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The Higher We Go: Pier Giorgio Frassati
"VERSO L'ALTO." TO THE HEIGHTS.
This was Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto. But what could an athletic, mountain-climbing saint have to say to wheelchair-bound Miri?
When Miri's friend Daniel and his friends get a chance to go on a Pier Giorgio Frassati pilgrimage, they decide to invite Miri along, and show him just how high he can go.
The fifth book in the Friends in High Places series, The Higher We Go can be read on its own. The series is Parental Guidance since it contains some mature themes.
“The Higher We Go deftly brings the virtue of St. Pier Giorgio to life in a contemporary story set in the mountains he so loved. His story, and that of Miri and Daniel, will inspire readers to the bravery and acts of charity modeled by the young Italian saint.”
CAROLYN ASTFALK, author of contemporary Catholic novel for teens, Rightfully Ours
“An engaging story demonstrating the inspiration of a saint in helping someone achieve an unlikely goal.”
CYNTHIA T. TONEY, author of the Bird Face series and The Other Side of Freedom
Friends in High Places is a short fiction series that presents saints’ biographies in the context of imaginary teenagers’ lives. The stories are written primarily to entertain, with inspiration and education thrown in for free!
This was Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto. But what could an athletic, mountain-climbing saint have to say to wheelchair-bound Miri?
When Miri's friend Daniel and his friends get a chance to go on a Pier Giorgio Frassati pilgrimage, they decide to invite Miri along, and show him just how high he can go.
The fifth book in the Friends in High Places series, The Higher We Go can be read on its own. The series is Parental Guidance since it contains some mature themes.
“The Higher We Go deftly brings the virtue of St. Pier Giorgio to life in a contemporary story set in the mountains he so loved. His story, and that of Miri and Daniel, will inspire readers to the bravery and acts of charity modeled by the young Italian saint.”
CAROLYN ASTFALK, author of contemporary Catholic novel for teens, Rightfully Ours
“An engaging story demonstrating the inspiration of a saint in helping someone achieve an unlikely goal.”
CYNTHIA T. TONEY, author of the Bird Face series and The Other Side of Freedom
Friends in High Places is a short fiction series that presents saints’ biographies in the context of imaginary teenagers’ lives. The stories are written primarily to entertain, with inspiration and education thrown in for free!
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 1, 2025
This was a long awaited volume; it was greatly anticipated by both my son and me. We both have a personal devotion to Pier Giorgio, and my son has completed a year-long leadership program in our diocese named after Frassati. I love the writings of Corinna Turners and this latest in this series is another excellent offering. I have been a fan of her work since I first encountered I Am Margaret, 10 years ago. Since then I have read her books a total of 76 times, and her contributions in Catholic Teen Books Anthologies, and other short works at least another dozen times. I am a fan of everything I have read. She has many excellent books and great series. And this is the fifth novel in this series. The title of the series is Friends in High Places and is about friendship and devotion to specific saints and beatified. And this fifth volume is about Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, it released just a day before his canonization. The description of the series is:
“Friends in High Places is a short fiction series that presents saints’ biographies in the context of imaginary teenagers’ lives. The stories are written primarily to entertain, with inspiration and education thrown in for free!”
And of this particular volume:
“"VERSO L'ALTO." TO THE HEIGHTS.
This was Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto. But what could an athletic, mountain-climbing saint have to say to wheelchair-bound Miri?
When Miri's friend Daniel and his friends get a chance to go on a Pier Giorgio Frassati pilgrimage, they decide to invite Miri along, and show him just how high he can go.
The fifth book in the Friends in High Places series, The Higher We Go can be read on its own. The series is Parental Guidance since it contains some mature themes.”
I will be honest with you. This was a volume that was very hard to put down. It is not only an excellent story in and of itself but it ties together characters from other volumes in the series. It is written as a crossover that I was not expecting but absolutely loved. In this volume we have Daniel and Razim who are characters in The Boy Who Knew: Carlo Acutis and A Lion for a Tomb: Ignatius of Antioch also Katie from Old Men Don’t Walk to Egypt: Saint Joseph and Miri from Child, Unwanted: Margaret of Castello. As such it draws from all the other volumes in the series. We also have Father Thomas who is helping to lead a pilgrimage to Italy. A group of youth with parents and Father Thomas are headed on pilgrimage to visit sites associated with Saint Pier Giorgio. But things do not go exactly as planned. They do not hit their fundraising goal, and they have to adjust their plan. Daniel and Razim work on a surprise for Miri. And many of the youth have their own prayers, hopes and desires. They also have lessons to learn. Read and follow this group as they are on pilgrimage and growing in their faith.
At the end of the volume are a few sections well worth working through:
Discussion Questions
More Information
Prayers To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
A Short Litany To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Novena To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Jesus, Mary, And Joseph Prayer
This story deals with some very serious issues; including faith, hope, and trusting God. We still have the element of a convert to Catholicism from Islam, and still keeping it a secret from his family. We have Miri struggling with accepting help, and learning to let go control of even the little he can. And we also have Daniel who has his own concerns and worries as the trip goes on. All wrapped into the pilgrimage, and the amazing places and experiences on that trip.
This is an awesome story in a wonderful series. I can easily recommend this volume. It is an amazing read. I already plan to go back and reread the whole series over advent this year. The highest praise I can give books is: 1. I want my children to read them, 2. I keep mentioning them to friends and family, and 3. I want to reread them. This book hits top marks on all three. Another masterfully written story from the pen of Corinna Turner!
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
“Friends in High Places is a short fiction series that presents saints’ biographies in the context of imaginary teenagers’ lives. The stories are written primarily to entertain, with inspiration and education thrown in for free!”
