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Above All Else
Rose Keller and Tate Russo have been climbing for years, training in harsh weather and traveling all over the world. The goal that kept them going: summiting Mount Everest, the highest point on earth. Accompanied by Tate’s dad, the two will finally make the ultimate climb at the end of their senior year. But neither Rose nor Tate are fully in the game—not only is there a simmering romance between them, but Rose can’t get her mind off her mother’s illness, while Tate constantly fails to live up to his ambitious father’s standards.
Everyone on their expedition has something to prove, it seems. And not everyone is making the best decisions while short on oxygen and physically and mentally exhausted. The farther up the mountain they go, the more their climbing plans unravel and the more isolated each team member becomes. Rose and Tate will have to dig deep within themselves to determine what—or who—they value above all else.
In a fictional tale as riveting, irresistible, and heartbreaking as Into Thin Air, teen climbing prodigies Rose and Tate attempt to summit—and survive—Mount Everest.
Everyone on their expedition has something to prove, it seems. And not everyone is making the best decisions while short on oxygen and physically and mentally exhausted. The farther up the mountain they go, the more their climbing plans unravel and the more isolated each team member becomes. Rose and Tate will have to dig deep within themselves to determine what—or who—they value above all else.
In a fictional tale as riveting, irresistible, and heartbreaking as Into Thin Air, teen climbing prodigies Rose and Tate attempt to summit—and survive—Mount Everest.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
About the author
Dana Alison Levy
10 books106 followersDana Alison Levy was raised by pirates but escaped at a young age and went on to earn a degree in aeronautics and puppetry. Actually, that’s not true—she just likes to make things up. That’s why she always wanted to write books. She was born and raised in New England and studied English literature before going to graduate school for business. While there is value in all learning, had she known she would end up writing for a living, she might not have struggled through all those statistics and finance classes. The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher is her first published novel, but she has a trunk full of other attempts, which vary in degrees of awfulness.
Her first book for young adults, Above All Else, comes out in October 2020. In addition to The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, she has also written The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island, This Would Make a Good Story, and It Wasn't me. All her books have garnered starred reviews, multiple Best Of lists and state reading lists, and are Junior Library Guild selections. Also her kids like them.
Her first book for young adults, Above All Else, comes out in October 2020. In addition to The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, she has also written The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island, This Would Make a Good Story, and It Wasn't me. All her books have garnered starred reviews, multiple Best Of lists and state reading lists, and are Junior Library Guild selections. Also her kids like them.
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November 18, 2020
It’s not where you’re going, it’s how you get there!
There are many ways to say it, “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” or even more appropriate in this case, “it’s not the mountain, it’s the climb”! Whichever way you say the phrase, it describes this book perfectly. It’s funny, I wrote the title to this review and those first few lines while I was halfway through only to discover the author wrote something very similar on the last page.
The book is about best friends Tate and Rose who have been climbers since they were very young. Tate’s Dad initially started bringing them to an indoor rock climbing facility and they loved it so much they moved on to bigger and bigger mountains.
Rose’s mother (Mami) was also one of the foursome of climbing partners and she was the driving force behind their trip to Everest once they decided that they wanted to climb it in the future. They decided they would during the second half of Tate and Rose’s senior year (since climbing season on Everest is a short window beginning in March of each year). They held weekly car washes, bake sales, you name it to earn the money for travel and climbing, not only Everest but several of the highest peaks all over the world.
On their last winter climb, Rose’s Mami was feeling tired and sick and they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. It was determined she wouldn’t go, but Rose is dealing with worry over her Mami’s illness and with her feelings of guilt for the fact that she is making the trip to Everest, while her Mother can’t. It’s the trip of a lifetime and Rose is filming everything she can so her Mother almost feels like she was there.
Tate is dealing with quite a bit of his own issues during this expedition. He recently had a slipped while climbing Mt. Rainier and if his ice axes wouldn’t have dug into the side of a cliff he would have fallen to his death. As it was he broke his arm and lost his nerve. This is especially hard on Tate, because he is not a stellar student like Rose, who has already been accepted into Yale. Tate has only been accepted to city college so far and he constantly gets lectured by his Dad about not trying and not living up to his potential.
Climbing was the one thing Tate did and he did it very well. The fact that Tate no longer thinks the climbing is worth the risks, forces him to take a good look in the mirror and he no longer knows who he is. He is searching for an identity. In the midst of all this, Tate and Rose kiss for the first time. They have been friends forever and neither had even thought about the other as more, but all the sudden that is all they can see. The sexual tension is crazy and the furtive looks and staring between these two is all “first time love” romantic.
The book is about relationships, tough issues and coming into your own. Like I said earlier, it is about the climb, not the mountain. The journey is the thing and the world building is spectacular. We see each supporting person as individuals with their own personality, from Tate’s father, to the asian woman climber Yoon Su, who came from a boarding school in Switzerland and befriended Rose to the frenchman Luc and the sherpas. You can hear the traffic in Kathmandu feel the thinning air and smell the Yaks loaded with supplies as they move towards base camp.
Since I first read Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, I have been fascinated with Everest. The danger, the weather during the climbing season, and especially those Ice Falls in the glacier that can move and change. I can’t even imagine trying to cross a crevasse on top of a bunch of aluminum ladders tied together. So one wrong move and you are done. What is even crazier is how the sherpas put up those ladders and ropes over the crevasse’s and throughout the ice fall each year. the scenery and atmosphere is perfectly described and I really enjoyed every bit of this tough climb!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
There are many ways to say it, “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” or even more appropriate in this case, “it’s not the mountain, it’s the climb”! Whichever way you say the phrase, it describes this book perfectly. It’s funny, I wrote the title to this review and those first few lines while I was halfway through only to discover the author wrote something very similar on the last page.
The book is about best friends Tate and Rose who have been climbers since they were very young. Tate’s Dad initially started bringing them to an indoor rock climbing facility and they loved it so much they moved on to bigger and bigger mountains.
Rose’s mother (Mami) was also one of the foursome of climbing partners and she was the driving force behind their trip to Everest once they decided that they wanted to climb it in the future. They decided they would during the second half of Tate and Rose’s senior year (since climbing season on Everest is a short window beginning in March of each year). They held weekly car washes, bake sales, you name it to earn the money for travel and climbing, not only Everest but several of the highest peaks all over the world.
On their last winter climb, Rose’s Mami was feeling tired and sick and they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. It was determined she wouldn’t go, but Rose is dealing with worry over her Mami’s illness and with her feelings of guilt for the fact that she is making the trip to Everest, while her Mother can’t. It’s the trip of a lifetime and Rose is filming everything she can so her Mother almost feels like she was there.
Tate is dealing with quite a bit of his own issues during this expedition. He recently had a slipped while climbing Mt. Rainier and if his ice axes wouldn’t have dug into the side of a cliff he would have fallen to his death. As it was he broke his arm and lost his nerve. This is especially hard on Tate, because he is not a stellar student like Rose, who has already been accepted into Yale. Tate has only been accepted to city college so far and he constantly gets lectured by his Dad about not trying and not living up to his potential.
Climbing was the one thing Tate did and he did it very well. The fact that Tate no longer thinks the climbing is worth the risks, forces him to take a good look in the mirror and he no longer knows who he is. He is searching for an identity. In the midst of all this, Tate and Rose kiss for the first time. They have been friends forever and neither had even thought about the other as more, but all the sudden that is all they can see. The sexual tension is crazy and the furtive looks and staring between these two is all “first time love” romantic.
