Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman | The descend into the Challenger Deep!

Such a powerful novel about mental illness, «Challenger Deep» explores what’s it’s like to go through the period of life when your brain tricks you into believing that your delusions and hallucinations are actually real. Written in a way that allows you to understand Caden’s struggles on a deeper level, the story was rich with fantasy elements, that helped to bring the emotions forward.

I’m currently reading «The Toll», the third book in the Arc of Scythe trilogy by the same author, and I have to say that I prefer his writing in «Challenger Deep». It reads and flows much better for me. That is not to say that there is a big difference between the two, but somehow the writing style in his dystopian series doesn’t pull me in the same way.

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The Quiet You Carry by Nikki Barthelmess | A glimpse into the life of foster care kids

Warning: This book contains mentions of sexual abuse, child abuse, mental illness, violence, suicide attempt.

Have you ever thought about what it is like to be a kid in the foster care system?

«The Quiet You Carry» inspired by Nikki Barthelmess own experience in the foster care, gives us a glimpse into the life of foster care kids.

Victoria Parker is a senior and only a few months away from turning 18. And just one moment changes her life forever. When her father locks her out of the house, Victoria is placed in the foster care system and ends up in a different town, different school and different home.

The Girls at 17 Swan Street by Yara Zgheib

As much as I think that (1) mental illnesses should be talked about, (2) people should be aware and educated on these topics, and (3) feel free to speak about them to others to help them overcome their struggles, I’m also not usually the targeted audience for the books that are focused on “mental illnesses”. Normally I wouldn’t even pick them up.

«The Girls at 17 Swan Street» sounded like something I might enjoy, and besides, we are bound to leave our comfort zone from time to time. This was my attempt of trying something different, of expanding my reading horizons.

I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t enjoy it either. It was one of those books that once I put down, I didn’t want to pick up again.