Everest

April 15, 2011

An armchair-adventurer franchise goes to Everest.

The premise is familiar: Readers engaged in a video-game–like scenario face a series of decisions. At each challenging juncture choices must be made. Do this and turn to page... Do that, and you'll discover you're doomed. Readers become members of the youngest team to ever scale Mt. Everest. Those that trouble to study the backmatter will receive some pithy advice from climbing expert Morton (who has successfully scaled Everest multiple times.) It is wise to heed that advice. The team consists of three young teens, three experienced climbers and the sponsor, a video-game–company owner, all of whom are just lightly sketched—it's all about the plot. Most of them will almost seductively offer you opportunities to make major mistakes. Realistically, the errors made on the approach to Everest are generally forgiven: a quick recovery period then back to climbing. Those made higher up may be lethal. Brief text sections are accompanied by an occasional short graphic section consisting of five or six frames of action-filled art. Readers that make cautious choices will be rewarded by reaching the summit, but it's easy to be led astray, and only a path or two through the minefield of mistakes will result in full success—although there are quite a few amusing ways to fail without actually dying.

Quick, clean fun; no crampons needed. (Action/adventure. 8 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

June 1, 2011

Gr 4-8-"You" are the youngest member of a team trying to summit Mt. Everest. But success depends on making the right decisions. This action-packed adventure uses an interactive format not only to keep the story exciting but also to teach readers that the right choices can mean the difference between life and death. The team members are introduced with emphasis on their strengths and weaknesses and, since the choices offered are often dependent on cooperating with others, evaluating these traits plays a significant part in the decision-making. As situations are presented, readers choose to follow one of two paths and continue on it to an appropriate page. Many of the worst-case scenarios lead to failure or even death, some to partial success, and some moral choices result in personal loss but ethical triumph. Practical tips and advice for those thinking of climbing Everest are suggested by a consultant who has made that journey several times. Numerous black-and-white drawings appear throughout, and sometimes the text moves into graphic-novel mode for a few pages. The format and subject matter will be especially appealing to reluctant readers. A fun as well as informative addition.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.