It fascinates me. I can't look away. The book would have to be horrendously written for me to give up on it. Fortunately, Peak didn't disappoint. It wasn't a mind blowing read. It wasn't difficult, and in fact I'd probably recommend it to middle school age kids, maybe even advanced readers younger than that. Peak keeps you hooked till the very end with surprises at every turn.
It's not just a story about survival. It's a story about family and friendship and growing up. And I liked that things didn't turn out all cookie cutter, cheesy, everyone-lives-happily-ever-after. Ooops, spoiler? May 03, Thomas rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Fans of not just climbing, but fiction about family as well.
Shelves: young-adult , own-physical , realistic-fiction. He has the choice of rotting away in juvy, or escaping with his father to climb Everest although he doesn't know it at the time.
It's no wonder he decides to go with his neglectful father, who wants Peak to call him Josh. The rest of the book is about Peak's adventure climbing the legendary mountain, including Josh's incentive and motivation to get his son up the "Peak" is about fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello who has just been arrested for climbing a skyscraper in the center of New York City.
The rest of the book is about Peak's adventure climbing the legendary mountain, including Josh's incentive and motivation to get his son up there.
There are also other background characters, like Peak's friend Sun-jo and his grandfather Zopa. The author described the climbing scenes very well though, so even someone like me - who is naive in the ways of climbing - could understand the adventure.
I also enjoyed the family conflict between Peak and Josh. Overall, a decent read. Oct 04, Alex rated it it was amazing. Named Peak by his obsessed by mountain climbing father, Peak finds himself in court about to be sent to juvenile detention cell, for climbing a skyscrapper.
Peak is snapped away to China for an attempt on Mt Everest with his father. Peak can not decide if his father is there to use him or because he thinks Peak can make it.
A gripping story with great characters, be sure to read this somewhere warm, because PEAK radiates an icy chill that settles into your bones. Sep 14, Julie Suzanne rated it really liked it Shelves: battle-of-the-books , survival , ms-library. I've never been interested in reading any of the books because the topics never interest me.
Due to Peak being selected for the Battle of the Books club this year, it became required reading. I was gripped by the beginning, which surprised me, but then I persevered through a mildly interesting plot for most of the rest of it. The amount of climbing and climbing jargon did not hold my interest I wondered if the political issues that added to the suspense would be understood by 6th and 7th grade boys, but regardless, the ending was so good that I cried and I decided that I REALLY liked the the piece as a whole.
I highly recommend this to all students interested in a suspenseful story, especially if you're interested in thrill sports. It's not an ideal pick for readers like me who cannot comprehend why anyone would want to climb Everest. His punishment could result in either time in juvie OR he could go away to live with his father, an accomplished mountain climber who lives in Thailand.
When Peak chooses to live with his estranged father, he learns that his father has big plans for him. Peak's father wants him to be the youngest person to ever climb Mount Everest Whenever I read something from the YA genre, I have to consider the book from two different perspectives: that of an adult because I am , and that of a young adult because that's the intended audience.
For adults: The issues that are important to Peak are juvenile on the surface, but the deeper feelings are what make Peak special. The writing was descriptive and provided a lot of detail into how treacherous climbs, such as that of Mount Everest, are executed.
As an adult, I can appreciate all the research that Smith must have conducted in order to nail down the accuracy of the mountain, the conditions, and the challenges with the climb. For young adults: The cover and synopsis lead readers to believe that this is going to be an action-packed book. Spoiler alert- it's not at all. The time that Peak spends in NYC is minimal, and a bulk of the story takes place where Peak is training and slowly making his ascent up the mountain.
The scenery lacks a lot of detail making the setting difficult to grasp. In middle school, we teach our students to write using imagery from the five senses, and Smith doesn't really follow the style the way most YA books do. There is a LOT of focus on Peak's physical climbing The novel is almost entirely character driven, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think a younger reader might require more action or suspense to remain interested.
Regarding morals, Peak doesn't do much reflecting and the story focuses more on his actual climb than on the actions that led him to the mountain in the first place.
Another thing we teach kids to look for in literature is characterization - dynamic and round characters who evolve as the story progresses. Peak is only minimally developed, and the other characters remain flat for the entirety of the book. It's a super short book at only pages, so you could likely read it quickly or in one sitting. The ending got this reaction out of me: "oh. Dec 06, Abbey rated it really liked it.