The book is about relationships, tough issues and coming into your own. Like I said earlier, it is about the climb, not the mountain. The journey is the thing and the world building is spectacular. We see each supporting person as individuals with their own personality, from Tate’s father, to the asian woman climber Yoon Su, who came from a boarding school in Switzerland and befriended Rose to the frenchman Luc and the sherpas. You can hear the traffic in Kathmandu feel the thinning air and smell the Yaks loaded with supplies as they move towards base camp.
Since I first read Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, I have been fascinated with Everest. The danger, the weather during the climbing season, and especially those Ice Falls in the glacier that can move and change. I can’t even imagine trying to cross a crevasse on top of a bunch of aluminum ladders tied together. So one wrong move and you are done. What is even crazier is how the sherpas put up those ladders and ropes over the crevasse’s and throughout the ice fall each year. the scenery and atmosphere is perfectly described and I really enjoyed every bit of this tough climb!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
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January 8, 2020DISCLOSURE FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS I'M BEING SNEAKY! I wrote this book! (I am not giving it any stars, not because I don't think it deserves them, but because rating my own book as "5 stars" feels weird.) BUT. I will write about it here, in case anyone else wants to know what was going on in the mind of a forty-something-year-old woman who lives very happily at sea level (I LOVE YOU, OXYGEN!), who decided to write about teens climbing Mount Everest.
Here's the thing about this book: I started writing it nine years ago. (That's before my first novel was even published.) I had this story in my mind, about two best friends, and about this dream they've been pursuing for their whole lives. It was sometimes difficult to put myself into the minds of people who are so focused on doing something that is, frankly, SO TOTALLY BANANAS, that they can't quite pay attention to the rest of the world. But despite that Rose and Tate were so clear to me; their personalities, their friendship, their loyalty and love for each other.
I wrote and rewrote and changed this book more times than any other novel I've written, but oddly Rose and Tate have been constant throughout. I cried while rereading the final draft, even after reading it a bazillion times. I love them.
And the mountain! I have been to Nepal and spent time in the shadow of Mount Everest, (though I have not and will never climb it). It's achingly, jaw-droppingly, ridiculously beautiful, and the region is filled with some of the kindest and most enjoyable people I've ever met. The mountain's also deadly, and in a very poor nation that has political and environmental challenges of its own. Everest is not a safe place. It is not a comfortable place. But oh, it's a beautiful place.
I wrote about two teens climbing because as much as it's a story about climbing, it's also about growing up. It's about the tensions between being a kid versus being an adult, about trusting yourself versus trusting grown-ups to know best; about following your dream versus sacrificing for others. Teens have to grapple with all these questions, whether they're deciding whether to take on student debt and go to college, whether to break with family traditions and rules, or whether to continue down a path they thought they wanted but maybe are beginning to question.
While most of us won't try to climb Mount Everest, most of us *will* have to question our assumptions, recognize our own patterns and mistakes, and follow our own paths, even when they lead in frightening and unexpected directions. Most of us will doubt ourselves. Most of us will have regrets. It's just that, on Mount Everest, these questions, doubts, and regrets can be deadly.
There are no real villains in the story -- not even the mountain, though it's the most dangerous beast of all. And in some ways there are no heroes either. Choices can seem brave or selfish, heroic or weak, depending on your point of view. Climbing a mountain, like the rest of life, is a complicated process.
I really hope readers find their way into Rose and Tate's story, and that -- whether they themselves are climbers -- they want to know what happens. Because ultimately, it's not about the summit, but about the journey we take to get there.
Happy reading,
XOXO
Dana
Here's the thing about this book: I started writing it nine years ago. (That's before my first novel was even published.) I had this story in my mind, about two best friends, and about this dream they've been pursuing for their whole lives. It was sometimes difficult to put myself into the minds of people who are so focused on doing something that is, frankly, SO TOTALLY BANANAS, that they can't quite pay attention to the rest of the world. But despite that Rose and Tate were so clear to me; their personalities, their friendship, their loyalty and love for each other.
I wrote and rewrote and changed this book more times than any other novel I've written, but oddly Rose and Tate have been constant throughout. I cried while rereading the final draft, even after reading it a bazillion times. I love them.
And the mountain! I have been to Nepal and spent time in the shadow of Mount Everest, (though I have not and will never climb it). It's achingly, jaw-droppingly, ridiculously beautiful, and the region is filled with some of the kindest and most enjoyable people I've ever met. The mountain's also deadly, and in a very poor nation that has political and environmental challenges of its own. Everest is not a safe place. It is not a comfortable place. But oh, it's a beautiful place.
I wrote about two teens climbing because as much as it's a story about climbing, it's also about growing up. It's about the tensions between being a kid versus being an adult, about trusting yourself versus trusting grown-ups to know best; about following your dream versus sacrificing for others. Teens have to grapple with all these questions, whether they're deciding whether to take on student debt and go to college, whether to break with family traditions and rules, or whether to continue down a path they thought they wanted but maybe are beginning to question.
While most of us won't try to climb Mount Everest, most of us *will* have to question our assumptions, recognize our own patterns and mistakes, and follow our own paths, even when they lead in frightening and unexpected directions. Most of us will doubt ourselves. Most of us will have regrets. It's just that, on Mount Everest, these questions, doubts, and regrets can be deadly.
There are no real villains in the story -- not even the mountain, though it's the most dangerous beast of all. And in some ways there are no heroes either. Choices can seem brave or selfish, heroic or weak, depending on your point of view. Climbing a mountain, like the rest of life, is a complicated process.
I really hope readers find their way into Rose and Tate's story, and that -- whether they themselves are climbers -- they want to know what happens. Because ultimately, it's not about the summit, but about the journey we take to get there.
Happy reading,
XOXO
Dana
October 13, 2020
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 Stars
Full review HERE
Above All Else follows best friends Tate and Rose, two eighteen-year olds, who are about to have the adventure of a lifetime, something they have been preparing and saving for their whole lives. They are about to climb and summit Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.
I must say I expected more from Tate and Rose's story, instead the focus was mainly on the mission and the task ahead. Even though the mountain is a looming presence on every page, the narrative shows the people who want to climb it, what drives them and their fears. Not only it was interesting to read, but it also created a moving story with a survival undertone.
I just would have liked to have more Tate and Rose on the page, everything felt so rushed and sudden between the two.
If you're looking for something different with a survivalist theme, then I totally recommend this.
3.5/5 Stars
Full review HERE
Above All Else follows best friends Tate and Rose, two eighteen-year olds, who are about to have the adventure of a lifetime, something they have been preparing and saving for their whole lives. They are about to climb and summit Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.
I must say I expected more from Tate and Rose's story, instead the focus was mainly on the mission and the task ahead. Even though the mountain is a looming presence on every page, the narrative shows the people who want to climb it, what drives them and their fears. Not only it was interesting to read, but it also created a moving story with a survival undertone.
I just would have liked to have more Tate and Rose on the page, everything felt so rushed and sudden between the two.
If you're looking for something different with a survivalist theme, then I totally recommend this.
May 27, 2020
"Walking away from the summit of Everest was like letting go of a rope I'd been clinging to and realizing I'll float instead of fall."
Ah, this was such an intense book!
I have been passionate for a long time about the idea of climbing the Everest. Not for myself! I find it so hard climbing out of my bed during a regular working day. But just the general concept, that someone would be so driven to attempt the seemingly impossible. I have let my mind wander and imagine how could their minds work, of those people who risk their life and health, spending so much time and energy in their pursuit of reaching the pinnacle of Earth. So in my search, I found this book and I picked it hoping it would help me experience it and so it did, almost flawlessly.
