Clarion Peak

Cleverly structured as well as interesting, from beginning to end.First read this book 7 years ago and still a fun read.

I bought this book for the more able readers in my Year 5 class (9-10 years olds) as we were learning about mountains. I took it on holiday with me at half term to read before giving it to them & loved it. It is a great story with enough realistic mountain details that they feel they are reading a good adventure book & at the same time learning such a lot about high mountain environments. All the factual things we have been studying came alive in this book. Apart from a couple of swear words (which we discussed & decided were acceptable in the context they were used, but not to be repeated by the children!) it is suitable for children of this age.

Peak is the ultimate action/survival/friendship/adventure story! Peak opens with the retelling of the time that Peak Marcello scaled a skyscraper in New York, then being arrested for the feat and taken to court. Peak’s parents were there and his biological father is presented the opportunity to take Peak to Thailand for a while, or send him to jail in New York City. Peak then embarks on the trip with his father to Thailand; only to realize that they are not going to Thailand at all. They are going to climb Mount Everest. They are going to Kathmandu. Peak’s father needs to ramp up his business with the climbing company, so to get publicity he tries to get Peak to become the world’s youngest person to scale the mountain.Peak is then set up to go climbing, after days upon days Peak fights to get to the summit. Disease is spread throughout the entire camp and many people leave the mountain. Some people even die on the trek up. As Peak rears the summit he is faced with a huge decision. It’s up to you to find out what he does next.• Peak Marcello- Peak is the main character; he climbs Mount Everest with hopes of becoming the youngest person in the world to reach the summit. Very bold and courageous, but tends to keep to himself.• Josh- Peak’s biological father, helps Peak try to reach the summit. Hard on the outside, but soft on the inside.• Sun-Jo- A boy only six days older than Peak, is a fellow competitor to become the youngest to reach the summit. He and Peak are in a fight for duration of the book. Smart and clever, but friendly towards Peak.• Zopa- The monk that guides Sun-Jo and Peak up Everest, he cares deeply for Sun-Jo. Zopa is very old and wise, with plenty of advice to give to those in need.• Holly Angelo- a reporter that follows Peak up the mountain and befriends him on the way. Very nosy, but you can tell that she does care about Peak.• The Twins- Paula and Patrice; Peak’s twin sisters, they are actually only his half-sisters though. Very small and tend to laugh a lot.• Yogi and Yash- Two Sherpas that accompany Peak and Sun-Jo up Mount Everest. The two tend to keep to themselves during the book, but do provide some helpful information to Peak and sun-Jo.• Teri Marcello- Peak’s mother. She loves Peak but doesn’t fully approve of him climbing Everest due to a serious climbing injury she suffered.A major theme throughout this book is Perseverance. Peak battles major winds and harsh, snowy weather. Peak also feels he needs to improve his relationship with Josh, although Josh shows no sign of love for Peak. Peak is also shocked by the amount of people with disease. As the book progresses he shows a little more care for Peak. Peak has to have perseverance to make it up the mountain. This book is dull in the beginning and a little confusing, but as it proceeds the story develops and blooms into a wonderful book! I would recommend it to someone who likes to wonder why characters make certain decisions. Peak provides a wonderful friendship story of Peak and Sun-Jo, and how Peak develops empathy for Sun-Jo. Peak is an overall good book, for everyone!

Great summer ready for adults and 13 years old. Came nicely packed!.

Fantastic book by Roland Smith a MUST read for any one.