Peak (novel)

Peak is a young adult adventure novel written by Roland Smith, published in 2007. The story centers around Peak Marcello, a fourteen-year-old boy known for his graffiti art and penchant for climbing skyscrapers. After being arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, Peak makes a deal with his estranged father, Josh, a world-renowned mountaineer.

The deal involves Peak traveling to Kathmandu, Nepal, and attempting to climb Mount Everest. However, Josh has ulterior motives related to his guiding business and a rivalry with another climber, involving also a young Sherpa boy named Sun-jo, who has similar climbing ambitions.

The novel explores themes of family relationships, ambition, responsibility, and the ethical dilemmas faced by climbers on Mount Everest. Peak grapples with difficult choices as he navigates the physical and emotional challenges of high-altitude climbing, while also dealing with his complicated relationship with his father and his newfound friendships. The narrative is told from Peak's perspective, offering a first-person account of the dangers and rewards of mountaineering. Key plot points include the challenges of acclimatization, the discovery of a frozen climber, the political and social context of climbing in Nepal, and the ultimate decision Peak makes about whether or not to summit Everest.