The book began pretty tamely- everyone seemed to be carefreely chasing the adventure of a lifetime. They're excited and ecstatic, with not a worry in the world. I can't quite say the mood is turning dark as the book progresses, but as we get to know the characters and their motivations better one is prone to discover this apparently flimsy story is so much more than it initially meets the eye.
I can't go into much detail without spoiling the action (and it's so worth it, finding all for yourself) but I can definitely say this book is tackling some major themes with immense gentleness. The author is threading with care when discussing incurable disease, PTSD, a conflict between generations, all of which may sound so cliche when discussed by me in such a sweeping manner but, when it comes to them being the major dramatic problem of each character, they are deeply touching.
There is also a bit of romance, between our main characters. They had enough chemistry to come together but faced enough obstacles to keep them apart. Without going too much into details, I quite like the dynamics between them, as both have different reasons for wanting to attempt the climb and seeing them clash over them while trying to handle their budding feelings was quite the feat.
This is how I found myself rooting for each and every character. They all come from different backgrounds and have so many different motivations for wanting to conquer the Everest and yet they are all equal in front of the unknown. And the mountain is dangerous and lethal and the ascent along with its effects gave the book a bittersweet quality I quite resented. I wanted it to be a happily ever after for literally everyone. This thing is obviously not possible and I understand how the book would feel less realistic. And yet, the description of loss struck a chord inside me and I even wept a bit along the way.
However, at its basic core, this is a book about survival and how going through such a strenuous endeavour is always transformative, mostly for the best. Meeting the mountain is, for many of the characters, facing oneself at its most primitive self, seeing one's character laid bare in front of both the majesty and the cruelty of the mountain and conquering limitations one never believed one could overcome. Our main characters emerge as better individuals, more self-aware and in control of selves and, if for nothing else, at least this is a huge triumph.
I started the book with high expectations and it mostly rose to the challenge. It was a satisfying- albeit at times bleak - read about one of the biggest trials humans can attempt. The characters do this so gracefully and lifelike, one is bound to feel part of that world which is gleaming bright white and concealing immense danger and potentialities for success, convincing both climbing aficionados and their more reluctant counterparts they are transposed in this world attempting themselves to reach the top of the world.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Ah, this was such an intense book!
I have been passionate for a long time about the idea of climbing the Everest. Not for myself! I find it so hard climbing out of my bed during a regular working day. But just the general concept, that someone would be so driven to attempt the seemingly impossible. I have let my mind wander and imagine how could their minds work, of those people who risk their life and health, spending so much time and energy in their pursuit of reaching the pinnacle of Earth. So in my search, I found this book and I picked it hoping it would help me experience it and so it did, almost flawlessly.
The book began pretty tamely- everyone seemed to be carefreely chasing the adventure of a lifetime. They're excited and ecstatic, with not a worry in the world. I can't quite say the mood is turning dark as the book progresses, but as we get to know the characters and their motivations better one is prone to discover this apparently flimsy story is so much more than it initially meets the eye.
I can't go into much detail without spoiling the action (and it's so worth it, finding all for yourself) but I can definitely say this book is tackling some major themes with immense gentleness. The author is threading with care when discussing incurable disease, PTSD, a conflict between generations, all of which may sound so cliche when discussed by me in such a sweeping manner but, when it comes to them being the major dramatic problem of each character, they are deeply touching.
There is also a bit of romance, between our main characters. They had enough chemistry to come together but faced enough obstacles to keep them apart. Without going too much into details, I quite like the dynamics between them, as both have different reasons for wanting to attempt the climb and seeing them clash over them while trying to handle their budding feelings was quite the feat.
This is how I found myself rooting for each and every character. They all come from different backgrounds and have so many different motivations for wanting to conquer the Everest and yet they are all equal in front of the unknown. And the mountain is dangerous and lethal and the ascent along with its effects gave the book a bittersweet quality I quite resented. I wanted it to be a happily ever after for literally everyone. This thing is obviously not possible and I understand how the book would feel less realistic. And yet, the description of loss struck a chord inside me and I even wept a bit along the way.
However, at its basic core, this is a book about survival and how going through such a strenuous endeavour is always transformative, mostly for the best. Meeting the mountain is, for many of the characters, facing oneself at its most primitive self, seeing one's character laid bare in front of both the majesty and the cruelty of the mountain and conquering limitations one never believed one could overcome. Our main characters emerge as better individuals, more self-aware and in control of selves and, if for nothing else, at least this is a huge triumph.
I started the book with high expectations and it mostly rose to the challenge. It was a satisfying- albeit at times bleak - read about one of the biggest trials humans can attempt. The characters do this so gracefully and lifelike, one is bound to feel part of that world which is gleaming bright white and concealing immense danger and potentialities for success, convincing both climbing aficionados and their more reluctant counterparts they are transposed in this world attempting themselves to reach the top of the world.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 11, 2020
Mt. Everest looms large in our imaginations. Of the many who dream of conquering its peak, few attain this goal. Reading a book about two teenagers and their climbing adventure was inviting. I downloaded the title and dug in. Rose and Tate both tell their story. They begin the trip as best friends, but both have their own issues to conquer. Then came the relationship drama. Since this is a YA title, this aspect of the plot is expected. Unfortunately, it seemed to distract and meander adding unnecessary pages. There are some evocative scenes depicting the realities of oxygen deprivation and the sudden weather changes above the base camp. I was anxious to see which team members would actually reach the summit and return to the base. A few months ago I read a Juvenile Nonfiction title from Scholastic which was outstanding on this subject: Into the Clouds: The Race to Climb the World's Most Dangerous Mountain by Tod Olson. Read that for more facts along with the titles suggested in the notes at the end of this one.
Thank you to Charlesbridge Teen and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Charlesbridge Teen and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2020
I've finally finished reading this book. I loved the idea about teenager going on an adventure and climb mountains but for teenagers to go on climb by themselves I feel a little bit dangerous. But I admire those people who are so brave and do it anyway.
I didn't enjoy the story like I wanted to because the pace was a bit slow it took me quite a few days to finished it. I enjoyed reading about the expedition but to me the expedition was intense even though Rose and Tate have been climbing for years and they have training in difficult weather and all. Still I was quite nervous for them when I read the book.
Other than the plot is slow, I felt the ending was a little bit rushed. Overall, it's still a good concept to talk about teens' adventure and mountain climbing expedition experiences.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this book. This book will be available on October 2020.
I didn't enjoy the story like I wanted to because the pace was a bit slow it took me quite a few days to finished it. I enjoyed reading about the expedition but to me the expedition was intense even though Rose and Tate have been climbing for years and they have training in difficult weather and all. Still I was quite nervous for them when I read the book.
Other than the plot is slow, I felt the ending was a little bit rushed. Overall, it's still a good concept to talk about teens' adventure and mountain climbing expedition experiences.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this book. This book will be available on October 2020.
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March 4, 2020I can't rate this. I didn't get far enough to be able to give it a rating. It was just a bit too slow and uninteresting to me.
I think it has potential and people will like this, but it just wasn't for me. It didn't move fast enough for my liking and I couldn't connect with any characters.
The layout of the ARC definitely didn't help either.
I think it has potential and people will like this, but it just wasn't for me. It didn't move fast enough for my liking and I couldn't connect with any characters.
The layout of the ARC definitely didn't help either.
May 3, 2020
Many thanks to EdelweissPlus and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.
This was easily one of the best books I have read this year. I can't wait to tell more people about it and convince them to read it. While it is an adventure book (hello, they are trying to climb Everest), it is also a fantastic look at the relationships we have with family, friends, and the decisions we make in order to keep those relationships alive.
