Challenger Deep-one of the books Shusterman wishes was as widely-read as some of his others-is an unflinching look at mental illness. In addition to taking on big subjects, Shusterman’s work has earned a reputation among readers as being highly inclusive and aware of the way the world looks.

Those are hallmark symptoms of ADHD-so I do think that our modern life is turning ADHD into just the way we are as a species.”īecause his work spans decades, it’s not a surprise that his work has evolved alongside the YA category more broadly. “And our phones and computers have created a weird combination of ridiculously short attention spans, and an ability to hyperfocus and shut everything else out. Teens are faced with an overload of information that creates a lot of stress-not just the nature of the information, but the very fact of having so much information to process, sort, and prioritize,” said Shusterman. “I think the two biggest changes are information and attention span. There’s new technology to consider and contend with, but in terms of the impact the tools have on young people, that’s far less interesting to Shusterman than the deeper changes happening among adolescents. There is something deeply universal about being a teenager, and I try to capture that universality in the things that I write,” he said.

No matter what year it is, no matter what language they speak or culture they’re in.

He doesn’t write down to young readers, nor do his books tiptoe around grappling with complex issues. Though no longer a teenager writing stories for campers, Shusterman’s books certainly reach teen readers-as well as adults who love YA-in an authentic way.

Scythe by neal shusterman