PEAK

by Roland Smith

What a great book about conquering the tallest place on earth, and so much more! I was unenthusiastic about reading this book, but I loved it from the first page. "Peak" not only refers to the summit of Mt. Everest, but also is the name of the hero of the story. After getting in trouble with the law for climbing a skyscraper in New York City, 14-year-old Peak Marcello, is let off the hook when his biological father shows up to take custody of him with plans to take Peak out of the country altogether. The judge is happy about this solution, because Peak's stunt had become a media circus and his Honor wanted the whole thing to go away. Josh Wood, Peak's father, is arguably the best climber in the world. He had written authoritative books on the subject, and he was currently leading a group of climbers to the top of Everest. Josh was secretly making plans to take Peak up the mountain because if Peak made it to the top, he would be the youngest person ever to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, thereby giving Josh's climbing company tons of great PR and millions in advertising endorsements.

By the time he reaches Tibet, Peak has been befriended by Sun-jo, a Nepalese boy his own age, and the grandson of a respected Sherpa, the local men who act as guides and carry gear up the mountain for those who make the attempt. What follows is an intense story of conquering Mt Everest, dealing with bitter cold and lack of oxygen, avoiding Chinese officers who are trying to find Sun-jo, conquering fear and utter physical exhaustion, and finally learning in the end that selflessness is more rewarding than making it to the highest point in the world. Peak is on this year's Texas Lone Star reading list.

--reviewed by Dail Sams