Told in duo narratives, Rose and Tate look back at the time leading up to their ascent attempt and their time on the mountain. As they embark on the trip and the climb of a lifetime, they are both harboring some big secrets: Rose is worried about her mother and wondering if she can complete this climb without her. Tate hasn't told anyone of the crippling fear he has climbing now, ever since his narrow escape on a recent training climb. With all of this hanging over their heads, they head to Mt. Everest, ready to spend time training, acclimating to the altitude, and then finally attempting to ascent. While the adventure part is remarkable, it is the relationships that carry this book. Easily a first purchase type of novel for any collection serving YA readers. I can't recommend it enough.
This was easily one of the best books I have read this year. I can't wait to tell more people about it and convince them to read it. While it is an adventure book (hello, they are trying to climb Everest), it is also a fantastic look at the relationships we have with family, friends, and the decisions we make in order to keep those relationships alive.
Told in duo narratives, Rose and Tate look back at the time leading up to their ascent attempt and their time on the mountain. As they embark on the trip and the climb of a lifetime, they are both harboring some big secrets: Rose is worried about her mother and wondering if she can complete this climb without her. Tate hasn't told anyone of the crippling fear he has climbing now, ever since his narrow escape on a recent training climb. With all of this hanging over their heads, they head to Mt. Everest, ready to spend time training, acclimating to the altitude, and then finally attempting to ascent. While the adventure part is remarkable, it is the relationships that carry this book. Easily a first purchase type of novel for any collection serving YA readers. I can't recommend it enough.
March 31, 2020
I feel like I gotta start with saying that I am not one to read books about climbing. I think this is the first book that I ever really read that was about climbing specifically and I wasn't completely sure what to expect, but this was such a nice surprise. The plot was fast moving, the characters were delights, relatable and lovable at the same time, and the end of the book and the end of the climax both felt realistic and terrible and shocking and great at the same time.
At the beginning of the book there was a past/present structure of the storyline and not going to lie, I thought it would go like that through the book and I was wondering what could have possibly happened in the past that would take up half the book, but the author handled it really well and after a few chapters we saw what happened, we got just enough information to know and understand the present and the characters and their motivations and then we just get the main plot for the rest of the story. Which was pretty good, not going to lie, I enjoyed it, but for me, the heart and soul of the story was the two main characters and their relationships. They were best friends for as long as they could remember, they always climbed together, and wanted to climb Everest together, while they relationship naturally develops and turns into a romance during the book. It was so palpable how much they loved each other and cared for each other, I honestly loved every bit of their relationships and the ups and downs of it.
I also really enjoyed Tate's storyline the most. His trauma and PTSD from the climbing accident during the flashback chapters was so real, his struggle of needing to do everything everyone around him expected of him, wanting to be there for Rose and his father and everyone else, while also struggling with his mind changing about climbing and his wants and needs changing, and dealing with the trauma and the nightmares and the fear was so captivating, I loved reading about every single second of it, and I was so proud of him when he decided that he didn't want to climb and not just because of the fear but because he didn't want it. And I was even more proud when he went up at the end to help out his friends.
Rose's storyline for me was a little bit less interesting, but maybe part of that was that just in general, to me climbing Everest feels like an insane thing that I could never imagine anyone wanting. So I couldn't really understand her drive, but at the same time, it was inspiring, and I love how during the story it turned from wanting to do it for her mom into something that she wanted to do for herself and nobody else. I was really proud of her.
And mostly I really enjoyed how the story didn't glorify or try to romanticize climbing Everest. I do believe that for those who do this as a passion, it's an incredible thing, but it's also extremely dangerous and full of horrors, and the book showed both sides and I really enjoyed every bit of it!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this arc.>
At the beginning of the book there was a past/present structure of the storyline and not going to lie, I thought it would go like that through the book and I was wondering what could have possibly happened in the past that would take up half the book, but the author handled it really well and after a few chapters we saw what happened, we got just enough information to know and understand the present and the characters and their motivations and then we just get the main plot for the rest of the story. Which was pretty good, not going to lie, I enjoyed it, but for me, the heart and soul of the story was the two main characters and their relationships. They were best friends for as long as they could remember, they always climbed together, and wanted to climb Everest together, while they relationship naturally develops and turns into a romance during the book. It was so palpable how much they loved each other and cared for each other, I honestly loved every bit of their relationships and the ups and downs of it.
I also really enjoyed Tate's storyline the most. His trauma and PTSD from the climbing accident during the flashback chapters was so real, his struggle of needing to do everything everyone around him expected of him, wanting to be there for Rose and his father and everyone else, while also struggling with his mind changing about climbing and his wants and needs changing, and dealing with the trauma and the nightmares and the fear was so captivating, I loved reading about every single second of it, and I was so proud of him when he decided that he didn't want to climb and not just because of the fear but because he didn't want it. And I was even more proud when he went up at the end to help out his friends.
Rose's storyline for me was a little bit less interesting, but maybe part of that was that just in general, to me climbing Everest feels like an insane thing that I could never imagine anyone wanting. So I couldn't really understand her drive, but at the same time, it was inspiring, and I love how during the story it turned from wanting to do it for her mom into something that she wanted to do for herself and nobody else. I was really proud of her.
And mostly I really enjoyed how the story didn't glorify or try to romanticize climbing Everest. I do believe that for those who do this as a passion, it's an incredible thing, but it's also extremely dangerous and full of horrors, and the book showed both sides and I really enjoyed every bit of it!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this arc.>
November 3, 2020
Tate and Rose have been best friends forever. They grew up bonding over their love for climbing which was encouraged by their parents who also climb. They start training and fundraising for the climb of a lifetime, Mount Everest, when they are fairly young when Tate discloses it’s his dream. Fast forward to their last semester of high school and their dream is about to become a reality. Rose and Tate soon discover that they have to fight their demons on the ground before they can conquer the monster named Everest.
This novel is a great piece of young adult literature for a few reasons. First of all, Rose and Tate are so REAL. They are real teenagers with relatable issues, like mental health, sick family members, strained relationships with parents, etc. It made their plights very believable. The plot line was a blend of romance and action, as their relationship soons blossoms into a romantic one once they arrive in Nepal. I loved Tate & Rose from the beginning and Levy depicted their relationship in a way that left me wanting to always find out what was next. I liked how connected I felt to all of the characters throughout the story. My only criticism is that I wish Rose had an epilogue as well. I can tell Levy put a lot of research into the logistics of climbing and Everest and it made the story even more realistic.
This novel is a great piece of young adult literature for a few reasons. First of all, Rose and Tate are so REAL. They are real teenagers with relatable issues, like mental health, sick family members, strained relationships with parents, etc. It made their plights very believable. The plot line was a blend of romance and action, as their relationship soons blossoms into a romantic one once they arrive in Nepal. I loved Tate & Rose from the beginning and Levy depicted their relationship in a way that left me wanting to always find out what was next. I liked how connected I felt to all of the characters throughout the story. My only criticism is that I wish Rose had an epilogue as well. I can tell Levy put a lot of research into the logistics of climbing and Everest and it made the story even more realistic.
December 20, 2020
The mountains are not fair or unfair,
They are just dangerous.
Reinhold Messner.
Rose and Tate are two mountain climbing enthusiasts who have recently graduated high school and are now looking forward to having their biggest dream come to life--climbing and reaching the summit of Mount Everest for which they have trained for years. Accompanied by Tate's father and a few other members who make up the climbing party, Tate and Rose initially show all the right amount of excitement but as they get nearer to the task, self-doubt and tension arise and it becomes obvious that both Tate and Rose are not confident about the climb.
