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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
December 8, 2021
This is a middle grade book, and this is the first book in the Everest series. I would not have finish this book, but for it being my daughter's school family reading project book. I think this book was hard to read because it using a ton of climbing words. If you did not know anything about climbing you will not understand this book. I think this book was poorly written and about half the book did not need to be there, but I also feel the characters was not built up enough. I hated this book so much.
December 13, 2019
The Everest series really has a special place in my heart. I read it when I was seven. It was the first series I ever really loved and was obsessed with, and I remember reading it over and over and over again, to the point where I still remember the plot.
Even more importantly, I think, this series one of the things that made me love the mountains in winter, despite the cold and the blowing snow and the effort it takes to climb them, or in my chosen sport, to get down safely. I think about these books, sometimes, when I'm skiing and on the top of a mountain looking down at the valleys below me, awestruck at how the top of the world might look. It made me want to at least reach Everest Base Camp; to stand on top of two of the Seven Summits. Even though I can barely get through a hike without fainting, it's something I want to do.
Does it hold up, fifteen years later? Honestly, yeah, it does. Looking back on this I think, "How could anyone take a thirteen-year-old kid up Everest?" (It's been done, though!) But Gordon Korman doesn't sacrifice the dangers of climbing, or complex things like corporate greed, or financial hardship, or how the fear of disappointment can be the scariest thing of all, just because it's a book for kids. Some parts are, now, a bit out of the reach of my suspension of disbelief--but then again, in 1996, Beck Weathers survived being left for dead in the Death Zone, so anything's possible, I guess.
I'm really looking forwards to rereading the rest of the series.
Even more importantly, I think, this series one of the things that made me love the mountains in winter, despite the cold and the blowing snow and the effort it takes to climb them, or in my chosen sport, to get down safely. I think about these books, sometimes, when I'm skiing and on the top of a mountain looking down at the valleys below me, awestruck at how the top of the world might look. It made me want to at least reach Everest Base Camp; to stand on top of two of the Seven Summits. Even though I can barely get through a hike without fainting, it's something I want to do.
Does it hold up, fifteen years later? Honestly, yeah, it does. Looking back on this I think, "How could anyone take a thirteen-year-old kid up Everest?" (It's been done, though!) But Gordon Korman doesn't sacrifice the dangers of climbing, or complex things like corporate greed, or financial hardship, or how the fear of disappointment can be the scariest thing of all, just because it's a book for kids. Some parts are, now, a bit out of the reach of my suspension of disbelief--but then again, in 1996, Beck Weathers survived being left for dead in the Death Zone, so anything's possible, I guess.
I'm really looking forwards to rereading the rest of the series.
Read
April 25, 2024my childhood book
December 28, 2019
2.5 stars.
December 28, 2019
I would have liked to know before starting that this series is just one book divided in "volumes"
That said I think this would be a good book for middle grade kids that like adventure
That said I think this would be a good book for middle grade kids that like adventure
April 14, 2017
The summary given on the back of this book sounds interesting, but this book turned out to be any but.
A company holds a contest that gives kids a chance to participate in a boot camp that will train them to climb Mount Everest. It is a grueling training process and in the process, they could be cut, something no one wants.
Now, one thing that really gave me problems with this was there was no development whatsoever. Everything felt so flat and it frustrated me to no end. I know there are other books in this series but with the lack of development from this one, I don't believe there is development in the other ones.
A company holds a contest that gives kids a chance to participate in a boot camp that will train them to climb Mount Everest. It is a grueling training process and in the process, they could be cut, something no one wants.
Now, one thing that really gave me problems with this was there was no development whatsoever. Everything felt so flat and it frustrated me to no end. I know there are other books in this series but with the lack of development from this one, I don't believe there is development in the other ones.
January 3, 2018
Personal Response
I thought the book was very good. I thought it showed a lot of bravery and to never give up on a dream no matter what. Dominic really proved himself. Nobody thought that Dominic was good enough. At the end of the book, everybody was glad that Dominic made it to the Everest climb. If Dominic would not have been on the climb, then Bryn probably would have died. I enjoyed also how Dominic was not even supposed to make it further than first round but, last minute the guide of the expedition changed his mind after seeing what Dominic could do. I enjoyed reading this book and I always wanted to keep on reading.
Characterization
My favorite character in the book was Dominic. He made it into the contest by collecting wrappers from sodas that eventually spelled Everest. Dominic was very young. He was only 15 and was the smallest contestant. He did not let anyone down, and he was just as good if not better than the rest. He never gave up and was willing to risk his life for others. He wanted to be just like his brother who got to climb Everest the year before. Dominic was the one who saved Bryn and without him being as small as he was, he would have never been able to squeeze into the hole to pull Bryn out.
Plot
In the book Everest, 24 people were selected to go through training to get a chance to climb Mount Everest. There were three sections to the training and three rounds. The final outcome was one guide, one cameraman who was also a doctor, and four out of the 24 people. All of the 24 people are under the age of 18. The training was to become the youngest person to ever climb Everest. When the four were selected to go, they made it to the first day of the real climb and then something terrible happened. Bryn, a young girl, was sleepwalking at night and walked right off the ledge. The fun expedition had become a fight for life to get her out of a hole.
Setting
This book took place at a training camp at an unknown location. Later in the book, the contest winners went to Lucifer's Claw which was the start of Everest. When Bryn fell they were at the peak of Lucifer’s Claw, which is a very dangerous place and Bryn fell into a small hole at the peak. It was very cold and very rough climate up in the claw. It was very hard to even reach the peak of Lucifer’s Claw, even though it was only the very beginning of climbing Everest. The end of the book is about everyone on the trip meeting Bryn at the hospital while she had a long recovery.
Theme
I thought the theme of this book was heroism. I thought it was heroism because of how Dominic went from having no chance at even making the team to later in the book where he made the team, made part of the climb, and also saved someone's life. I think that made Dominic a hero. Dominic wasn’t trying to be a hero, he was just trying to help someone out. Dominic also knew the risk of him trying to save bryn but risked his life to save her life anyway. I thought that makes someone a hero.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone ages 12 and up. I thought everyone should read this book, because it shows that anything can happen. I thought it also showed that everyone can be a hero and anyone can achieve a dream. I rated this book four out of five stars because it was really a good book and kept me on the edge wanting to read more. I honestly want to read the next book.
I thought the book was very good. I thought it showed a lot of bravery and to never give up on a dream no matter what. Dominic really proved himself. Nobody thought that Dominic was good enough. At the end of the book, everybody was glad that Dominic made it to the Everest climb. If Dominic would not have been on the climb, then Bryn probably would have died. I enjoyed also how Dominic was not even supposed to make it further than first round but, last minute the guide of the expedition changed his mind after seeing what Dominic could do. I enjoyed reading this book and I always wanted to keep on reading.
