Out of Reach

by V.M. Jones

Pip dreads every soccer match. His father is always there, yelling and arguing, pushing him to be more like his older brother a winner. Plus, there's the girl next door who outshines him on the field and overlooks him off of it. Then one day, Pip stumbles into a new world inside a rock-climbing gym. He even stumbles into a new, cooler name: Phil. But he still has to find a way to break free from the old world and his father's grip. An award-winning New Zealand author makes her U.S. debut with this powerful novel.

"And in the unreal twilight of the deserted Igloo, it was as if someone else had taken over my body . . . and my mind. Suddenly I wasn't Pip McLeod, forever messing up. Pip; Pippin; Piphead; Pipsqueak: battling to be the son Dad wanted, and never even coming close. No-this was a new me, Philip McLeod, who'd been hidden away somewhere deep inside . . . who with each new handhold, was slowly but surely clambering his way out."

Genres: Sports, Contemporary

264 pages

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Biz · Rating 5 out of 5]

REALLY good! I don't relate at all to Pip's experience, but I enjoyed the telling of it. The idea that there is something we are all good at, whether our parents want us to be or not, is totally cheer-worthy. Readers beware: this book will make you want to join a climbing gym to see if you too are a rock climbing prodigy.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't super fantastic in the begining, but I loved it in the end. It was sad about Katie, but kind of gross, too. She was only thirteen and Jordan is like eighteen-ish!
~J

[Haley S]

Great book

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pip's father pressures him at every soccer game to be more aggressive, play harder, be better. So much so that others are embarrassed for Pip. But when Pip discovers the thrill of wall climbing, he finally finds something that he's not only good at but looks forward to doing - making new friends and finding a better understanding of himself and his father.

father-son relationships; friendships; competition; self-discovery; self-confidence

[Mrs. M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really great book with some expected themes, but heartwarming and relatable, would read with kids in 5th and up.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a nice book with a good plot and smooth dialogue. Definitely relatable.

[Bryce Bosworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryce Bosworth “No--this was a new me, Philip McLeod, who'd been hidden away somewhere deep inside...who with each new handhold, was slowly but surely clambering his way out." Out of Reach by V.M. Jones is about a boy named Pip who does not know what he is good at yet and he does not have any hobbies that he enjoys. Jumping straight into this book was not hard, it had a very easy flow to it and started in the middle of a soccer game. His father is always pushing him to play soccer and Pip does not know how to tell him that he does not enjoy the sport. His older brother Nick is the son that his father had always wanted, but Pip could not live up to his brother because he was a completely different person. Pip’s childhood friend that he had always had a crush on started dating an obnoxious senior boy and she begins to act like Pip doesn’t exist. He accidentally discovers a love for rock-climbing in a new sports arena in his town, and begins to secretly go there constantly. This book is a boy discovering himself in rock-climbing and facing his fears. I recommend this book to kids in middle school and just beginning high school because it is easy to read and understand. Written from the point of view of a tenth grader, the style matches the narrating in first person as if an actual high school kid wrote the book. It is a domestic-fiction novel that is easy for people to relate to, like having a father who is constantly wanting for their child to be better, or like having a crush that doesn’t work out. Themes in this book were ones like “keeping reaching goals”, “face your fears, and “let go”. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to someone looking for a relatable teen book to read.

[Zachary Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phil McLeod is destined to be a soccer star, at least according to his dad, until he goes into the new facility going up in town. Nobody knows what is in this facility, however one night Phil, or Pip, sees the door is open and lets himself in. When he goes in he sees a whole bunch of different courts, but what he is instantly attracted to is the rock climbing room. He for whatever reasons begin climbing on the biggest wall even though it is pitch black inside the room. Once he is at the top he realizes that he is scared of heights, but there is one person that is left in the building and he comes and saves Pip from the top of the Mid Night Scare. Pip still hates soccer, but can’t tell his dad that until one day his dad completely loses it at a soccer game, and then once he tell his dad, his dad disappears for about 3 days. After that day, Pip quits soccer, and begins going to climbing classes and quickly becomes an elite climber at this new gym. Phil McLeod decides he will enter the senior climbing tournament coming up next month. When he does he ends up in the finals and climbs against Scott, who is the girl he likes girlfriend. He ends up winning the competition in overtime.
I really enjoy the point of view in this story, and how the author explains Pip long thought out decisions. I really would have liked to know about the different points of views. I would recommend this time middle schoolers, because it is an easy read.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen year-old Pip hates going to his soccer games because of his dad. He's one of those obnoxious parents who yells and complains about every call. To make matters worse, Pip's older brother Nick is much better at soccer than he is. But when Pip accidentally sneaks into the brand new sports center just down the street before it opens, he finds the room with climbing walls and - before he realizes what he's doing - he climbs to the top without any ropes and finds a sport where he's a natural.