I haven't read much fiction related to mountain climbing expeditions although I have watched quite a few movies. To me the author seems to have done her research well on the subject but I think people who are into rock/ mountain climbing and are aware of the minute details related to it will be better able to tell.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Charlesbridge and the author Dana Alison Levy for the e-Arc of the book.
The book was published on 13th October 2020.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐💫
They are just dangerous.
Reinhold Messner.
Rose and Tate are two mountain climbing enthusiasts who have recently graduated high school and are now looking forward to having their biggest dream come to life--climbing and reaching the summit of Mount Everest for which they have trained for years. Accompanied by Tate's father and a few other members who make up the climbing party, Tate and Rose initially show all the right amount of excitement but as they get nearer to the task, self-doubt and tension arise and it becomes obvious that both Tate and Rose are not confident about the climb.
I haven't read much fiction related to mountain climbing expeditions although I have watched quite a few movies. To me the author seems to have done her research well on the subject but I think people who are into rock/ mountain climbing and are aware of the minute details related to it will be better able to tell.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Charlesbridge and the author Dana Alison Levy for the e-Arc of the book.
The book was published on 13th October 2020.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐💫
January 7, 2020
I skimmed my way through this book. I tried to get into it a few times, and I failed at every attempt. I didn't want to DNF it, so I had to resort to the next best thing.
I think the writing was okay, and it has potentially interesting characters, but none of it intrigued me enough. It wasn't for me.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review
*Rating: 2/5 stars
I think the writing was okay, and it has potentially interesting characters, but none of it intrigued me enough. It wasn't for me.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review
*Rating: 2/5 stars
January 17, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. I even feel apologetic now, as I sit here and say that I've made it as far as I can: 43%. There are a few things that I liked, but the overwhelming majority of my thoughts are negative. I'll explain in detail below why I stopped the book despite wanting so badly to enjoy it.
Positive:
- World building! The suffocating air, the altitude, the bad decision of looking down, letting the dizziness from the height overwhelm them, the adrenaline as their hands shake on a particularly slippery edge. The imagery is more than decent, and although I've never climbed before, I feel that I do have a pretty good idea now of why I never will. :P *shudders*
Negatives:
- I don't know if it's just because it was an advance copy I received, but the formatting was *so* messed up. Paragraphs jumbled together, some spaced out too far, and the chapters didn't even start correctly. Words were separated from their start, and although I tried to look past it, this deceptively small detail made the reading experience a lot more difficult for me.
- Lack of character development. I loved the concept (who can say no to an intimidating adventure and challenge?), but the execution of the characters made it confusing. I was frequently conflicted about where the characters stood. Sometimes they wanted to climb, but other times, they didn't. I couldn't tell what their motivations were, and as a result, I couldn't connect to them.
- A random relationship? There was also a sudden relationship that blossomed (or more like, exploded) in the middle of nowhere. Even though readers can occasionally appreciate a spontaneous romance, Tate and Rose's relationship felt forced and extremely uncomfortable. There was seemingly no attraction to begin with, and then all of a sudden it seemed like they were thrown at each other as a coverup for the lack of development in their characters. Fact: They were better as friends.
- This reason is probably why I can't continue reading: The writing style is very elementary. If this book is meant for YA, which it is, there should be a lot more sophistication in the scenery, movement, and dialogue of the characters. It's lacking in all of those fields. When I read a book, I want to be immersed in the story, not cringing because of some strange dialogue choices or misplaced tenses. It eventually got to the point that I couldn't look past the writing and began to fix the sentences in my head instead of actually investing myself in Tate and Rose's story!
Conclusion:
I think this book would have worked SO much better had it been marketed towards a middle grade audience. The writing is clear but inelegant for the more advanced reader, and the concept could be extremely interesting and marketable if only the execution were smoother.
Would I recommend this book?
Honestly? Not really. I don't think you'd be missing much. If Levy were to release a new and revised version of the story, where things are a little cleaner and the character development is a bit stronger, I would be more than willing to give this story another chance.
Positive:
- World building! The suffocating air, the altitude, the bad decision of looking down, letting the dizziness from the height overwhelm them, the adrenaline as their hands shake on a particularly slippery edge. The imagery is more than decent, and although I've never climbed before, I feel that I do have a pretty good idea now of why I never will. :P *shudders*
Negatives:
- I don't know if it's just because it was an advance copy I received, but the formatting was *so* messed up. Paragraphs jumbled together, some spaced out too far, and the chapters didn't even start correctly. Words were separated from their start, and although I tried to look past it, this deceptively small detail made the reading experience a lot more difficult for me.
- Lack of character development. I loved the concept (who can say no to an intimidating adventure and challenge?), but the execution of the characters made it confusing. I was frequently conflicted about where the characters stood. Sometimes they wanted to climb, but other times, they didn't. I couldn't tell what their motivations were, and as a result, I couldn't connect to them.
- A random relationship? There was also a sudden relationship that blossomed (or more like, exploded) in the middle of nowhere. Even though readers can occasionally appreciate a spontaneous romance, Tate and Rose's relationship felt forced and extremely uncomfortable. There was seemingly no attraction to begin with, and then all of a sudden it seemed like they were thrown at each other as a coverup for the lack of development in their characters. Fact: They were better as friends.
- This reason is probably why I can't continue reading: The writing style is very elementary. If this book is meant for YA, which it is, there should be a lot more sophistication in the scenery, movement, and dialogue of the characters. It's lacking in all of those fields. When I read a book, I want to be immersed in the story, not cringing because of some strange dialogue choices or misplaced tenses. It eventually got to the point that I couldn't look past the writing and began to fix the sentences in my head instead of actually investing myself in Tate and Rose's story!
Conclusion:
I think this book would have worked SO much better had it been marketed towards a middle grade audience. The writing is clear but inelegant for the more advanced reader, and the concept could be extremely interesting and marketable if only the execution were smoother.
Would I recommend this book?
Honestly? Not really. I don't think you'd be missing much. If Levy were to release a new and revised version of the story, where things are a little cleaner and the character development is a bit stronger, I would be more than willing to give this story another chance.
February 26, 2020
A huge thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
ABOVE ALL ELSE is one of those rare books that tackle a very difficult subject, especially in YA. Two teens who have been best friends for life, who dream of adding Mount Everest to their checklist of mountains to summit, and fight against past trauma and their growing attraction to each other.
This is the first book besides INTO THIN AIR or ALIVE (can you count that one as mountain climbing? I don't know. I feel weird adding it to this list, but I'll do it anyhow) where I'm experiencing what it's like to scale a big arse mountain. The author did her research and I felt as though I were there in Nepal with Rose and Tate. Although I do not know what about the process of adventuring at Mount Everest, I can tell that Levy did her homework with the detail she added to the story.
I believe what really sucked me into the story was how badly these two kids wanted it. I mean, they've trained and it's taken a grueling cost to their bodies and mind, and even though family issues and relationship confusion sometimes tried to get in the way, they (Rose especially) knew that they had to focus with all of their might to reach that summit and accomplish their dreams. Levi did a fantastic job in conveying that, boys, self-doubt, and other people's achievements should not overshadow what you want to accomplish. It's a great message and I love it.
Some people will say that the romance got in the way of the plot BUT I thought it was great to throw in there how addicting new love and sex can be, but when set a scale of your dreams, it does not weigh even an ounce. COuld it have a bit more developed? Sure. Did he affect my rating? Not at all.
I have to say that even though this book has a good ending, it will tear your heart out and stomp on it a few times before flushing it down the toilet. My heart. MY HEART!!!
