Challenger Deep

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

ACTIVITY 1: “Second-Person Narrative Practice”

Often, Challenger Deep switches into second-person viewpoint. These passages invite us to step into Caden’s shoes and better understand what he is experiencing. 

• Find an example of 2-3 sentences in which Caden speaks in second-person point of view.
• Share your example with a classmate. Rewrite the example in first- or third-person. What are some of the differences in tone, voice, or style?
• As a class, discuss a few examples and the ways in which second-person narration impacts readers.
• Think about a day that you experienced something negative but no one else knew. On a sheet of paper or in a journal, write a brief narrative of the experience in second-person viewpoint. For example, “You walk out of class. No one knows that you’ve been up all night crying. You apply some eye drops in the bathroom, hoping to blink away the redness.” After composing your second-person narration, reflect on your writing and add a paragraph describing two ways this changed your perspective on the experience.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may be tempted to speak in general terms: “You feel horrible.