SOLVED. Tween Fantasy novel, early 2000's - Young boy is only one able to read a (magical) map for a critical journey for his village, he joins group of more traditional adventurers who each face trials specific to their personal weaknesses. Spoilers. [s]

[Katie]

This was a young/young adult fantasy book I read in the early 2000's (~2000-2004) as a recent hardcover publication. In the East Coast of the US at my local library. The book was in English and I don't believe it was a translation. The cover at the time was a youngish, white boy, with brown hair wearing, stereotypical peasants medieval clothes, in front of a misty mountain.

It featured a small town that was plagued by some malady - possibly the river running dry - and they needed to climb up the mountain to figure out the issue. For an unremembered reason, the tween boy protagonist was the only one able to look at the map and see anything other than a blank piece of paper and therefore had to join the journey despite being notably frail. Some members treated him kindly while others felt he was a burden to the group. During this journey up the mountain, each party member in succession faced a magical-esque trial aimed at their specific weaknesses and SPOILERS




[each of the "strong" members failed in their trial. I remember one of the last to fail was a woman who couldn't make herself crawl out of the mountain's exit because it was so tight and she had claustrophobia. She also said it was why she never wrapped herself in her sleeping bag. Another was a twin who's sibling had previously left the group - they were unable to "be strong" without them. I think at the peak the cause of the town malady had something to do with a dragon (but this may be misremembered)]

[Becca]

Pretty sure that's Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda

[Katie]

thank you very much! this is solved
Rowan of Rin - Emily Rodda

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Katie.

Rowan of Rin (book 1) of the Rowan of Rin series by Emily Rodda - Becca's find.