What I loved most: The setting.
What I disliked most: if I had to choose, it would probably be Tate's decisions, which I did understand but still made me angry
Warning for semi-graphic sex scenes, language, death
ABOVE ALL ELSE is one of those rare books that tackle a very difficult subject, especially in YA. Two teens who have been best friends for life, who dream of adding Mount Everest to their checklist of mountains to summit, and fight against past trauma and their growing attraction to each other.
This is the first book besides INTO THIN AIR or ALIVE (can you count that one as mountain climbing? I don't know. I feel weird adding it to this list, but I'll do it anyhow) where I'm experiencing what it's like to scale a big arse mountain. The author did her research and I felt as though I were there in Nepal with Rose and Tate. Although I do not know what about the process of adventuring at Mount Everest, I can tell that Levy did her homework with the detail she added to the story.
I believe what really sucked me into the story was how badly these two kids wanted it. I mean, they've trained and it's taken a grueling cost to their bodies and mind, and even though family issues and relationship confusion sometimes tried to get in the way, they (Rose especially) knew that they had to focus with all of their might to reach that summit and accomplish their dreams. Levi did a fantastic job in conveying that, boys, self-doubt, and other people's achievements should not overshadow what you want to accomplish. It's a great message and I love it.
Some people will say that the romance got in the way of the plot BUT I thought it was great to throw in there how addicting new love and sex can be, but when set a scale of your dreams, it does not weigh even an ounce. COuld it have a bit more developed? Sure. Did he affect my rating? Not at all.
I have to say that even though this book has a good ending, it will tear your heart out and stomp on it a few times before flushing it down the toilet. My heart. MY HEART!!!
What I loved most: The setting.
What I disliked most: if I had to choose, it would probably be Tate's decisions, which I did understand but still made me angry
Warning for semi-graphic sex scenes, language, death
February 20, 2020
This was intense! I'm not a hiker or climber and the things Tate and Rose go through are crazy and not something I could ever do. The best part of this book is the authenticity. The author clearly did their research and I felt like this was nonfiction at times because it was so real. I had no idea what went into prepping to climb Mount Everest, the years of smaller climbs to work up to Everest, the weeks of acclimating to the higher elevation, the toll on your body. This was paced in such a way that we slowly saw the changes in the characters as they got closer to going for the summit and felt realistic.
The romance was a cute part and I liked that it was more of a backseat to the main climbing story. It gave an extra piece to the plot while not overtaking it. Seeing into both Tate and Rose's heads was great and I thought the PTSD was well written.
Overall, this was informative while staying interesting and fun. The ending had me holding my breath to see who was going to make it.
The romance was a cute part and I liked that it was more of a backseat to the main climbing story. It gave an extra piece to the plot while not overtaking it. Seeing into both Tate and Rose's heads was great and I thought the PTSD was well written.
Overall, this was informative while staying interesting and fun. The ending had me holding my breath to see who was going to make it.
October 18, 2020
E-book provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
ABOVE ALL ELSE is a coming-of-age romance with a variety of topics like health, mental health, adventure, friendship and love.
I enjoyed this book, but I did expect more. I requested it on Netgalley because the synopsis sounded really promising. Two teenagers who want to attempt to climb the Mount Everest, a challenge that requires a lot of bravery and trust? Count me in.
The story was well plotted and I felt a connection to both protagonists, Rose and Tate. However, it was like they told me their story instead of me experiencing it with them. Next to that, the secondary character have experienced live threatening situations, but the protagonist never were in real danger. For these two reasons, the story lost valuable tension that should have been there.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed this story and the author did a great job with character development. I had never read a contemporary novel where teenagers take on such a big challenge, both physically and mentally, and I am glad I read one now.
ABOVE ALL ELSE is a coming-of-age romance with a variety of topics like health, mental health, adventure, friendship and love.
I enjoyed this book, but I did expect more. I requested it on Netgalley because the synopsis sounded really promising. Two teenagers who want to attempt to climb the Mount Everest, a challenge that requires a lot of bravery and trust? Count me in.
The story was well plotted and I felt a connection to both protagonists, Rose and Tate. However, it was like they told me their story instead of me experiencing it with them. Next to that, the secondary character have experienced live threatening situations, but the protagonist never were in real danger. For these two reasons, the story lost valuable tension that should have been there.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed this story and the author did a great job with character development. I had never read a contemporary novel where teenagers take on such a big challenge, both physically and mentally, and I am glad I read one now.
January 18, 2021
Exactly what I'm looking for in a book! The perfect balance of adventure and character-- characters I'd walk up a (much smaller) mountain for. This is not a technical account of climbing Everest (although those aspects seem knowledgeable and well-researched), but instead explores character motivations and growth surrounding the journey, without putting a rosy glow on the experience. I appreciated the author/MC's struggles regarding Western impact on the mountain, Sherpa culture, economy, and environment. Fast-paced, hard-hitting, and fascinating. I feel like I've truly experienced Everest (and therefore have no need to ACTUALLY ever experience it.)
December 18, 2019
I don't know about this one. I guess this one just wasn't for me.
For people who are gonna read this, there are minor spoilers in this.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me an arc of this book for an honest review.
I went into this book with an open mind, I had never read a book about climbing before so I was very intrigued. I went into the book getting to know the characters and all things went well.
Characters looked great and they want to climb the Mount Everest cool. Okay so they want to climb the Mount Everest. They want to climb the Mount Everest. Hmmmmm.
Yeah I wanna say like the first 50% of this book is them wanting to climb the mount everest and getting ready for it, talking with other people about it and such and then eventually getting to the camp where it actually starts. Then a breakdown and a random sex scene. Yeah that's what I got from it.
I was so excited about this book but got so disappointed. Eventually when the big moment is supposed to be there and it was all supposed to happen like the whole realization of things. I felt like it was rushed on 1 page and was like "Okay well got 10 more pages to write till this can be called a good size novel" stuff like that.
Anyhow the general story was okay. The characters were fine but yeah I got nothing great to tell other than that.
Oh wait I do
The random disney song singing is what I live for.
2/5 stars
For people who are gonna read this, there are minor spoilers in this.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me an arc of this book for an honest review.
I went into this book with an open mind, I had never read a book about climbing before so I was very intrigued. I went into the book getting to know the characters and all things went well.
Characters looked great and they want to climb the Mount Everest cool. Okay so they want to climb the Mount Everest. They want to climb the Mount Everest. Hmmmmm.
Yeah I wanna say like the first 50% of this book is them wanting to climb the mount everest and getting ready for it, talking with other people about it and such and then eventually getting to the camp where it actually starts. Then a breakdown and a random sex scene. Yeah that's what I got from it.
I was so excited about this book but got so disappointed. Eventually when the big moment is supposed to be there and it was all supposed to happen like the whole realization of things. I felt like it was rushed on 1 page and was like "Okay well got 10 more pages to write till this can be called a good size novel" stuff like that.
Anyhow the general story was okay. The characters were fine but yeah I got nothing great to tell other than that.
Oh wait I do
The random disney song singing is what I live for.
2/5 stars
March 29, 2020
i think i love the idea of this story more than the story itself. i am absolutely fascinated by all things mt. everest and, although i would never ever attempt to climb it, i always try to get my hands on any story that talks about people who do.
i also love that this is a YA story. i honestly dont know many teens who are driven and prepared enough to undergo such a dangerous and intense expedition, so its really interesting to read about their motivation and desire to climb the mountain.
and although i love the topic of the story with my entire heart, theres just something about this thats missing and i cant quite put my finger on it. im not sure if its the pacing (slow with a slightly rushed ending) or if its the writing (feels a bit basic), but theres just something stopping me from obsessing over this.
overall, i think its a great concept - definitely unique and one that i havent read before!
thank you so much to charlesbridge books for the ARC!