Pip - who starts going by Phil at the climbing gym - is especially likeable and you really feel his discomfort with soccer and his dad. There's also an awkward romance mixed into the story that will resonate with a lot of kids. In some ways it even felt a little like the original "Karate Kid," with the hero, the girl, and the bully, although with some slight variations, but still a well-written and easy read with a satisfying ending. There's a small amount of profanity and one crude joke, but it's mostly a clean book. I also liked the New Zealand setting in the story (at least I think that's where he lived).

[Luke Birmingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Out of Reach" by V.M. Jones is about a boy named Phil. In the book, he goes through many different conflicts in his family and almost everyone he knows, but mostly his father. I like Phil because he has so much emotion and can keep it to himself then to rather use it against himself. His character feels real to me because he has to be forced to be a winner like his brother by his father, and Phil doesn't want to be like his brother. This story made me think about how the real world can be, and how people can be depressed in different situations, but then how everything becomes better overtime. overtime, when I was reading how he had found something he wanted to do and was treated good, it had gripped me. Although this story could be a real situation, it bothered me how he didn't ask for help from ANYONE and i felt like being one of the characters in this book and help. But overall, i think this book is great and should be read by people who enjoy realistic situations and drama.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Reach by V.M. Jones follows Pip who dreads his father's behavior at his soccer games. When he happens into a climbing gym and finds out that he's a natural he suddenly starts to believe in himself and develops his own identity.

I loved this book and could not put it down, reading the entire thing in one sitting (and that's not usual for me currently). Pip's journey seems authentic and his search for independence is one that kids can identify with. This is a book that I would buy for the boys in my life.

Appropriateness: This is a male focused book but the story is one that will speak to girls as well. The only bit of adult content is a mention of condoms as a joke and a worry that a boy is using Pip's female best friend for her body. I would recommend this book to readers 11-15.



Review copy provided by Amazon Vine

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Pip just wants to make his father proud, but soccer is just not his thing. When he gets the option to begin working out at a new sports center down the street, he finds out that he enjoys climbing. Soon he begins climbing as much as possible, even sneaking out to climb. The rush of climbing to the top with no ropes is a sport that calls to him.

My thoughts:
This is a general coming of age story. It is not particularly unique, but is a good read. Pip is a likeable character. He doesn't end up being extremely deep, but he does go through changes as he is learning to climb and feel comfortable with himself. Pip is easy to relate to. He goes through high school with a bit of bullying and pressure of being less than his older brother. Really the greatest parts of this book are related to climbing. The descriptions are wonderful and it does increase interest in the sport.

[Sophia M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of Reach was somewhat interesting to read. As I rock climber, who actually competes. I was somewhat surprised to find out how accurate the author was. Even though there were definitely some flaws, and some terms that were misused it was clear Jones did research on rock climbing. I could go and list all the flaws, but that would take about an hour to write, so I will just leave it at that. I thought the beginning of the book was kind of boring, but set up the plot really well. Personally I liked the part about his soccer playing better than the climbing, but I am probably being hypercritical. Overall the book wasn’t a bad read, and I found it enjoyable enough, although I won’t read it again.

[Shantaea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning of the books wasn't that into in it. Although I didn't relate to the character what so ever, I don't play soccer, I am not a rocker climber prodigy, and I am pressured to win every game, but the book pulled me in. By the end of the book was feeling sad, happy, zealous, and exhilarated. I was sad about Pips' relationship with Kate and his father. Happy that Pip found something he was good at and had fun doing. Zealous about Pip's new niche and how far he would go with it. I love the authors storytelling. How he described Pip's action climbing made me feel so exhilarated. I would recommend this to anyone who has a diverse selection of books on his/her reading list.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent story about a middle son coming into his own with a father who wanted another version of this son. The story's pace is a little slow but you really know the characters and their feelings. It's definitely a feel good book. And it's about an unusual sport--rock climbing.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

An encouraging story to read, and also very likable. Going through the struggles of playing a sport he doesn't like, he finds something to set him free. V.M Jones did an amazing job of describing how neglected he felt from his father. A motivating sports story, I loved to read.

[Bryniqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the book to over the summer because the little boy he is playing soocer right now and then six mouths later his little sister was born

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was different. The setting is in New Zeland and really the life isnt much different than life here. Its a simple story about overcoming what people think of you to accomplish your dreams

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Diana Kamada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so mad that he and his best friend didn't end up together, and that she went for the jerk-wad. Bad ending, but at least he did well in the tournament...

[Michelle Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really love this story. I wonder how many boys or girls feel this way about a parent who is a little too into the sport they participate in. I really enjoyed how it was resolved.

[Dedria]

This was a really great read.

[Fatma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very amazing book