Climbing Everest

Gr 3–5—Part of a new series with a Common Core connection, this title immediately pulls readers in, asking them, "How far would you go for adventure?" Herman follows several major expeditions to Mount Everest and some of the individual climbers who subsequently became famous, such as Edmund Hillary and George Leigh Mallory. The tales include interesting biographical details, childhood anecdotes, and information about life events that influenced their decision to become mountain climbers. Then the adventures start, as Herman describes the treks up the mountain. There is adequate material about the difficulties and dangers of scaling Everest, though the volume is thin on details about the many hardships endured, particularly by the Sherpas, as well as the influence of political issues on the expeditions. However, the last chapter addresses the negative environmental impact of climbing tourism. The book features dynamic cover art; large, readable typeface; and short chapters with plenty of era photos. The writing is relatively cohesive, though not complex, and Herman uses appropriate climbing and mountaineering terms.