Peak

After Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he's left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. But Peak quickly learns that his father's renewed interest in him has strings attached. "Big" strings. He wants Peak to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit—and his motives are selfish at best. Even so, for a climbing addict like Peak, tackling Everest is the challenge of a lifetime. But it's also one that could cost him his life. Roland Smith has created an action-packed adventure about friendship, sacrifice, family, and the drive to take on Everest, despite the incredible risk. "Peak" is a novel readers won't be able to put down.

Winner of National Outdoor Book Awards (Children's) 2007
Winner of Nevada Young Readers' Award (Young Adult) 2009
Commended for Golden Sower Award (Young Adult) 2010
Commended for Oregon Book Awards (Young Adult) 2008
Commended for Texas Lone Star Reading List 2008
Commended for Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens (Ten to Fourteen) 2008
Short-listed for Young Reader's Choice Award (Intermediate/Grades 7-9) 2010
Short-listed for Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Grades 6-8) 2009
Short-listed for Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award 2012
Short-listed for Georgia Children's Book Award (Children's Book) 2009

“We know James Proimos from his eccentric, cartoonish, completely wonderful picture-book debut Joe's Wish and his second book The Loudness of Sam. In this equally odd, splendidly quirky chapter book (written in a comic-strip-frame, Captain Underpants-style), he offers six hilarious stories from "More Fun than a Bag of Marshmallows" to "The Pirates Meet the Runny Nose." It all starts when Momma Mutton opens her front door and finds that a baby has been left on her front step--a baby sheep. "But Momma's weak eyes and warm heart kept her from even noticing." She names the baby Johnny Mutton and raises him as her own son. In time, people begin to recognize that there is something odd about Johnny, but no one ever realizes that he is a sheep. The ensuing tales track his adventures in school, such as when he gives Mr. Slopdish the teacher a bag of marshmallows instead of apples (a big hit!) and when he dresses up a basketball like a squirrel and hides it in a tree so he doesn't have to catch 100 passes from his hoops-obsessed mother anymore. This may all sound silly to you, but helpless giggling by 8-year-olds is virtually guaranteed. Proimos has a knack for creating heart-melting stories in such an offbeat, hip, silly way you can't quite believe you're so moved. We tip our hats to him once again and sheepishly look forward to the continued adventures of Johnny Mutton. (Ages 5 to 9) --Karin Snelson”

"Here is the perfect antidote for a kid who thinks books are boring. The nifty plotting, gripping story line and Peak's assured delivery give those who join this expedition much to savour." Publishers Weekly"

Roland Smith is a former zookeeper and leading expert on red wolves as well as an author. He lives on a small farm near Portland, Oregon.

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