Have you ever wondered how climbing is really like? What kind of things happen while people are climbing and how long it takes to climb to get to your destination? Peak gives you all of the information about it.
And including a story line to go with it, not just facts on climbing. Being the kind of reader I am reading mysteries and crimes and such , this book is actually fascinating. It actually caught me onto some spots in the book where there was a twist and it got me more into it and wonder Have you ever wondered how climbing is really like?
It actually caught me onto some spots in the book where there was a twist and it got me more into it and wondering what will happen next. Peak, is a fourteen year old boy who loves to climb. Long story short, his dad left his mom for climbing while she took care of Peak.
Anyway, Peak took the chances and climbed a building in New York. He got caught by the police and went to trial. It was either to go to a Juvenile Detention Center or have his mother bail him out. He succeeded. The only reason why he bailed Peak out? Is so he can go climb Mount Everest and be the youngest person to reach the top. My opinion on this book is that it was actually pretty amazing to read. There were great events in the story and points where I had fun reading it.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves climbing and are into great twists in books. There was a twist that really got me and I kept my eyes locked on the book for a while. You can learn a lot about what climbers really do on the mountains and how they do it. View all 7 comments. What a great little book. PEAK is an action adventure that is imminently readable, and suitable for anyone who likes the description and who can read at the Lexile: L level.
It's also a story about what makes a family a family. The offspring of two rock climbers and as the book begins Peak is getting into serious serious trouble for climbing a building in NYC. T What a great little book. The solution to that problem turns out being a trip to Katmandu and from there it's just up. And up some more. I'm an armchair explorer and one of the places I've been a few times are K2 and Everest. Formerly I went in the company of some of the world's best. This time I went with Peak and Roland Smith and I have to say that the author did a marvelous job in capturing the nature of the tortuous climb.
And he did it without making it seem too technical nor boring. No, this climb was a really good read with likable characters and a good story, and there's not many people that I wouldn't suggest this book to. Apr 07, Rebecca Weimert added it. Peak believes he will be attending a private school, but to his surprise his father has other plans. His father Josh owns a mountain climbing company and has decided to take Peak to the top of Everest so he will become the youngest person to climb up the entire mountain.
At first Peak is upset with the idea, but just as he was getting excit Rebecca Weimert Adventure Peak Marcello was caught climbing the Woolworth Building in New York and is sentenced to live with his is biological father in China. At first Peak is upset with the idea, but just as he was getting excited about it he learns Sun-jo a boy that has been helping him along the way is also trying to win the record as well so he can return to school with his sisters.
Peak learns a little about himself, and a lot about the real meaning of friendship. I loved this book! The story was written so well it left me on the edge of my seat. The book is great not only for teens, but adults as well. The language of mountain climbing was explained so the reader was never lost.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure! Feb 05, Cameron Paynter rated it really liked it Shelves: term This book was a bout a boy Peak and his life, it took place mostly at Mount Everest.
This is about Peaks life it first took place in the city living with his Mom,but peak got in deep trouble and and his dad took him to mount Everest. Peaks Dad is a famous mountain climber and Peak is trying to be the youngest kid to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Read this book to find o This book was a bout a boy Peak and his life, it took place mostly at Mount Everest.
Read this book to find out if peak will make it to the top or not. Apr 14, Laura Galindo rated it really liked it Shelves: reviews. One of the most fascinating and informative books I have ever read. The retelling of the journey to the summit of Mount Everest had me completely immersed in research for weeks. I never thought I would become interested in the action type of literature, but this book proved me wrong in all aspects. Oct 02, Simon rated it it was amazing. Peak is the kind of book that you will never read because the title looks boring, But i actually pick up the book and read it.
It is a very inspirational where it teaches to never give up even when things go bad. You would never think anything about the ending. Another great book by Roland Smith. Nov 05, Julia Lopez rated it it was amazing. One of the best books ever! Luv it. Oct 19, Bill rated it it was amazing Shelves: teen. This book was recommended for my son by a friend of mine who teaches troubled young men at a Christian School.
