5.0 out of 5 stars Great read

A.C. · 31 March 2012

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Really gripping, well written

B. · 5 September 2021

I had to read a book about a sporting teen for a book challenge. I don't much like sports books, but was browsing lists of young adult sports fiction when I came across a precis of this and it sounded interesting. It was a really enjoyable read - descriptive, gripping and had good character development. I am going to read the rest of the series.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing

A.C. · 8 October 2017

This book is AMAZING and super interesting amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

A. · 2 August 2015

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

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is amazing and Peak is a such a fierce character he ...

D.S. · 26 February 2017

This book is amazing and Peak is a such a fierce character he ghoes through alot to get to the top of the world, his choice in the end is very noble.

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too

T. · 24 May 2007

Have you ever wondered what inspires people to climb mountains? What drives some to the highest peaks? Fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello was born to climb. Born to a couple of dedicated "rock rats," Peak has climbing in his blood.Peak's parents are divorced. He hasn't heard from his father for years. Suddenly, after being arrested for illegally climbing a skyscraper, Peak finds himself on his way to Kathmandu to join his dad, famous climber, Joshua Wood.Forced to leave his mother, stepfather, and half-sisters behind, Peak has mixed feelings about the trip. It means spending time in some of the best climbing territory in the world. It also means spending time with a man who never answered his letters or bothered to get to know his own son.Once Peak arrives in the neighborhood of Mt. Everest, the real plan becomes evident. Joshua Wood runs an adventure/expedition company struggling to make ends meet. Taking the youngest ever person to the summit of Mt. Everest would assure the continued success of his company. Peak is just the fourteen year old for the job. Can he survive the brutal conditions and make it to the top? Will his father be able to protect him from the foreign authorities who have other ideas about who should be allowed to climb in their country?Peak Marcello is about to have the adventure of a lifetime. His mental as well as physical strength will be tested, and what is truly important in life will be revealed.Roland Smith, well-known for his adventure books, provides another great story for his fans. The struggle to survive on Mt. Everest, in addition to the thrilling attempt to reach its summit, makes for some fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat reading. I recommend PEAK for any teen collection.Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Five Stars

d. · 2 October 2015

I thoroughly enjoyed this teen boy adventure. Peak Marcello is a 14-year-old boy, the son of two well-known mountaineers, so he hardly can help it that climbing is in his blood. But when he’s caught climbing a New York skyscraper, he only escapes jail when his father, Josh, shows up and offers to take him back to Thailand with him until things cool down.But Josh has never been part of Peak’s life. He left when pregnancy and then a serious fall caused Peak’s mom to give up the sport. Peak hopes for a meaningful time with his dad, and he’s stunned to find out Josh’s motivations are primarily financial. Josh wants Peak to climb Mount Everest. If he succeeds, he’d be the youngest climber ever, which could only benefit Josh’s guide business.This is a fantastic adventure novel. Not only do we have a well-rounded character in Peak with a tough predicament, we get to climb Mount Everest with him! The context is a virtual crash course in procedure, equipment, hazards, glories, geography, and topography. It got my blood pumping, I’ll tell you! In addition, we’re introduced to several sherpas, those unsung heroes who guide climbers to the top, making the trip again and again. It was an interesting look at the local people who live, work, and often die tragically on Mount Everest. We even get a taste of the restrictive politics of China (Tibet), which shares the mountain with Nepal.Peak becomes close friends with a local Nepalese boy named Sun-jo whose grandfather is a sherpa. Without giving away anything, let me just say the friendship does much to drive the story into deeper levels and illustrate who Peak really is, deep down. Peak’s classic quote, the great takeaway at the end of his emotional journey, is: “The only thing you’ll find on the summit of Mount Everest is a divine view. The things that really matter lie far below.”I loved Peak. I enjoyed his story, and I liked his conclusions. Highly, highly recommended for boys (and girls who like a good kick-butt adventure now and again). Ages 12+.

Cleverly structured as well as an interesting read, from beginning to end

W.F. · 18 July 2018

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

Good read

S. · 18 August 2025

My son and I enjoyed the Peak series.

PEAK review

C.B. · 26 August 2015

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

S.P. · 20 June 2025

Really enjoying this book.