Characterization
My favorite character in the book was Dominic. He made it into the contest by collecting wrappers from sodas that eventually spelled Everest. Dominic was very young. He was only 15 and was the smallest contestant. He did not let anyone down, and he was just as good if not better than the rest. He never gave up and was willing to risk his life for others. He wanted to be just like his brother who got to climb Everest the year before. Dominic was the one who saved Bryn and without him being as small as he was, he would have never been able to squeeze into the hole to pull Bryn out.
Plot
In the book Everest, 24 people were selected to go through training to get a chance to climb Mount Everest. There were three sections to the training and three rounds. The final outcome was one guide, one cameraman who was also a doctor, and four out of the 24 people. All of the 24 people are under the age of 18. The training was to become the youngest person to ever climb Everest. When the four were selected to go, they made it to the first day of the real climb and then something terrible happened. Bryn, a young girl, was sleepwalking at night and walked right off the ledge. The fun expedition had become a fight for life to get her out of a hole.
Setting
This book took place at a training camp at an unknown location. Later in the book, the contest winners went to Lucifer's Claw which was the start of Everest. When Bryn fell they were at the peak of Lucifer’s Claw, which is a very dangerous place and Bryn fell into a small hole at the peak. It was very cold and very rough climate up in the claw. It was very hard to even reach the peak of Lucifer’s Claw, even though it was only the very beginning of climbing Everest. The end of the book is about everyone on the trip meeting Bryn at the hospital while she had a long recovery.
Theme
I thought the theme of this book was heroism. I thought it was heroism because of how Dominic went from having no chance at even making the team to later in the book where he made the team, made part of the climb, and also saved someone's life. I think that made Dominic a hero. Dominic wasn’t trying to be a hero, he was just trying to help someone out. Dominic also knew the risk of him trying to save bryn but risked his life to save her life anyway. I thought that makes someone a hero.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone ages 12 and up. I thought everyone should read this book, because it shows that anything can happen. I thought it also showed that everyone can be a hero and anyone can achieve a dream. I rated this book four out of five stars because it was really a good book and kept me on the edge wanting to read more. I honestly want to read the next book.
March 4, 2018
Reading this series at 14; Climbling isn't really for me but it sounds exciting and these kids are so cool and talented! The descriptions are great and I love learning about Everest. So funny, interesting, and intense!
Reading this series at 27; All my thoughts from when I first read these books still apply, but also, who let these babies climb a freakin mountain of death??!! I love the characters and story, and I really apprecite that the books take the dangers of mountaineering seriously without being overly graphic about it.
Reading this series at 27; All my thoughts from when I first read these books still apply, but also, who let these babies climb a freakin mountain of death??!! I love the characters and story, and I really apprecite that the books take the dangers of mountaineering seriously without being overly graphic about it.
October 12, 2017
Personal Response:
I did not like the book The Contest , because it was all about one topic, and was boring to me. I will also not be reading the rest of this series in the future, because I did not like the author, Gordon Korman’s style. I can also only relate to the book a little bit, and it did not get me interested.
Plot:
The Contest takes place at a training camp in High Falls, Colorado, where kids are all trying their best to get into the final four openings to climb Mt. Everest. The kids we're training for a long time, with a process of elimination to see who climbs Mount Everest. The final four kids will be climbing Mount Everest in the future. Throughout the book, the reader will learn what kids are going to succeed, and which kids don't try by seeing their personalities. My motto for this book was, “the strong will survive,” because the kids that tried ended up succeeding, and the kids who didn't try and had bad attitudes did not succeed. Many kids went through the camp, but the final four are chosen for the next book.
Characterization:
The main characters were Dominic and Cap. Dominic is a hard-working kid with a never-give-up attitude and the main character of the story. He works the hardest towards climbing Mount Everest throughout the whole book. It is his dream be one of the first kids to climb Mount Everest.
Cap is the leader at the camp, that climbs with the kids and she helps them throughout the book. She has climbed Mount Mckinley, and is a great climber. She very strict person that is straight to the point and does not go easy on the kids.
Setting
This book takes place in High Falls, Colorado at a training camp to climb Mount Everest. This book is also in a modern day time frame. The modern day time frame is important to the setting and book, because the characters do things in the book such as vandalize the camp. I as the reader feel like if it was back a long time ago then the kids would not be this misbehaved. High Falls is where all the kids go to train. This place is important, because the whole first book in the series takes place here.
Recommendations:
I would not recommend this book at anyone, because it is a boring run on book that never seems to peek the reader's interest. I do not think many people want to read a book that they do not like, so that's why it took me, as the reader, a long time to read this book. The book was an easy read about climbing and Mount Everest. Kids that are at the middle school level might enjoy this book along with high schoolers for an easy read. A reader who likes run on books, and climbing mountains, then this book is a great choice.
I did not like the book The Contest , because it was all about one topic, and was boring to me. I will also not be reading the rest of this series in the future, because I did not like the author, Gordon Korman’s style. I can also only relate to the book a little bit, and it did not get me interested.
Plot:
The Contest takes place at a training camp in High Falls, Colorado, where kids are all trying their best to get into the final four openings to climb Mt. Everest. The kids we're training for a long time, with a process of elimination to see who climbs Mount Everest. The final four kids will be climbing Mount Everest in the future. Throughout the book, the reader will learn what kids are going to succeed, and which kids don't try by seeing their personalities. My motto for this book was, “the strong will survive,” because the kids that tried ended up succeeding, and the kids who didn't try and had bad attitudes did not succeed. Many kids went through the camp, but the final four are chosen for the next book.
Characterization:
The main characters were Dominic and Cap. Dominic is a hard-working kid with a never-give-up attitude and the main character of the story. He works the hardest towards climbing Mount Everest throughout the whole book. It is his dream be one of the first kids to climb Mount Everest.
Cap is the leader at the camp, that climbs with the kids and she helps them throughout the book. She has climbed Mount Mckinley, and is a great climber. She very strict person that is straight to the point and does not go easy on the kids.
Setting
This book takes place in High Falls, Colorado at a training camp to climb Mount Everest. This book is also in a modern day time frame. The modern day time frame is important to the setting and book, because the characters do things in the book such as vandalize the camp. I as the reader feel like if it was back a long time ago then the kids would not be this misbehaved. High Falls is where all the kids go to train. This place is important, because the whole first book in the series takes place here.
Recommendations:
I would not recommend this book at anyone, because it is a boring run on book that never seems to peek the reader's interest. I do not think many people want to read a book that they do not like, so that's why it took me, as the reader, a long time to read this book. The book was an easy read about climbing and Mount Everest. Kids that are at the middle school level might enjoy this book along with high schoolers for an easy read. A reader who likes run on books, and climbing mountains, then this book is a great choice.
December 14, 2023
I give this book 4 stars, I really like this book. It is a short and fast read, I finished it in less than one week. My favorite part was showing how determined these climbers are to get to the top of Everest. Any obstacle there was, they always found a way to get around it.
I like the beginning of the book showing how much prepping it takes to get ready to climb Everest and showing how hard you have to train to reach the right shape to climb it. Climbing Everest takes a lot of physicals but even more mental. At the beginning of the book the squad leader even tells Dominic that the only person you should be worried about is yourself, as soon as you start dying there is no way anyone can save you. This means that if someone is dying on Everest, the best thing you can do is walk away and try to forget about them. I would definitely recommend this book to any other freshman, as it isn’t hard to understand.
