idea for Challenger Deep, but he wasn’t ready to write it for six more years.
Brendan has been doing incredibly well for numerous years. He provided permission for the novel to be written and was greatly involved by illustrating and providing notes on Neal’s drafts. While Challenger Deep isn’t about Brendan, pieces of his experiences are included. His stream-of-consciousness drawings, created when he was struggling to communicate what was going through his head, inspired the stories on the ship.
Challenger Deep has allowed Brendan to use his drawings and experiences to create positive new experiences and positive change in the world. His autographed artwork can be viewed and is for sale at Neal Shusterman’s online store where 50% of the profits are donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Sources:
Interview with Neal Shusterman: The Horn Book
Brendan’s drawings: Neal Shusterman Official Store
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