Peak by Roland Smith

Peak by Roland Smith

"The only thing you'll find on the summit of Mount Everest is a divine view. The things that really matter lie far below."
-Roland Smith, Peak










Summary:  Fourteen year old Peak Marcello is forced to leave the U.S. and live with his dad after being caught illegally climbing skyscrapers.  Peak is not unhappy about living with his dad, a world famous climber, but his dad’s plans for him put his excitement to the test.  Peak’s dad wants to make him the youngest person ever to climb Mount Everest.  Peak is put to the test not only physically but emotionally as well.

Themes: Relationships/Family and Friends, Trust, Courage, Character values, Growing Up

Grade Level: 6^th and up

Possible Student Reaction: This adventure book about a young boy will not only appeal to boys but girls too.  The emotions Peak feels during his adventure are real and varied but do not slow down the excitement or danger of his experience.  The balance is just right in holding the attention of any reader.  All who pick up this book will be rushing to the end to see if Peak makes it to the summit.

Analysis:  Excitement, suspense, what’s not to like?  Maybe the ending?  The controversy is whether Peak’s decision to help Sun-jo reach the summit and not go himself was a believable decision made by a fourteen year old boy.  Up until that point Peak’s character was completely realistic as a likeable fourteen year old, even though the situation called for a person with a high level of skill and no small amount of talent .   It is interesting that questions about the character arose around not his physical capability to reach the summit but his emotional growth as a character when he got there.  This book was ultimately about Peak’s lack of judgment and maturity in the beginning and his growth in these areas at the end of his adventure.  In my opinion Peak made the right decision. 

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Roland Smith has a curriculum packet available for Peak at:

http://www.rolandsmith.com/curriculum/peak/PEAK%20Teacher%20Pack.pdf

In this packet is an interesting section on the similes and metaphors used in Peak.  A great way to work a grammar lesson into an adventure book.

Similes

p. 81 ¶ 1 “…like fingernails scraping on a chalkboard.”

p. 82 ¶ 1 “…like a red-headed scarecrow dressed in pink goose down.”

p. 82 ¶ 2 “…like turtles coming out of their shells.”

p. 82 ¶ 5 “Her hawklike brown eyes darted…”

p. 94 ¶ 5 “…and Holly was waiting for me like a guard dog.”

p. 100 ¶ 3 “…we had to double and triple up in the remaining tents like sardines.”

p. 101 ¶ 4 “…as likely as me flying a Gamow bag to Jupiter.”

p. 111 ¶ 2 “…like a puppet with its strings cut.”

Metaphors

p. 24 ¶8 “…I felt the drain plug loosen.”

p. 31 Title “Rock Rats”

p.33 ¶ 1/2 “She was bullet-proof.”

p.34 ¶ 1/2 “…the whole orthopedic jigsaw puzzle.”

p. 52 ¶ 2 “…everything I needed to get through the death zone.”

p. 77 Title “Rock Weasels”

p. 82 ¶ 4“Josh wriggled out of her tentacles…”

p. 137 ¶ 5 “If Shek catches you, you’re toast.”