Peak by Roland Smith | Teen Ink

Peak by Roland Smith MAG

September 30, 2008
By Anonymous

Peak tells the story of a boy becoming a man. It begins in New York where Peak Marcello is caught by the police while climbing a skyscraper. He must live with his father who has flown in for the trial. This doesn’t seem so terrible, but his father is a professional rock/mountain climber and is currently climbing Mt. Everest. Through his struggles with the mountain and his father, he tries to complete his goal, which has never been achieved before – a 14-year-old on Everest.

Peak is born to be a climber: body type, mind set, and determination are all qualities that make the best candidate for summiting Everest.

He is opinionated but doesn’t always speak his mind ­because of his circumstances. He sees things differently from others and doesn’t relate well to others during the climb.

When Peak realizes that one of the people who monitors the climb brought his grandson because he is 14 too and trying to summit the mountain like Peak, he sees this as a challenge while other people see Sunjo, the grandson, as an inferior climber trying to sabotage the trip. Most of the climbers are either extremely rich or celebrities who just want to be able to say they climbed Everest.

Peak has to fight his body, his father, himself, and the mountain using sheer will power to summit. He is manipulated by his father whose climbing business is struggling. His father needs Peak to succeed because then his company will have put the youngest person ever on Everest. This is the spark needed to jump-start his business, but Peak doesn’t like that he is ­being used by his own father.

Peak is an exciting novel and a stimulating story. The author keeps you on edge as Peak tries to summit the mountain. Smith has a way of getting her point across with ­excitement and suspense. If you like books full of action and drama, I implore you to read this one.



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This article has 53 comments.


on Feb. 18 2010 at 7:06 am
Silverwolf14 SILVER, Cochranville, Pennsylvania
5 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
'Those who are dead, are not dead, they're just living in my head.'

Amazing story!

Guymoon554 said...
on Feb. 1 2010 at 4:18 pm
Peak is an amazing book stop reading this and read the book

thanks bye!

EMOEMY GOLD said...
on Jan. 27 2010 at 8:02 pm
EMOEMY GOLD, Flower Mound, Texas
15 articles 2 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If the world didn't suck we would all fall off", "My life's goal is to make those closest smile and laugh", "If you don't like it change it"

****if you havent read the book stop reading this ASAP or youll regret it*******

he does but he refuses to touch(?) the top and lets the other kid. its a really cool thing for him to do.

gray gray said...
on Jan. 5 2010 at 5:48 pm
i read tha book but i cant remember if he makes it to the summit or not..... can someone clue me in??

chipmuck said...
on Oct. 9 2009 at 9:54 am
I think the review was helpful and it told you alot about the book.

Billybobfoo said...
on Oct. 9 2009 at 9:52 am
I loved this book! I loved the part where the police were tying to get Peak down from the skyscraper! The book was so exciting! I would recomend it.

on Aug. 28 2009 at 11:23 am
i love the book peak !

aceswild91 said...
on Aug. 28 2009 at 3:00 am
This book is an inspirational masterpeice.

Voice said...
on Jun. 22 2009 at 5:47 am
Voice, FortWalton, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 10 comments
I LOVE this book, I don't think I finished it but I LOVE it just the same, man I want to know how it ends, but I'm too lazy too see where I left off ;( TEARS.

on Mar. 3 2009 at 8:12 am
Weightless2015 GOLD, Roselle, Illinois
17 articles 0 photos 55 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Dream with my eyes open, sleep when I'm dead, love who my heart's chosen, and conquer what lies ahead." -Ryan Follese (lead singer of Hot Chelle Rae)

i love that book though the ending is disapointing it is also touching/moving

Lanee said...
on Dec. 20 2008 at 1:53 am
Great review, but - last time I checked - Smith was male. Ah, well, we're not all perfect, are we? Keep up the nice work, maybe work on your flow a little bit. Your first and fourth paragraphs seemed a little... iffy, if you know what I mean. Read them aloud, see what they sound like. ... Or maybe it's just me.

chriscav76 said...
on Nov. 20 2008 at 1:59 pm
I thought it was a good book. I think i would read it again and i am looking foward to keep reading more of your books.

nonelse said...
on Nov. 18 2008 at 10:42 pm
i loved this book!!! Also, the reveiw was very good!!!