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Neal Shusterman

Check out some of his books below

We read 3 of his titles, and are so excited to share what we thought of them below!

Challenger Deep

Review by Ryan Gambrell

“There are times I feel like I'm the kid screaming at the bottom of the well, and my dog runs off to pee on trees instead of getting help.”

-Challenger Deep, 2015

Challenger Deep. Neal Shusterman is a brilliant storyteller. This is a fascinating book about sophomore Caden Bosch as he juggles a journey between two worlds, his life at home with family and friends, and a voyage as the artist on a pirate ship cruising to the deepest ocean on earth. As we follow Caden on his journey we find out he is suffering from a severe mental health disorder. At first Caden's story is strange as the reader flips between his home life and his voyage, but the confusion is the point, because this is where we get to live his experience of how reality is fading for him. The reader will follow Caden’s loneliness and fear, and the worry that he will never get better.

This is a great book for the young adult audience because it deals with mental health issues clearly and honestly. It gives a view for people that have struggled with mental health, and it shows that it is ok and that they are not alone. If you are looking for a raw and emotional book this journey is worth reading

Author Inspiration for Challenger Deep

Similar Titles:

When Elephants Fly - Nan Fischer,

Highly Illogical Behavior - John Corey Whaley

Made You Up - Francesca Zappia

Cover art for When Elephants Fly, Highly illogical Behavior and Made You Up

Bruiser

Review by Kimberlee Smith

"So often teenagers feel that, when they go through dark times, it’s the end of the world. I want to remind them that “this too shall pass,” and if there’s something that brings you pain, always remember that it is merely setting the stage for something else that will bring you joy."

-Bruiser, 2010

Bruiser was a quick read. Using the main character, Brewster, as a metaphor for every crutch both physical and mental, plenty of life lessons are hidden within these pages. This book definitely forces the reader to think and reflect on your relationships and life choices. This is not a book you put down and forget about. It stays with the reader, forcing them to evaluate their own life choices.

On the surface, it is a typical teenage romance with an added protective brother for humor and interest. The readers soon discovers that this boyfriend is anything but typical. Bruises appear on Brewster for seemingly no reason. This quiet, isolated boy has a strange power he cannot control and therefore he isolates himself from everyone. Shusterman touches on labels, stereotypes, sibling rivalry, high school angst, addiction, and family challenges all the while making the reader think more critically about what is really happening.

What I enjoyed most reading this novel were the varying perspectives. The novel flips between various character points of view providing a deeper and more complex account as events unfold. This is what Shusterman is known for, seeing the story from inside a character's mind. The novel would be more predictable if not for the side character storylines on top of the complexities of high school lifewhich take center stage. As the pages began to run out, I found myself wondering how the author could possibly end this book having put the characters in unthinkable situations with seemingly no escape. You will have to read it to find out!

If you enjoy paranormal mystery, this is the book for you.

Excerpt from Q & A With the Author

Similar Titles:

Speechless - Hannah Harrington,

Violent Ends- Hutchison, Shusterman +17 others

The End and Other Beginnings - Veronica Roth

Cover Art for Speechless, Violent Ends, and The End and Other Beginnings

Scythe

Review by Amber Warren

“Mortals fantasied that love was eternal and its loss unimaginable. Now we know neither is true. Love remained mortal, while we became eternal.”

-Scythe, 2016

Neal Shusterman’s Scythe feels a lot like other dystopian stories, but with a twist. The world is a utopia, in which there is no hunger, sickness or even death. That makes the story less about fighting a broken system and more about the choices people make inside it. A huge part of the book is about how mentors shape the way scythes see their role. Depending on who trains you, you could end up becoming compassionate and fair or dangerously power-hungry.

What’s especially interesting is how scythes are expected to cut themselves off from love, friendship, and normal human connections so they can make “unbiased” decisions about life and death. But when you stop seeing people as people, and start thinking of them as just numbers, things can get really dark. That idea definitely connects to issues we see in the real world, where it’s easy for compassion to get lost when everything is reduced to data or statistics.

Even with those big ideas, this story is sure to appeal to young readers, as it is packed with action, high-stakes drama, and plenty of mayhem. And of course, there’s just enough romance to keep things interesting. It’s the kind of story that makes you think while also keeping you entertained and eager for the next chapter.