Part of me liked the length of this book, and part of me didn’t. I liked how I could finish it quickly and get this assignment done; however, if I was reading this book in my free time, I would probably want it to be longer. As soon as it ended, I was like I hope there is another book like EVEREST 2.
Everest shows how you have to fend for yourself and other people can’t always save you. I also like this as it shows how hard things can be, but you can still push through and succeed. What it really shows is that the struggle at the beginning can be really hard when they are practicing to climb Everest. As soon as you get to the top the reward can feel so good, this shows that getting to the reward will be hard, but it is worth it.
I like the beginning of the book showing how much prepping it takes to get ready to climb Everest and showing how hard you have to train to reach the right shape to climb it. Climbing Everest takes a lot of physicals but even more mental. At the beginning of the book the squad leader even tells Dominic that the only person you should be worried about is yourself, as soon as you start dying there is no way anyone can save you. This means that if someone is dying on Everest, the best thing you can do is walk away and try to forget about them. I would definitely recommend this book to any other freshman, as it isn’t hard to understand.
Part of me liked the length of this book, and part of me didn’t. I liked how I could finish it quickly and get this assignment done; however, if I was reading this book in my free time, I would probably want it to be longer. As soon as it ended, I was like I hope there is another book like EVEREST 2.
Everest shows how you have to fend for yourself and other people can’t always save you. I also like this as it shows how hard things can be, but you can still push through and succeed. What it really shows is that the struggle at the beginning can be really hard when they are practicing to climb Everest. As soon as you get to the top the reward can feel so good, this shows that getting to the reward will be hard, but it is worth it.
August 5, 2021
Have you ever revisited a series that you haven’t read in years?
That was what I was doing reading, “The Contest,” the first book in Gordon Korman’s adventure series, Everest, which I hadn’t read since I was in elementary school. As a result, I had completely forgotten the characters and events of all 3 books, so I hoped that the series had aged as well as I expected.
I haven’t read the other two books yet (they’ll be my next two reads) but from the first book alone, I can happily say that the series seems to have aged well.
Our first book follows a group of youth climbers, each who has been chosen due to being ranked as one of the best young climbers in the nation, or having won a promotional contest. However they were selected, they all have the same goal: to climb Mt. Everest.
But there are 20 climbers, and only 4 spots on the expedition team up for grabs. When the competition heats up, some will rise, some will fall, and some will do whatever it takes to win… no matter what.
This book was 138 pages of both nostalgia and adventure novel brilliance! It’s a quick, compulsively readable story but despite it’s short length, Gordon Korman manages to pack a lot into the pages, and his writing is as sharp and engaging as I always remember. The book was a perfect balance of mountaineering action and interpersonal conflict between the climbers. The epilogue teases you to the point where it’s almost impossible NOT to continue the series.
If you’re a writer and you’re looking to write an adventure series, take notes. Gordon Korman’s classic adventure novels are nearly 20 years old, and yet they stand amongst the best of the genre. I can’t wait to revisit the rest of this series!
That was what I was doing reading, “The Contest,” the first book in Gordon Korman’s adventure series, Everest, which I hadn’t read since I was in elementary school. As a result, I had completely forgotten the characters and events of all 3 books, so I hoped that the series had aged as well as I expected.
I haven’t read the other two books yet (they’ll be my next two reads) but from the first book alone, I can happily say that the series seems to have aged well.
Our first book follows a group of youth climbers, each who has been chosen due to being ranked as one of the best young climbers in the nation, or having won a promotional contest. However they were selected, they all have the same goal: to climb Mt. Everest.
But there are 20 climbers, and only 4 spots on the expedition team up for grabs. When the competition heats up, some will rise, some will fall, and some will do whatever it takes to win… no matter what.
This book was 138 pages of both nostalgia and adventure novel brilliance! It’s a quick, compulsively readable story but despite it’s short length, Gordon Korman manages to pack a lot into the pages, and his writing is as sharp and engaging as I always remember. The book was a perfect balance of mountaineering action and interpersonal conflict between the climbers. The epilogue teases you to the point where it’s almost impossible NOT to continue the series.
If you’re a writer and you’re looking to write an adventure series, take notes. Gordon Korman’s classic adventure novels are nearly 20 years old, and yet they stand amongst the best of the genre. I can’t wait to revisit the rest of this series!
August 9, 2021
Had a good hit of nostalgia starting up a series I read in elementary school! I honestly can’t remember exactly how the series turned out, so I’m looking forward to a refresh reading the rest of the trilogy.
February 7, 2023
I think it was pretty good but not great because it was the intro book to a 3 book series.
December 29, 2024
Go Dominick!
March 27, 2022
A slow start to the story. I didn’t feel that attached to the characters and sometimes had trouble remembering who was who.
March 15, 2017
Personal Response: I thought this book was a fun read. It kept me wanting to read the next chapter to see who was going to be cut from the expedition next. It has a great story line that made me feel like I was in the running for a spot on the Everest expedition. There were many shocking moments that I couldn’t predict. They kept me hooked and put a twist in what the outcome of the expedition would be. If I learned a life lesson from this book it would be to never expect something, always be ready for anything.
Plot: Cap Cicero is the team expedition leader. He controls who gets cut and who stays in the running for a spot on the actual expedition up Everest. There are only four spots on the team so every young climber is working harder than they have ever worked before to impress Cap. The Summit Quest energy company set up the expedition and made a contest where three hopefuls who found each letter of Everest under Summit Energy bars and drink caps could have a shot at making the Everest team. Dominic, Chris, Tilt, Samantha, Brynn, Cameron, and Perry are all fighting for a spot on the team by completing daily workouts and climbs at an impressive level. Samantha sleepwalks and knocks over a couple of vases several times and Cap thinks someone is vandalizing the cabin for fun. A few days later, Cameron tries climbing the famous mushroom boulder when he falls, shatters his ankle, and gets a concussion. The team is shocked and realizes the dangers of climbing once again. They also realize that another climber is out of the running for a spot on the team. Each day they keep bringing the level of competition higher and higher. Eventually, Chris and Tilt get cut from the running. The final team is Dominic, Bryn, Samantha, and Perry. After the final team is selected they get a month off to rest and get ready for the expedition up Mt. Everest. They set out for the long trek by starting out on the main base of the mountain. After two grueling days of climbing, they make it a quarter of the way up. On the third night ,Samantha starts sleepwalking out of the tent and she walks off the edge of the cliff they are sleeping on. She falls 20 feet into a gully but is still alive. Dominic squeezes himself down to her and chips away the ice so that the next day when the helicopter came they could get to her with a stretch board. The team goes back down after that to visit her in the hospital to regain their strength, so they will be able to take on the expedition a few short weeks later.