↠ 3 stars
i also love that this is a YA story. i honestly dont know many teens who are driven and prepared enough to undergo such a dangerous and intense expedition, so its really interesting to read about their motivation and desire to climb the mountain.
and although i love the topic of the story with my entire heart, theres just something about this thats missing and i cant quite put my finger on it. im not sure if its the pacing (slow with a slightly rushed ending) or if its the writing (feels a bit basic), but theres just something stopping me from obsessing over this.
overall, i think its a great concept - definitely unique and one that i havent read before!
thank you so much to charlesbridge books for the ARC!
↠ 3 stars
February 5, 2020
This was an extraordinary read. I could almost feel the struggles Rosa and Tate were going through. I’ve never experienced this much of a bond with the main characters in a book.
The story was built perfectly, describing one of the hardest, toughest locations on earth, I’d imagine. The characters were rich and full of their own quirks, the way the other characters were mentioned and used was amazing.
Thank you for this read, 10/10 would recommend
The story was built perfectly, describing one of the hardest, toughest locations on earth, I’d imagine. The characters were rich and full of their own quirks, the way the other characters were mentioned and used was amazing.
Thank you for this read, 10/10 would recommend
December 31, 2019
DNF at 20%
I see that many people love the book and i understand that, but this book sadly wasn't for me.. I couldn't invest with any of the characters and it seemed i didn't like any of them. The writing was a bit annoying also.
I see that many people love the book and i understand that, but this book sadly wasn't for me.. I couldn't invest with any of the characters and it seemed i didn't like any of them. The writing was a bit annoying also.
October 26, 2020
10/25/2020 Oof, wow, I have Thoughts and Feelings! Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
10/26/2020 When I was younger, I loved a good climb. Mostly of trees and free-standing structures, tho if I'd had a shot at a climbing wall, I'd have totally been up for that, too. So when my college roommates invited me to join the hiking club, you'd think I'd be all in. Unfortunately, club hiking required club camping, and an adolescence of indifferent living conditions in the pursuit of boarding-school-mandated "character building" had already made me deeply suspicious of any endeavour that eschews climate control and indoor plumbing for more than 8 hours at a stretch.
Thus it is no surprise that mountaineering is not high on my list of fun activities. The entire anathema idea of "roughing it" aside, I literally have no idea why anyone would throw themselves at a mountain side given the high risk of injury or worse. This may also be my bad knee talking: the first time I blew out my knee after a weekend of waitressing and paintball, I cried with fury at being immobile for several days, which is one reason I've given up hiking in favor of biking whenever possible, to preserve my mobility.
Which is all to say that entertainment about risky mountaineering activities is not something I would choose on my own. I remember watching the trailer for Everest and thinking, "Disaster porn, ugh, hard pass." So when Dana Alison Levy's Above All Else crossed my desk, I was skeptical as to how much I'd enjoy a tale of two teenagers facing the challenge of summiting Mount Everest.
I was immediately drawn in by the two narrative voices tho, of our heroes, Rose Keller and Tate Russo, teenage climbing prodigies who are about to ascend Everest. Rose is the half-Puerto-Rican, half-white overachiever who is absolutely gutted when her climber mother is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, ending Maya's climbing career. She wants to summit Everest to honor her mom, even as a gnawing Dread at all the unknown variables of her future dogs her every step.
Her best friend Tate is a more naturally gifted climber but has his own issues, especially with his climber dad, who thinks Tate needs to apply himself to more of life than just climbing. After a bad fall on Mount Rainier, however, Tate discovers that maybe climbing isn't the end all he's always thought it was.
The story of RoseandTate's journey to and through Nepal is gripping, with some really evocative sports and travel writing in addition to the interpersonal dynamics of our protagonists and their fellow travelers. I found Tate's journey to be especially engrossing, because I absolutely found him irritating in the middle of the book but loved how he'd learned the power of a positive no by the end. More wrenchingly, Ms Levy pulls no punches in describing the toll Everest takes on both sport climbers and the sherpas they hire to help them summit, and I cried and cried when the price becomes too high for at least one mountaineer. I would still never climb Everest, but I've already donated money to The Juniper Fund because I was so intensely moved by Ms Levy's depiction of life on the mountain. And, were it not for my bad knee, I might have been persuaded by her writing to reconsider my aversion to hiking. I'm still a hard pass on camping tho.
Above All Else by Dana Alison Levy was published October 13th 2020 by Charlesbridge Press, and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
Want it now? For the Kindle version, click here.
10/26/2020 When I was younger, I loved a good climb. Mostly of trees and free-standing structures, tho if I'd had a shot at a climbing wall, I'd have totally been up for that, too. So when my college roommates invited me to join the hiking club, you'd think I'd be all in. Unfortunately, club hiking required club camping, and an adolescence of indifferent living conditions in the pursuit of boarding-school-mandated "character building" had already made me deeply suspicious of any endeavour that eschews climate control and indoor plumbing for more than 8 hours at a stretch.
Thus it is no surprise that mountaineering is not high on my list of fun activities. The entire anathema idea of "roughing it" aside, I literally have no idea why anyone would throw themselves at a mountain side given the high risk of injury or worse. This may also be my bad knee talking: the first time I blew out my knee after a weekend of waitressing and paintball, I cried with fury at being immobile for several days, which is one reason I've given up hiking in favor of biking whenever possible, to preserve my mobility.
Which is all to say that entertainment about risky mountaineering activities is not something I would choose on my own. I remember watching the trailer for Everest and thinking, "Disaster porn, ugh, hard pass." So when Dana Alison Levy's Above All Else crossed my desk, I was skeptical as to how much I'd enjoy a tale of two teenagers facing the challenge of summiting Mount Everest.
I was immediately drawn in by the two narrative voices tho, of our heroes, Rose Keller and Tate Russo, teenage climbing prodigies who are about to ascend Everest. Rose is the half-Puerto-Rican, half-white overachiever who is absolutely gutted when her climber mother is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, ending Maya's climbing career. She wants to summit Everest to honor her mom, even as a gnawing Dread at all the unknown variables of her future dogs her every step.
Her best friend Tate is a more naturally gifted climber but has his own issues, especially with his climber dad, who thinks Tate needs to apply himself to more of life than just climbing. After a bad fall on Mount Rainier, however, Tate discovers that maybe climbing isn't the end all he's always thought it was.
The story of RoseandTate's journey to and through Nepal is gripping, with some really evocative sports and travel writing in addition to the interpersonal dynamics of our protagonists and their fellow travelers. I found Tate's journey to be especially engrossing, because I absolutely found him irritating in the middle of the book but loved how he'd learned the power of a positive no by the end. More wrenchingly, Ms Levy pulls no punches in describing the toll Everest takes on both sport climbers and the sherpas they hire to help them summit, and I cried and cried when the price becomes too high for at least one mountaineer. I would still never climb Everest, but I've already donated money to The Juniper Fund because I was so intensely moved by Ms Levy's depiction of life on the mountain. And, were it not for my bad knee, I might have been persuaded by her writing to reconsider my aversion to hiking. I'm still a hard pass on camping tho.
Above All Else by Dana Alison Levy was published October 13th 2020 by Charlesbridge Press, and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
Want it now? For the Kindle version, click here.