And of this particular volume:
“"VERSO L'ALTO." TO THE HEIGHTS.
This was Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto. But what could an athletic, mountain-climbing saint have to say to wheelchair-bound Miri?
When Miri's friend Daniel and his friends get a chance to go on a Pier Giorgio Frassati pilgrimage, they decide to invite Miri along, and show him just how high he can go.
The fifth book in the Friends in High Places series, The Higher We Go can be read on its own. The series is Parental Guidance since it contains some mature themes.”
I will be honest with you. This was a volume that was very hard to put down. It is not only an excellent story in and of itself but it ties together characters from other volumes in the series. It is written as a crossover that I was not expecting but absolutely loved. In this volume we have Daniel and Razim who are characters in The Boy Who Knew: Carlo Acutis and A Lion for a Tomb: Ignatius of Antioch also Katie from Old Men Don’t Walk to Egypt: Saint Joseph and Miri from Child, Unwanted: Margaret of Castello. As such it draws from all the other volumes in the series. We also have Father Thomas who is helping to lead a pilgrimage to Italy. A group of youth with parents and Father Thomas are headed on pilgrimage to visit sites associated with Saint Pier Giorgio. But things do not go exactly as planned. They do not hit their fundraising goal, and they have to adjust their plan. Daniel and Razim work on a surprise for Miri. And many of the youth have their own prayers, hopes and desires. They also have lessons to learn. Read and follow this group as they are on pilgrimage and growing in their faith.
At the end of the volume are a few sections well worth working through:
Discussion Questions
More Information
Prayers To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
A Short Litany To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Novena To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati
Jesus, Mary, And Joseph Prayer
This story deals with some very serious issues; including faith, hope, and trusting God. We still have the element of a convert to Catholicism from Islam, and still keeping it a secret from his family. We have Miri struggling with accepting help, and learning to let go control of even the little he can. And we also have Daniel who has his own concerns and worries as the trip goes on. All wrapped into the pilgrimage, and the amazing places and experiences on that trip.
This is an awesome story in a wonderful series. I can easily recommend this volume. It is an amazing read. I already plan to go back and reread the whole series over advent this year. The highest praise I can give books is: 1. I want my children to read them, 2. I keep mentioning them to friends and family, and 3. I want to reread them. This book hits top marks on all three. Another masterfully written story from the pen of Corinna Turner!
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
October 16, 2025
ENGLISH: This is the fifth installment in the series by Corinna Turner, semi-fictional novellas describing lives of saints for teenagers. In this case, the chosen saint is Pier Giorgio Frassati, one of the two youths canonized last September.
The fictional story is, as always, very good, and full of moral lessons. There are two narrators who alternate. This may be a problem. Sometimes I have been uncertain who was speaking. Daniel and all the main characters in the first four novels take part in this one.
ESPAÑOL: Esta es la quinta entrega de la serie de Corinna Turner, formada por novelas de ficción que describen vidas de santos para adolescentes. En este caso, the chosen saint is Pier Giorgio Frassati, one of the two youths canonized last September.
La parte de ficción es, como siempre, muy buena y llena de moralejas. Dos narradores se alternan. Esto puede ser un problema. A veces no he tenido claro quién hablaba. En esta novela participan Daniel y todos los demás personajes principales de las cuatro primeras novelas.
The fictional story is, as always, very good, and full of moral lessons. There are two narrators who alternate. This may be a problem. Sometimes I have been uncertain who was speaking. Daniel and all the main characters in the first four novels take part in this one.
ESPAÑOL: Esta es la quinta entrega de la serie de Corinna Turner, formada por novelas de ficción que describen vidas de santos para adolescentes. En este caso, the chosen saint is Pier Giorgio Frassati, one of the two youths canonized last September.
La parte de ficción es, como siempre, muy buena y llena de moralejas. Dos narradores se alternan. Esto puede ser un problema. A veces no he tenido claro quién hablaba. En esta novela participan Daniel y todos los demás personajes principales de las cuatro primeras novelas.
October 7, 2025
The Higher We Go by Corinna Turner is the newest book in her Friends in High Places series. This series follows a group of modern-day friends while introducing teens to some incredible saints.
This newest book brings all the characters, Daniel, Raz, and Miri, together as their youth group embarks on a pilgrimage to Italy and Pier Giorgio Frassati’s hometown.
I was touched by the strong friendships but there was an added element of stark realism that I was not expecting that really made the story particularly moving and will make the reader anxious for the next installment in this series.
This newest book brings all the characters, Daniel, Raz, and Miri, together as their youth group embarks on a pilgrimage to Italy and Pier Giorgio Frassati’s hometown.
I was touched by the strong friendships but there was an added element of stark realism that I was not expecting that really made the story particularly moving and will make the reader anxious for the next installment in this series.
October 22, 2025
Where better to set a book about St. Pier Giorgio than in the mountains he so loved? The Higher We Go relates events from the 20th-century saint's life as well as his many virtues amidst a story of contemporary teens on a pilgrimage.
Miri is wheelchair-bound, making a mountain hike an obvious challenge, but he's not the only one who is challenged. Daniel, in remission from leukemia, is also tested as they make their ascent.
The charity and bravery modeled by the young Italian saint are inspirational to the characters and to readers as well. A great entry into the life and sanctity of St. Pier Giorgio!
Miri is wheelchair-bound, making a mountain hike an obvious challenge, but he's not the only one who is challenged. Daniel, in remission from leukemia, is also tested as they make their ascent.
The charity and bravery modeled by the young Italian saint are inspirational to the characters and to readers as well. A great entry into the life and sanctity of St. Pier Giorgio!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews