I love a great adventure story and also have a soft spot for coming-of-age type stories as well. This book was both and did both well.

The story started out really exciting and the opening monologue had a twist I wasn't expecting that made me curious as to what this book was all about.

Peak heads off to China to discover that he will be climbing Mt. Everest with his estranged father. It is not something he is incapable of doing but it is something that will challenge him to the core and leave him questioning his entire purpose in life.

The story is meant to be told as he is writing in a journal that he is required to keep in order to pass his classes for the year after he is required to leave school. Sometimes the dialog and descriptions take away from the journal feel. Every once in a while you feel like the author suddenly remembers this is supposed to be reading like a journal but then it fades back into a typical story.

There were parts I loved and there were parts that seemed to drag on. Over all it was an interesting and enjoyable book to read. It would be perfect for adventure lovers and teenage boys alike.