Characterization: There are two main character in this book. Cap Cicero the expedition leader is one of the main characters. He is one of the best climbers ever to live. He has conquered Mt. Everest multiple times along with every other important peak in the alps. Cap is a very outgoing leader who keeps his team members in line. He sets a good example for everyone to follow even when he is being tough. Dominic Alexis is also a main character. He is the youngest climber on the expedition. He is only 13 years old and has the respitory system of an olympic distance runner. He never gives up until he gets what he wants. He has the attitude and drive Cap Cicero is looking for to be on the team.
Impacts of Setting: The setting of this book is up at the Summit Sports training facility, which is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains during spring in the 21st century. There are mountains everywhere in the surrounding area. The weather can be harsh and cold at times. When it is sunny and warm out it is the perfect place to be for climbers.
Theme: The theme was “Dedicated to Success.” The Everest hopefuls are bound and determined to make the final expedition team. They are giving all they have to earn a spot on team that could potentially become famous and start a career for them. Each climber is dedicating themselves to this expedition because if they don’t, they won’t be successful. They are pushing each other to the limit in every climb and workout they do every day in order to impress Cap Cicero.
Recommendation/Rating: I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It is a very fun and exciting read. The storyline and tension of each chapter keeps the reader wanting to read the next one. I would recommend this book to any gender between the ages of 12 and 50. This book has a lot of adventure, drama, and competition that keeps the reader interested.
Plot: Cap Cicero is the team expedition leader. He controls who gets cut and who stays in the running for a spot on the actual expedition up Everest. There are only four spots on the team so every young climber is working harder than they have ever worked before to impress Cap. The Summit Quest energy company set up the expedition and made a contest where three hopefuls who found each letter of Everest under Summit Energy bars and drink caps could have a shot at making the Everest team. Dominic, Chris, Tilt, Samantha, Brynn, Cameron, and Perry are all fighting for a spot on the team by completing daily workouts and climbs at an impressive level. Samantha sleepwalks and knocks over a couple of vases several times and Cap thinks someone is vandalizing the cabin for fun. A few days later, Cameron tries climbing the famous mushroom boulder when he falls, shatters his ankle, and gets a concussion. The team is shocked and realizes the dangers of climbing once again. They also realize that another climber is out of the running for a spot on the team. Each day they keep bringing the level of competition higher and higher. Eventually, Chris and Tilt get cut from the running. The final team is Dominic, Bryn, Samantha, and Perry. After the final team is selected they get a month off to rest and get ready for the expedition up Mt. Everest. They set out for the long trek by starting out on the main base of the mountain. After two grueling days of climbing, they make it a quarter of the way up. On the third night ,Samantha starts sleepwalking out of the tent and she walks off the edge of the cliff they are sleeping on. She falls 20 feet into a gully but is still alive. Dominic squeezes himself down to her and chips away the ice so that the next day when the helicopter came they could get to her with a stretch board. The team goes back down after that to visit her in the hospital to regain their strength, so they will be able to take on the expedition a few short weeks later.
Characterization: There are two main character in this book. Cap Cicero the expedition leader is one of the main characters. He is one of the best climbers ever to live. He has conquered Mt. Everest multiple times along with every other important peak in the alps. Cap is a very outgoing leader who keeps his team members in line. He sets a good example for everyone to follow even when he is being tough. Dominic Alexis is also a main character. He is the youngest climber on the expedition. He is only 13 years old and has the respitory system of an olympic distance runner. He never gives up until he gets what he wants. He has the attitude and drive Cap Cicero is looking for to be on the team.
Impacts of Setting: The setting of this book is up at the Summit Sports training facility, which is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains during spring in the 21st century. There are mountains everywhere in the surrounding area. The weather can be harsh and cold at times. When it is sunny and warm out it is the perfect place to be for climbers.
Theme: The theme was “Dedicated to Success.” The Everest hopefuls are bound and determined to make the final expedition team. They are giving all they have to earn a spot on team that could potentially become famous and start a career for them. Each climber is dedicating themselves to this expedition because if they don’t, they won’t be successful. They are pushing each other to the limit in every climb and workout they do every day in order to impress Cap Cicero.
Recommendation/Rating: I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It is a very fun and exciting read. The storyline and tension of each chapter keeps the reader wanting to read the next one. I would recommend this book to any gender between the ages of 12 and 50. This book has a lot of adventure, drama, and competition that keeps the reader interested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2022
I read this with my fifth graders, and we enjoyed it so much that they begged me to get the second and read it next! Dominic is so lovable, and we’re completely invested in what happens!
November 30, 2014
I always like to read the true stories of mountain expeditions and I'm a bit annoyed that there aren't more novels about climbing mountains. When I saw this series, I was a bit unsure about reading it because of the plot. A group of young kids competing for a Willy Wonka style magic ticket chance to go to a climbing boot camp and maybe get chosen to climb Everest was a bit crazy and would never happen in reality. Being fiction though, I figured I'd give it a chance but I wasn't impressed.
The storytelling style of the author was good enough for the YA audience it is aimed at. The characters were quite well developed and written. I can't comment on how good the author was at describing the equipment and climbing itself as I have never taken part in the sport but it sounded pretty accurate.
It had the usual YA cliche of the bully in the group being obnoxious and having no redeeming qualities. It also had seriously farfetched plot elements that left me shaking my head. Firstly, the two girls are competing for a spot on the team and one finds out that the other sleepwalks. If you put aside her 'not wanting to win that way' she MUST report that! For safety reasons you can't have a team member possibly walking off the side of a mountain to her death and maybe taking one of you with her! Duh! A 13 year old leaps off a mountain yet manages to grab onto the helicopter as he falls? Get real! Even stuntmen could die doing that!
There is no suspense about who the traitor in the team is. It is so obvious from the start who it is going to be so there is no tension for the reader, trying to guess who it is. And then we get one of my pet hates-a prologue that gives away the fact that one of them dies on the trek. Oh great, spoil it for everyone why don't you. I really do hate it when an author does that.
I did quickly flick through to see who died and it wasn't a great surprise to be proved right. Not for me I'm afraid.
The storytelling style of the author was good enough for the YA audience it is aimed at. The characters were quite well developed and written. I can't comment on how good the author was at describing the equipment and climbing itself as I have never taken part in the sport but it sounded pretty accurate.
It had the usual YA cliche of the bully in the group being obnoxious and having no redeeming qualities. It also had seriously farfetched plot elements that left me shaking my head. Firstly, the two girls are competing for a spot on the team and one finds out that the other sleepwalks. If you put aside her 'not wanting to win that way' she MUST report that! For safety reasons you can't have a team member possibly walking off the side of a mountain to her death and maybe taking one of you with her! Duh! A 13 year old leaps off a mountain yet manages to grab onto the helicopter as he falls? Get real! Even stuntmen could die doing that!
There is no suspense about who the traitor in the team is. It is so obvious from the start who it is going to be so there is no tension for the reader, trying to guess who it is. And then we get one of my pet hates-a prologue that gives away the fact that one of them dies on the trek. Oh great, spoil it for everyone why don't you. I really do hate it when an author does that.