Many might disagree with me on giving this book five stars. I might possibly agree with them if they gave it a three or four star rating. However, that rating comes from my adult perspective. My teenage son struggles with reading and quite frankly hates it, until Peak and Mr. Roland Smith. Smith is not really writing to old guys like me. He wrote this for the younger crowd. This is This book was recommended for my son by a friend of mine who teaches troubled young men at a Christian School.
This is the first book my son has read on his own without me badgering him. He would take a headlamp to bed with him to keep reading Peak. In between chores and regular schoolwork we would find him with this book. Any author that can accomplish that with my son is awesome. Needless to say we have three other Roland Smith books on our shelves. As I read them I will rate them as well. If my son completes them and is excited to talk to me about them, they will also receive five stars.
Thank you Mr. Roland Smith! Jun 02, Gabriella Nestor rated it it was amazing. Introduction The novel Peak is written by Roland Smith expressing the physical and emotional tolls on a fourteen year old boy Peak Marcello as he climbs to reach for Mount Everest. In the opening scene, Peak writes about his outrageous stunt in scaling the Woolworth building in New York City to tag his blue mountain on them. Nevertheless, his plans rapidly come to a complete end, as he is caught and arrested for vandalism, and climbing.
His stunt goes public and Peak is in deep trouble and has to Introduction The novel Peak is written by Roland Smith expressing the physical and emotional tolls on a fourteen year old boy Peak Marcello as he climbs to reach for Mount Everest. His stunt goes public and Peak is in deep trouble and has to go into juvenile as he recently hears about a boy who dies trying to attempt his same exact stunt. Just in a nick of time, Peak is saved from going into juvenile detention as the judge agrees to let Peak to go live with his famous mountaineer father Josh Woods in Thailand.
Excited Peak is up for the challenge but soon learns again that his father would not be companying him, in the expense of his paying customers. Peak is sent off to his fathers head Sherpa for training and acclimation with a Nepalese boy his same age, name Sun-jo.
At the same time, a media crew follows their every move at base camp in their effort to the summit. In addition, an over the top Chinese police captain diligently searches for passports violations and underage climbers. Peak and the others is very aware of the dangers in climbing Mount Everest and Base Camp, can cost them their lives.
Craft and Structure The author Roland Smith writes the novel in first person point of view threw the identity of a fourteen- year- old boy Peak Marcello. Where Peak describes his challenges and emotions on his effort to reaching the Summit through writing in his journal for a assignment for his teacher. Yeah, I know: weird name.
But you don't get to pick your name or your parent". The author also includes a few things about or used in climbing that some people would not quite get such a crampons which, are devices used to improve the climbers mobility in the ice and snow.
I was able to figure out what they were because I know cramp is to hold on to. So I know that it could not have been gloves but shoes that have spikes to attach to the snow and ice. Another word that I thought would be tricky is the word crevasses , crevasses are these deep cracks in the glacier that have long vertical walls.
I was able to figure out what crevasses mean because I saw a true documentary on it. Theme I believe the theme of the novel was learning the deeper meaning of true friendship and the importance of family.
Peak experiences both of these virtues at the end of the story and was able to grow and understand the meaning of a solid friendship that can last a lifetime. Description After year-old Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he's left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. But Peak quickly learns that his father's renewed interest in him has strings attached.
Big strings. He wants Peak to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit - and his motives are selfish at best. Even so, for a climbing addict like Peak, tackling Everest is the challenge of a lifetime.
But it's also one that could cost him his life. Think through how he tells his story and talk about what the author includes at each part. Now, take some notes about a story about one of your own adventures.
Prepare it and tell it to your family. Make sure to talk about what you learn about characters, the setting, and major events in each part. Take notes about each of these things and practice talking about or reading each one.
The hook : The beginning of the story, where the author introduces the characters, setting, and conflict. How can you make this exciting for your family and get them interested in your story?
The Setting : Where does the event take place? How can you describe it so your family will really get where you were? How can the setting get people excited about the story? Characters : Who is involved? How can you describe each one so that they are unique and interesting? Rising action : How is the major conflict developing? What other problems are popping up along the way? Climax : Here, the major conflict reaches the height of excitement.
At what point in the story does the problem reach a tipping point? Falling action : How is the problem getting close to a solution?
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