This book was unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It is a visual, moving, and personal dive into the4.5 STARS • IMPACTFUL, INTROSPECTIVE, MYSTERIOUS
This book was unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It is a visual, moving, and personal dive into the perspective of a person struggling with schizophrenia, without glorifying it or making it graphic. I loved reading in Caden’s perspective. The boy has someseriouslyprofound thoughts and imaginative tales that impacted me.
>>>>> Trigger warning: suicide.go to end of review for details. >>>>>
I knocked off half a star is because the book was hard to get into at first for me, and I didn’t understand the point of the second storyline (it flips between Caden in real life and Caden in his head, on a ship). But by the last 100 pages, Neal Shusterman truly linked the perspectives together in a subtle way that made the book much more suspenseful.
This book has something inside it for just about everyone.If you have struggled or are struggling with mental health, or you know someone personally who is, PLEASE pick up this book without hesitation (though read triggers below just in case please!!). If you are like me, and haven’t personally struggled with mental health, you will probably still like it! I related to some of what Caden went through — loneliness, losing friends, disassociating. I also loved how he observed people and would notice things before they said them, because I do that too!! Plus, Caden’s unexpectedly profound observations will make anyone stop and think about life.
Also — I think it’s important to say, just so you know you aren’t in for a heartbreaking book that will ruin your week —- this book has a good, positive ending:)
Next time you’re in the mood for something impactful, thoughtful about a topic that’s greatly relevant to today’s culture— Pick up Challenger Deep.
TW // suicide- one character describes trying to kill herself, another kills themself (see spoiler below if you need more detail about the severity), mental health, frequent mentions of medication, brief mention of abuse. CW// brief inappropriate mentions of assorted things. I forget exactly what they all are, but there is this time one kid says, “God would never give us more than we could handle” (which is already a misleading statement), and Caden basically replies, “he does to the people he really, really hates.” Caden “lies in bed” with a girl, but nothing happens, it’s purely just to comfort her. (view spoiler)[One girl in Caden’s therapy group repeatedly vents about killing herself after her uncle abused her, and describes pressing a knife to her throat. One of Caden’s friends kill himself; the method of how he did it are briefly described and Caden is more depressed for a few days and thinks about whether he would conclue he could kill himself. He concludes he never would.(hide spoiler)]...more
4 STARS •IMAGINATIVE, WITTY, FULL OF CHILD-LIKE CURIOSITY, and most importantly: ABSURD ________________
Also, I would like to put this out there:4 STARS •IMAGINATIVE, WITTY, FULL OF CHILD-LIKE CURIOSITY, and most importantly: ABSURD ________________
Also, I would like to put this out there: I donotlike this book simply because of “nostalgia” — in fact, I had watched the 1985 movie as a kid and despised it, despite watching it so many times that I can still remember how each scene plays out.But I’ve always loved the world of Wonderland (if only for the iconic characters it brought to me), and so I’ll always love this book for that at least. And that’s what makes this book a solid 4 star read for me. ________________
TO THE REVIEW:
This book was absolutely, deliciouslyabsurd;a fast-paced, delightful joy to read.
It made me want to go back in time to theimaginative, make-belief adventuresI embarked in as a child, into a world that made no sense to anyone else but madeperfectsense to me.
Carroll’s writing is soWITTY— AAHH I loved it. It has the perfect timing for the perfect absurdly comedic touch.
'We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.'
'Actually, I am right on time.'
'Curiouser and curiouser!'
'And the moral of that is— "Be what you would seem to be" —or, if you’d like it put more simply— "Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." '
And then, there were many profoundly true statements:
'Imagination is the only weapon in the war with reality.'
'The best way to explain it is to do it.'
Every character is a household name for a reason — they are all vivid and distinct, and feel sorealthat it’s like they’re standing right in front of you—- though of course, that would beabsurd…right?;)
Thank you,Alice In Wonderlandfor reminding me that sometimesthe most glorious and inspiring things are the one that are absolutely — and yes, I will say it one more time — ABSURD....more
I don’t think this book or series is anything special or deep or intricately plotted or has a fantastic ending—which is usually what I go for. Don’t eI don’t think this book or series is anything special or deep or intricately plotted or has a fantastic ending—which is usually what I go for. Don’t expect an incredible mystery, or impressive puzzles, or a once in a lifetime romance. What I found in this book though is afun time,especially with the Knives Out vibes and the Hawthorne Brothers being characters you can really get attached to. If you need something to get you out of your reading slump, this series is it; I ripped through these books. I would rate it lower…but I do enjoy myself with these books so that’s that....more
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