I did quickly flick through to see who died and it wasn't a great surprise to be proved right. Not for me I'm afraid.
October 23, 2015
"Everest" by Gordon Korman, is a great, thrilling book. "Everest" is about 19 kids who are trying out to only be in 4 slots to climb Mt. Everest. These kids are put into intense training and testing to see who is not only physically fit, but mentally fit as well. After the first day, many drop out, but after the 4 weeks it comes down to 4 well rounded people. This motivational, action packed story shows that if you put your mind to it you can succeed. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an entertaining, and strong willed story.
The story is written in the point of view of Dominic Alexis who is one of the candidates.
"It's been the greatest thing in my life, training with Cap Cicero,"(Dominic, 89) Dominic being great full for what Cap did for him. Captain Cicero (that's what he calls himself) is the expedition leader who is training them to be the best. On the third night at camp, two of the candidates were fighting over a tent to sleep in over in the cold night and Cap Cicero pulled off his boot and sock to show his three toes and said, "Annapurna, 1989. My helmet lamp malfunctioned, and I had to spend a night at twenty-five thousand feet. The thing about frostbite is, there isn't any pain. You just feel numb. But it's worse than pain because you know what's happening to you"(Cicero,30). From that moment on, all the candidates understood the risks that they are taking, and started respecting one another.
"Everest" is a book I could not stop reading. This story speaks to me because it is about kids who are more my age that want to be the best. The kids unending eagerness to be better than the other keeps me reading. This book is only the first of three and I need to read the other two.
The story is written in the point of view of Dominic Alexis who is one of the candidates.
"It's been the greatest thing in my life, training with Cap Cicero,"(Dominic, 89) Dominic being great full for what Cap did for him. Captain Cicero (that's what he calls himself) is the expedition leader who is training them to be the best. On the third night at camp, two of the candidates were fighting over a tent to sleep in over in the cold night and Cap Cicero pulled off his boot and sock to show his three toes and said, "Annapurna, 1989. My helmet lamp malfunctioned, and I had to spend a night at twenty-five thousand feet. The thing about frostbite is, there isn't any pain. You just feel numb. But it's worse than pain because you know what's happening to you"(Cicero,30). From that moment on, all the candidates understood the risks that they are taking, and started respecting one another.
"Everest" is a book I could not stop reading. This story speaks to me because it is about kids who are more my age that want to be the best. The kids unending eagerness to be better than the other keeps me reading. This book is only the first of three and I need to read the other two.
April 5, 2010
Everest #1: The Contest, by Gordon Korman
An athletic company is holding a contest to sponsor the youngest climber ever to summit Everest, the highest mountain in the world. "The Contest" follows several young hopefuls as they compete for a place on the four person team.
Book one in an action-packed trilogy, "The Contest" is quick, decent read. My main complaint is that Korman uses several climbing terms and equipment pieces that he doesn't explain until the end of the book, if at all. For example, I knew what crampons were, but I don't think it's a common term.
The story isn't told from the viewpoint of any one character; and several of the characters are cliches: there's the young kid, the mean kid, the kid who doesn't want to be there, the adrenaline junky, etc. "The Contest" is still a good story, though, and I enjoy these types of stories because they introduce me to a new world or new activity that I was previously unfamiliar with.
The entire Everest trilogy is best for readers who are interested in mountain climbing, competition, or just learning about something new.
3/5.
An athletic company is holding a contest to sponsor the youngest climber ever to summit Everest, the highest mountain in the world. "The Contest" follows several young hopefuls as they compete for a place on the four person team.
Book one in an action-packed trilogy, "The Contest" is quick, decent read. My main complaint is that Korman uses several climbing terms and equipment pieces that he doesn't explain until the end of the book, if at all. For example, I knew what crampons were, but I don't think it's a common term.
The story isn't told from the viewpoint of any one character; and several of the characters are cliches: there's the young kid, the mean kid, the kid who doesn't want to be there, the adrenaline junky, etc. "The Contest" is still a good story, though, and I enjoy these types of stories because they introduce me to a new world or new activity that I was previously unfamiliar with.
The entire Everest trilogy is best for readers who are interested in mountain climbing, competition, or just learning about something new.
3/5.
May 31, 2025
This book was originally published in 2002, unlike the other 2 trilogies that published around the same time; the Island Series or the Dive Series, this series has not gone through a rebranding in 2025. Though there are a couple different versions of the cover of book one, one in brown and the current in blue. According to Goodreads there are 24 editions of the first volume in this series, including editions in English, French, Dutch, Italian, and Spanish editions listed. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read 65 of his books including this volume, a few of them more than once. I set the goal of reading all his books about 2020. I am over half way thorough his canon, and have completed all the stand alone books and am now just working my way through the remaining series. Not counting omnibus editions I believe that as of the summer of 2025 Korman has published 109 books. With each that I read I am entertained and often challenged, and I am always entertained. My son, who is 17 often, reads these books to me or with me, and he still loves them.
One description of this volume states:
“A thrilling adventure trilogy from Gordon Korman that follows a group of young climbers to the top of Mt. Everest!
The height of competition. Who will be the youngest person ever to climb Mount Everest? It's the ultimate test of endurance and skill. The mountain has claimed the lives of many climbers. Now Summit Athletic, the sports drink and energy bar company, is sponsoring a reality contest-twenty of the county's youngest climbers competing for four spots in a chance to climb Everest, the tallest mountain the world. The competition is fierce, and the kids haven't even finished with boot camp in the Rockies. Some aren't ready for what they will face. And some will stop at nothing to get to the top.
another states:
“A thrilling adventure trilogy from Gordon Korman about a number of kids competing to be the youngest person to ever reach the top of Mt. Everest
Four kids. One mountain.
They come from all across America to be the youngest kid ever to climb Everest. But only one will reach the top first. The competition is fierce. The preparation is intense. The challenge is breathtaking. When the final four reach the higher peaks, disaster strikes-and all that separates the living from the dead is chance, bravery, and action.”
The story begins with a prologue. That prologue lets us know that there will be a death in the series, but no indication of who, it states:
“It was a funeral in every way but one: The body was missing.
Not missing, exactly. Its location was common knowledge — that was the most horrifying part of all this. The body was nine thousand miles away in a country called Nepal, twenty-seven thousand feet up Mount Everest, the highest point on planet Earth.
On Everest, everything above twenty-five thousand feet is known as the Death Zone. There, overpowering wind gusts approaching two hundred miles per hour can wrench a strong person clear off the mountain, and bone-chilling nighttime cold of one hundred degrees below zero causes frostbite and hypothermia. Wherever the body was, it was surely frozen solid.
Twenty-seven thousand feet is above the range of any helicopter. At that altitude, the air is simply too thin to provide the rotor blades with any lift. A stranded climber would have a better chance of being picked up off the surface of the moon than in the Death Zone. Atop Everest, you are your only rescue squad — you and the others who take on the mountain with you.
