Between Heaven and Earth

September 24, 2012
Canadian author Walters (Catboy) launches the ambitious, adventure-driven Seven series, aimed at teenage boys, with this coming-of-age story set in Tanzania. When David McLean dies, he leaves each of his seven grandsons a certain task to complete, representing a missed opportunity or other aspect of his checkered past. Each grandson gets his own installment in this series, which have been written by different Canadian authors (including Norah McClintock, John Wilson, and Shane Peacock) and are being released
simultaneously with this story. Walters’s offering focuses on 17-year-old DJ, who is instructed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and scatter his grandfather’s ashes at the summit. During the physically grueling trip, DJ confronts his own limitations and youthful arrogance, while coping with culture clash and the very real prospect of failure. While DJ’s overconfidence makes it hard to root for him at first, his growth along the way soon transforms him into a more palatable hero. The biggest draw, though, is Walter’s keen attention to atmosphere, detail, and setting—Mount Kilimanjaro is a character unto itself. Ages 10–up.

September 1, 2012
Seventeen-year-old DJ attempts to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in fulfillment of his grandfather's final wish to have his ashes spread at the summit. Accustomed to succeeding at everything he does, DJ mistakenly believes that he can travel to Africa, climb the mountain and be home in a matter of days. Tricked into taking on the first female porter, he finds himself set to climb with a 67-year-old woman; nevertheless, DJ believes that his fitness and youth will be enough to get him to the top. However, if pride comes before the fall, then perhaps humility comes before the ascent. He learns that to travel quickly, one must travel alone, but to travel far, one must go with others. The rich setting and the thrilling details of the climb will make readers yearn for their own adventure. However, graphic descriptions of altitude sickness and stomach-twisting trail food leave no false illusions that the journey will be an easy one. This exciting adventure is only slightly marred by obvious foreshadowing and a predictable ending. DJ's tale is the first of seven books in this series, all publishing simultaneously. Each, written by a different author, will focus on one of the six other grandsons following their grandfather's will. Richly detailed and satisfying. (Adventure. 10-16)

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