Everest--Book One: The Contest

My second book by Gordon Korman I've read this summer. He continues to impress me. This book, the first of three, tells the tale of an expedition to Mt. Everest with 4 teenagers as part of a promotion. 20 teens make it to training camp, 4 through a winning a contest and 16 based on merit. The author describes in detail the training the young climbers endure to make the cut and develops their character while the action keeps you on the edge of your seat. For example, this section describes two of the candidates racing to the top of a boulder during their lunch break.

"Dominic scrambled up a twenty-foot rock, scanning for handholds the way a chess master seeks out weaknesses in an opponent's defenses. On the other side of the craggy diorite outcropping, Tilt raced against him with strong, steady moves. Dominic couldn't see his adversary, but he had a good idea of his progress because Tilt climbed with his mouth as much as he did with his hands and feet.
'Getting tired, shrimp? You can't beat me. If you're looking for the top, just follow the soles of my boots...'
In a mammoth burst of energy, tilt scrambled to the crown of the boulder and stood there, beating his chest and howling like Tarzan.
From below, Dominic snaked out a hand and began to feel for a handhold on the top. Tilt stuck out his boot and applied gentle pressure to the searching fingers. 'No way, shrimp. This is my rock.' Dominic gave no answer, but it was not in his nature to retreat."

As the story unfolds, the candidates become entrenched in life and death situations that are only survivable through team work, skill, and a fair amount of luck. A quick read that will keep you enthralled until the end of the series.