It was easy to spot those teammates among the mourners, and not just because of their young age. Their physical bodies fidgeted in the chapel, constricted by grief and tight collars. But their minds were still on the other side of the globe, five miles straight up, in the Death Zone.
They had that much in common with their unfortunate friend. It was a place they might never truly leave.”
From the very beginning we know this is a tragic tale. This first instalment in the series begins with Dominic Alexis desperate to find a letter ‘V’ in a wrapper or cap of a Summit Athletic Fuel or Energy Bar. He is seeking the last spot on a competition to wing a trip to climbing school and a shot at being part of a youth trip to climb Mount Everest! His older brother Christian already has an invite to the camp and is considered a shoe in for the final team.
The main events in this instalment of the series are the training camp, the elimination of hopefuls. We go from 24 candidates to a team of 4. And what started as friendly challenges soon turns into a push to make the final team. And readers being privy to information around the financing of the climb, and the influence that money has on who is being selected and who is not. We also get to see the team in action as they attempt a climb in Alaska as a test run.
It is a story in the adventure story with four young readers. This series is published as three short works; it is also published in an omnibus edition with all three stories in 1 volume. Unfortunately that 3 in1 edition is out of print and it looks like it was never released as an eBook. What I like about the shorter versions, is they are great for the classroom, or reluctant readers. This volume is another short read, it grabs your attention, and draws you in. And the ending leaves you desperate for the next volume. And as mentioned this is one of a few series written around the same time, in a similar format.
This story is another great read from Korman’s masterful pen.
I still have about 40 books from series left to read to have completed the canon of Korman’s works. I am grateful I finally gave this one a read; I look forward to the other 2 in the trilogy, and finishing the other 2 trilogies as well. It is an intense read start to what looks to be an exciting series!
One description of this volume states:
“A thrilling adventure trilogy from Gordon Korman that follows a group of young climbers to the top of Mt. Everest!
The height of competition. Who will be the youngest person ever to climb Mount Everest? It's the ultimate test of endurance and skill. The mountain has claimed the lives of many climbers. Now Summit Athletic, the sports drink and energy bar company, is sponsoring a reality contest-twenty of the county's youngest climbers competing for four spots in a chance to climb Everest, the tallest mountain the world. The competition is fierce, and the kids haven't even finished with boot camp in the Rockies. Some aren't ready for what they will face. And some will stop at nothing to get to the top.
another states:
“A thrilling adventure trilogy from Gordon Korman about a number of kids competing to be the youngest person to ever reach the top of Mt. Everest
Four kids. One mountain.
They come from all across America to be the youngest kid ever to climb Everest. But only one will reach the top first. The competition is fierce. The preparation is intense. The challenge is breathtaking. When the final four reach the higher peaks, disaster strikes-and all that separates the living from the dead is chance, bravery, and action.”
The story begins with a prologue. That prologue lets us know that there will be a death in the series, but no indication of who, it states:
“It was a funeral in every way but one: The body was missing.
Not missing, exactly. Its location was common knowledge — that was the most horrifying part of all this. The body was nine thousand miles away in a country called Nepal, twenty-seven thousand feet up Mount Everest, the highest point on planet Earth.
On Everest, everything above twenty-five thousand feet is known as the Death Zone. There, overpowering wind gusts approaching two hundred miles per hour can wrench a strong person clear off the mountain, and bone-chilling nighttime cold of one hundred degrees below zero causes frostbite and hypothermia. Wherever the body was, it was surely frozen solid.
Twenty-seven thousand feet is above the range of any helicopter. At that altitude, the air is simply too thin to provide the rotor blades with any lift. A stranded climber would have a better chance of being picked up off the surface of the moon than in the Death Zone. Atop Everest, you are your only rescue squad — you and the others who take on the mountain with you.
It was easy to spot those teammates among the mourners, and not just because of their young age. Their physical bodies fidgeted in the chapel, constricted by grief and tight collars. But their minds were still on the other side of the globe, five miles straight up, in the Death Zone.
They had that much in common with their unfortunate friend. It was a place they might never truly leave.”
From the very beginning we know this is a tragic tale. This first instalment in the series begins with Dominic Alexis desperate to find a letter ‘V’ in a wrapper or cap of a Summit Athletic Fuel or Energy Bar. He is seeking the last spot on a competition to wing a trip to climbing school and a shot at being part of a youth trip to climb Mount Everest! His older brother Christian already has an invite to the camp and is considered a shoe in for the final team.
The main events in this instalment of the series are the training camp, the elimination of hopefuls. We go from 24 candidates to a team of 4. And what started as friendly challenges soon turns into a push to make the final team. And readers being privy to information around the financing of the climb, and the influence that money has on who is being selected and who is not. We also get to see the team in action as they attempt a climb in Alaska as a test run.
It is a story in the adventure story with four young readers. This series is published as three short works; it is also published in an omnibus edition with all three stories in 1 volume. Unfortunately that 3 in1 edition is out of print and it looks like it was never released as an eBook. What I like about the shorter versions, is they are great for the classroom, or reluctant readers. This volume is another short read, it grabs your attention, and draws you in. And the ending leaves you desperate for the next volume. And as mentioned this is one of a few series written around the same time, in a similar format.
This story is another great read from Korman’s masterful pen.
I still have about 40 books from series left to read to have completed the canon of Korman’s works. I am grateful I finally gave this one a read; I look forward to the other 2 in the trilogy, and finishing the other 2 trilogies as well. It is an intense read start to what looks to be an exciting series!
April 18, 2012
Determination wins the day as Chris's younger brother, Dominic, earns himself an opportunity to try out for the expedition to climb Mount Everest with youngest climbers ever by finding enough wrappers from the Summit company to spell "EVEREST". Now we'll see if he can actually make the team being the youngest and smallest at boot camp.
April 17, 2012
This book is going to cost me! I recommended it to some 4th graders right before vacation. One had read and loved Pop! by Korman, so I thought this would be a good match. I know that they are going to love this book and want book 2 and 3, so I'd better get busy and purchase them. Truth is...I want to read on, too!
June 26, 2020
Book 1 - You can read just one, but this series is really good if you read all three. This book covers the first stage of the journey.
Temperatures so cold you can freeze to death. Footing so unstable people have stepped outside their tents to go to the bathroom, started slipping, and have fallen into crevasses so deep that no one can find them ever again. Air so thin it leaves you gasping for breath. If you die up there, they leave your frozen carcass there forever because no one has the strength to carry your stiff body back to ground level and no helicopter can get enough lift to come this high and retrieve you.
All this, and people spend thousands of dollars every year just to try to make it to the top because there’s no other place like this on earth.
This is Mount Everest, the tallest mountain with the highest peak in the world. If you can get to the summit of Everest, you’ve climbed to the top of the world. Gordon Korman’s series called Everest tells the story of Dominic, a 14 year old boy, who’s been climbing everything vertical for as long as he can remember, a guy with an innate ability to tackle the toughest obstacles in climbing, who also happens to be younger than anyone who’s ever been to the summit of Everest. And Dominic would really like to give it a try. But a lot of problems stand in his way—first, though, he’s got to win a contest to even get a chance to try for a spot on a climbing team. If he can pass that test, there’s still the long, dangerous, highly competitive journey to the top, and some people will stop at nothing to make it, even sabotage. Not everyone will make it to the summit, and some will die trying.
(REVIEW: Good for the reluctant reader because covers are cool, but each volume is very short and typeface is large. One drawback for the reluctant reader is the climbing jargon, used right from the start. Crampons and other climbing tools, unfamiliar geographical locations and ice terms will all be unfamiliar to the average Midwestern reader. If that issue is pointed out, however, and students can get involved in the action, this series and the others by Korman are likely to grab their attention and keep it.
Mild treachery in the form of a fellow climber who reveals their dirty laundry to a National Inquirer type of newspaper and backstabs whenever he can; a drug reference by a free spirit thrill seeker among their group; some climbers perish, but no on-screen graphic details. The leaders look out for their charges, and the climbers, although they compete, also care for one another. Even the backstabber tries to redeem himself in book three. Each book stands alone, but reading the whole series is definitely more satisfying.)
Temperatures so cold you can freeze to death. Footing so unstable people have stepped outside their tents to go to the bathroom, started slipping, and have fallen into crevasses so deep that no one can find them ever again. Air so thin it leaves you gasping for breath. If you die up there, they leave your frozen carcass there forever because no one has the strength to carry your stiff body back to ground level and no helicopter can get enough lift to come this high and retrieve you.
All this, and people spend thousands of dollars every year just to try to make it to the top because there’s no other place like this on earth.
This is Mount Everest, the tallest mountain with the highest peak in the world. If you can get to the summit of Everest, you’ve climbed to the top of the world. Gordon Korman’s series called Everest tells the story of Dominic, a 14 year old boy, who’s been climbing everything vertical for as long as he can remember, a guy with an innate ability to tackle the toughest obstacles in climbing, who also happens to be younger than anyone who’s ever been to the summit of Everest. And Dominic would really like to give it a try. But a lot of problems stand in his way—first, though, he’s got to win a contest to even get a chance to try for a spot on a climbing team. If he can pass that test, there’s still the long, dangerous, highly competitive journey to the top, and some people will stop at nothing to make it, even sabotage. Not everyone will make it to the summit, and some will die trying.
(REVIEW: Good for the reluctant reader because covers are cool, but each volume is very short and typeface is large. One drawback for the reluctant reader is the climbing jargon, used right from the start. Crampons and other climbing tools, unfamiliar geographical locations and ice terms will all be unfamiliar to the average Midwestern reader. If that issue is pointed out, however, and students can get involved in the action, this series and the others by Korman are likely to grab their attention and keep it.
Mild treachery in the form of a fellow climber who reveals their dirty laundry to a National Inquirer type of newspaper and backstabs whenever he can; a drug reference by a free spirit thrill seeker among their group; some climbers perish, but no on-screen graphic details. The leaders look out for their charges, and the climbers, although they compete, also care for one another. Even the backstabber tries to redeem himself in book three. Each book stands alone, but reading the whole series is definitely more satisfying.)
November 1, 2019
I really liked this book because it is about a group of kids who are competing for a spot to climb Mount, Everest. Before that, the kids must train at a training camp at High Falls Colorado. They train here to learn the skills necessary to climb up Mount, Everest. These skills include mental and physical challenges such as 5-hour hikes, boot camp, and therapy sessions. The top 4 kids at this camp are selected to climb Mount Everest.
The main characters in this book are Cap, Domonick, and Sammy. Cap is the leader at the camp. She has climbed Mount McKinley and is Domonick's older sibling who is more experienced than Domonick in climbing. Domonick is an out-working kid who is the main character of this story. He is short for his age but never gives up. Sammy is one of the females on the team. She sleepwalks but she had to lie about it to Cap because if Cap found out that she did sleepwalk she wouldn't be allowed on the team.
My favorite parts of the book include: when Domonick went to look at the wrapper that the truck driver threw out and Domonick found out that it had a "V" on it. That was the last letter that Domonick needed to go to the camp. This was a favorite part because Domonick was so happy. Another favorite part of mine was when Sammy fell into the mountain and Domonick saved her. This was another favorite part because it showed a heroic side of Domonick.
The main characters in this book are Cap, Domonick, and Sammy. Cap is the leader at the camp. She has climbed Mount McKinley and is Domonick's older sibling who is more experienced than Domonick in climbing. Domonick is an out-working kid who is the main character of this story. He is short for his age but never gives up. Sammy is one of the females on the team. She sleepwalks but she had to lie about it to Cap because if Cap found out that she did sleepwalk she wouldn't be allowed on the team.
My favorite parts of the book include: when Domonick went to look at the wrapper that the truck driver threw out and Domonick found out that it had a "V" on it. That was the last letter that Domonick needed to go to the camp. This was a favorite part because Domonick was so happy. Another favorite part of mine was when Sammy fell into the mountain and Domonick saved her. This was another favorite part because it showed a heroic side of Domonick.
April 10, 2020
Honestly this book was a big let down. I've read a lot of Gordon Korman's other books, and this did not live up to the others. There wasn't enough of a world created. The book starts out with Chris getting ready to leave for the SummitQuest training. His younger brother found the letters to spell Everest, allowing him to go to the training camp. This entire book seemed extremely rushed. I didn't have any emotional attachment to any of the characters. The plot wasn't engaging to me, and I found myself wishing that I hadn't picked this book up. The training is boring, and when we finally get to the climax everything seemed rushed and I didn't understand what was going on. This entire book was just rushed and boring. If you want a good book by Korman, read Restart, Ungifted, or The Hypnotists. Sorry for being so salty.
November 13, 2019
This is a great series for reluctant 5th-8th grade readers. Packed with action and adventure!
20 kids win a chance to take part in an Everest expedition. Training begins on a challenging peak in Colorado. Perry, Tilt, Dominic, Chris, Sammi and Bryn are the finalists. Perry is the least skilled and the other kids know it. He would like nothing better than to be sent home. Tilt is one of the best, but has a major attitude problem. Dominic has skill, but he's the youngest and smallest. Chris, Dominic's brother is one of the best, but also the oldest. His age makes him not as impressive. Sammi and Bryn are the two girls. Bryn has more skill, but has a sleepwalking problem, which is a major liability. Cap Cicero is the expedition leader, a strict, no-nonsense guy with mad climbing skills.
After two training expeditions, several team changes, and a treacherous rescue mission, the final team is announced. There's lots of danger and cool characters. They all bring a different element to the story. This series, along with his Island series, is short, making it perfect for kids who don't like to read. Highly recommend.
20 kids win a chance to take part in an Everest expedition. Training begins on a challenging peak in Colorado. Perry, Tilt, Dominic, Chris, Sammi and Bryn are the finalists. Perry is the least skilled and the other kids know it. He would like nothing better than to be sent home. Tilt is one of the best, but has a major attitude problem. Dominic has skill, but he's the youngest and smallest. Chris, Dominic's brother is one of the best, but also the oldest. His age makes him not as impressive. Sammi and Bryn are the two girls. Bryn has more skill, but has a sleepwalking problem, which is a major liability. Cap Cicero is the expedition leader, a strict, no-nonsense guy with mad climbing skills.
After two training expeditions, several team changes, and a treacherous rescue mission, the final team is announced. There's lots of danger and cool characters. They all bring a different element to the story. This series, along with his Island series, is short, making it perfect for kids who don't like to read. Highly recommend.
July 4, 2019
Title: The Contest
Author: Gordon Korman
Series: Everest, 1
Format: ebook
Length: 212 pages (iPhone)
Rating: 2.5 stars
Synopsis: Four kids. One mountain.
They come from all across America to be the youngest kid ever to climb Everest. But only one will reach the top first. The competition is fierce. The preparation is intense. The challenge is breathtaking. When the final four reach the higher peaks, disaster strikes—and all that separates the living from the dead is chance, bravery, and action.
Favourite character: Dominic
Least favourite character: Tilt
Mini-review: This is not one of Gordon Korman's best books. If anything, it's the worst I've read thus far. Maybe the next book in this series will be better, but this one is mostly them talking about climbing Everest, one guy complaining, some bullying and a dash of sleepwalking. There that's the entire book. You're welcome.
Fan Cast:
Dominic Alexis - Dylan Kingwell
Cap Cicero - Max Martini
Samantha "Sammi" Moon - Alisha Newton
Perry Noonan - Grayson Russell
Bryn Fiedler - Isabel May
Norman "Tilt" Crowley - Peyton Meyer
Lenny "Sneezy" Tkakzuk - Pablo Schreiber
Dr. Andrea Oberman - Jennifer Morrison
Author: Gordon Korman
Series: Everest, 1
Format: ebook
Length: 212 pages (iPhone)
Rating: 2.5 stars
Synopsis: Four kids. One mountain.
They come from all across America to be the youngest kid ever to climb Everest. But only one will reach the top first. The competition is fierce. The preparation is intense. The challenge is breathtaking. When the final four reach the higher peaks, disaster strikes—and all that separates the living from the dead is chance, bravery, and action.
Favourite character: Dominic
Least favourite character: Tilt
Mini-review: This is not one of Gordon Korman's best books. If anything, it's the worst I've read thus far. Maybe the next book in this series will be better, but this one is mostly them talking about climbing Everest, one guy complaining, some bullying and a dash of sleepwalking. There that's the entire book. You're welcome.
Fan Cast:
Dominic Alexis - Dylan Kingwell
Cap Cicero - Max Martini
Samantha "Sammi" Moon - Alisha Newton
Perry Noonan - Grayson Russell
Bryn Fiedler - Isabel May
Norman "Tilt" Crowley - Peyton Meyer
Lenny "Sneezy" Tkakzuk - Pablo Schreiber
Dr. Andrea Oberman - Jennifer Morrison
February 23, 2017
The Contest is book one of the Everest Trilogy by Gordon Korman.
Summary
Dominic Alexis, 13, has won one of five wildcard spots for chance to try out for the youngest team ever to climb Mt. Everest.
He will join 15 of the top young mountaineers in the country at an intensive four-week boot camp competition in Colorado. Coincidentally his older brother, Chris, has already been invited to compete because he is the second best mountain climber in the country. During the rigorous training process the nineteen climbers will be cut to just three to comprise the SummitQuest team led by Cap Cicero. The fourth member has already been chosen - Ethan Zaph, an experienced sixteen year old who has already climbed Everest. However, Ethan decides to join another climbing team, so Cap needs to reevaluate his candidates in making the final cut.
Surprisingly thirteen year old Dominic is chosen over his brother Chris. For a climber he is small and inexperienced but at camp his persistence, inventiveness and hard work paid off. A thirteen year old will also be great for publicity. The final four team members are Dominic, Bryn Fielder (the country’s top female alpinist), Perry Noonan, whose billionaire uncle is footing the bill for the entire expedition Samantha Moon, a fearless 15 year old.
With his team chosen, Cap takes them to Alaska’s for some real experience. Bryn suffers a terrible fall and is helicoptered out. Who will be her replacement? Book 1 ends with this cliffhanger that will be resolved in Book 2 of the series, The Climb.
My Comments
Gordon Korman is known for his action books for boys. At about 150 pages per book, The Everest series would be great for reluctant readers. Each book ends with a huge cliffhanger to keep kids reading to the end. In this case, The Contest also starts with a cliffhanger – the funeral of a climber lost on Everest. Who is it and what happened? Readers won’t find out until the final book in the series, The Summit.
There is plenty of death defying action here to keep the story racing along, and enough characters to make things interesting. The character development is not as good as in some of Korman’s other books, but the intense action, makes up for it.
I find the subject of climbing Mt. Everest to be a fascinating and unique topic and I think most readers will also. Korman uses a lot of descriptive terminology about the climb, and he explains a lot of the technical stuff in great detail.
My only problems with the book concerned the realism of kids in their early teens being allowed by parents to climb Everest. However, when I Googled “youngest to climb Everest” I came up with 13 year old Jordan Romero. Since then, the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) set an age restriction for Everest. The new rule barred Everest-hopefuls over the age of 60 and under the age of 18 from acquiring climbing permits on the Tibetan side of the mountain. This might be a great topic of discussion for readers of this book series. How much of this particular climb is about mass marketing and money, and when is a child is mentally and physical ready for such a challenge?
Another realism issue – how convenient was it that Dominic just happened to be the winner of the Summit Energy Bar contest that earned him a try-out for the SummitQuest team.
This book would be best for tween and teen boys, although the inclusion of female characters might make it appealing to girls as well. This is a great action book and a quick read. There is no bad language or uncomfortable sexual situations in this book. There is danger, however, and one character will die in the attempt to summit Everest.
Another book with a surprisingly similar topic is Peak by Roland Smith, which I thought was a little better written. Was Korman copying Smith?
August 29, 2017
Teenagers go to a bootcamp to train to climb Everest. Each week certain kids are eliminated and sent back home because they didn't qualify in the camp. Weeks pass and Only Dominic, Chris, Bryn, Sammi, Tilt, Joey, and Perry are left. Its the toughest week of training and only four kids are allowed to make the team. During a Hike the team finds a tall rock to climb and no one succeeds in climbing it, Chris the biggest and the strongest one starts to climb it, at 20ft high a footing crevice breaks on him and he falls to the ground, he hit his head knocked out and breaks a leg, and so he can't climb Everest. On the Final week Chris, Tilt, and Joey get sent home leaving Dominic, Chris, Bryn, and Sammi on the team. They fly to everest and start the climb. After pushing their bodies to the limits for 11 1/2 hours they set up a camp on a slope. After 3 hours into the night Dominic wakes up and goes outside because he can't sleep. He finds Sammy sleep walking and he watches as she walks off the edge of the mountain.
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