October 13, 2020
I read "Into Thin Air" against my will as a high school sophomore, and hated it. At the time I was into chick lit and anything with some good teen romance (I still am, if I'm being honest). When I saw "Above All Else" on my NetGalley feed, I thought about how much more I would have enjoyed that book in 10th grade if it had more relationships, romance, or human connection and less information about summiting the mountain of Everest. This book is less an adventure novel, as it is marketed to be, and more of a study of mental health and relationships. Lovers of both genres of YA will go crazy for this book, but unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Tate and Rose, recent high school graduates, long-time climbers, and best-friends-forever, set out to summit Mount Everest before moving on to the next step in their lives. Rose's mom, Maya, was supposed to come on this trip (it was her idea, really), but she has taken ill. So, accompanied by Tate's father, Jordan, and their team of Sherpa and fellow climbers, the pair set off on what will likely be the journey of their very short lives so far. However, Rose isn't as into it now that her mom can't go, and she feels guilty about being able to go without her. Four months before their trip, Tate had a near-death experience on a climb that not only left him injured, but traumatized about experiencing the danger again. What could go wrong?!
The most engaging parts of this book were the actual moments when the characters were struggling with their climb and the difficulties that come with it. I went into this book expecting most of it to be about the actual journey up the mountain, but the first 50% is about the characters preparing for their trek and interacting with each other. But I didn't find the characters to be interesting and well-developed beyond some characteristic tropes and some expectedly teenage ways. What's more is that the relationship between Tate and Rose was so believably platonic (which was welcome, to be honest), that when hints of an underlying romance arose, it was actually unwelcome and unbelievable. I think the author could have achieved the same result in the end by keeping everything strictly platonic.
Overall, I didn't find the writing or the plot to be as engaging as I'd hoped. This is one of those books that are easily skimmable (which to me means nothing is lost in the experience by just reading the dialogue and reading the beginning sentences of paragraphs). I was happy for Tate by the end, and felt his character grew and changed, but can't say the same for Rose's plot line. For those looking for the adventure story, that section is so short that it's almost just a part of the setting rather than a part of the main conflict.
If you like teen romance and want a bit of a different story setting than what you're used to (e.g. a high school), then you'll really love this book. There are some great messages about mental health and seeking the help you need, finding ways to cope with it, and finding ways to overcome or handle them. But in the end, this book wasn't super enjoyable for this reader.
Tate and Rose, recent high school graduates, long-time climbers, and best-friends-forever, set out to summit Mount Everest before moving on to the next step in their lives. Rose's mom, Maya, was supposed to come on this trip (it was her idea, really), but she has taken ill. So, accompanied by Tate's father, Jordan, and their team of Sherpa and fellow climbers, the pair set off on what will likely be the journey of their very short lives so far. However, Rose isn't as into it now that her mom can't go, and she feels guilty about being able to go without her. Four months before their trip, Tate had a near-death experience on a climb that not only left him injured, but traumatized about experiencing the danger again. What could go wrong?!
The most engaging parts of this book were the actual moments when the characters were struggling with their climb and the difficulties that come with it. I went into this book expecting most of it to be about the actual journey up the mountain, but the first 50% is about the characters preparing for their trek and interacting with each other. But I didn't find the characters to be interesting and well-developed beyond some characteristic tropes and some expectedly teenage ways. What's more is that the relationship between Tate and Rose was so believably platonic (which was welcome, to be honest), that when hints of an underlying romance arose, it was actually unwelcome and unbelievable. I think the author could have achieved the same result in the end by keeping everything strictly platonic.
Overall, I didn't find the writing or the plot to be as engaging as I'd hoped. This is one of those books that are easily skimmable (which to me means nothing is lost in the experience by just reading the dialogue and reading the beginning sentences of paragraphs). I was happy for Tate by the end, and felt his character grew and changed, but can't say the same for Rose's plot line. For those looking for the adventure story, that section is so short that it's almost just a part of the setting rather than a part of the main conflict.
If you like teen romance and want a bit of a different story setting than what you're used to (e.g. a high school), then you'll really love this book. There are some great messages about mental health and seeking the help you need, finding ways to cope with it, and finding ways to overcome or handle them. But in the end, this book wasn't super enjoyable for this reader.
October 12, 2020
An adrenaline driven book about two best friends climbing Mount Everest and their grueling battle against chaotic weather patterns, mental and physical breakdowns, and the trials that come with ascending one of the highest peaks in the world. An interesting and well written novel!
Blurb: Tate and Rose have been climbing together forever, but when they decide to climb one of the highest mountains known to man, everything changes. Tate questions his mental abilities and Rose keeps questioning their relationship. It is a mental and physical adventure full of surprises, heartbreaking scenarios, and powerful circumstances that can change life in an instant.
I found this YA to be unique and fascinating, with a hint of romance. I was googling facts about Everest throughout the entire read. I learned a lot about mountain climbing, elevation, and the capacity of human resilience. This is a spellbinding novel that explores survival, dealing with physical illness, and the mental drive it takes to climb into the unknown. A YA unlike anything I’ve rad before.
Blurb: Tate and Rose have been climbing together forever, but when they decide to climb one of the highest mountains known to man, everything changes. Tate questions his mental abilities and Rose keeps questioning their relationship. It is a mental and physical adventure full of surprises, heartbreaking scenarios, and powerful circumstances that can change life in an instant.
I found this YA to be unique and fascinating, with a hint of romance. I was googling facts about Everest throughout the entire read. I learned a lot about mountain climbing, elevation, and the capacity of human resilience. This is a spellbinding novel that explores survival, dealing with physical illness, and the mental drive it takes to climb into the unknown. A YA unlike anything I’ve rad before.
March 7, 2020
This was a fairly enjoyable book. The exposition was quite extensive, which, as a result, took me a long time to get through. I'm the kind of person who likes to get straight to the action, but I do appreciate the author's desire to provide background information so readers can better understand the characters and plot. Overall, I liked the story and by the end of it, I really felt a connection with the characters. I found the writing somewhat bland at times, but that's mainly due to personal preference. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this review copy!
March 3, 2020
Love. Love. Loved!
Like a lot of other reviews I've seen of this book, I found the beginning of Above All Else quite hard-going. The characters didn't immediately leap out at me, and I can't really say I have an interest, or any knowledge about mountain climbing, so at one point I almost wrote it off as 'not for me'. However, I persevered to around 100 pages and BAM, it finally came into its own!
At the heart of this book is a really cute romance between two best friends and climbing buddies, who are embarking on the feat of all feats - summitting Everest. Both Rose and Tate are fighting their own demons (from sick or absent family members to PTSD), and their shift from best friends to bf/gf takes them both by surprise and takes some getting used to, but they're adorable!
I ended up actually really enjoying reading about Everest and all that's involved in climbing it. It was interesting to see it as a commercial tourist trap with all the base camps and facilities needed. I knew nothing of the Sherpas or any of the social economics surrounding the mountain and its impact on the Nepalese which is what made this more than just a teen romance story.
It did solidify one thing I already knew though - you must be mad to try it! What a selfish thing to do for just one moment of glory.
Like a lot of other reviews I've seen of this book, I found the beginning of Above All Else quite hard-going. The characters didn't immediately leap out at me, and I can't really say I have an interest, or any knowledge about mountain climbing, so at one point I almost wrote it off as 'not for me'. However, I persevered to around 100 pages and BAM, it finally came into its own!
At the heart of this book is a really cute romance between two best friends and climbing buddies, who are embarking on the feat of all feats - summitting Everest. Both Rose and Tate are fighting their own demons (from sick or absent family members to PTSD), and their shift from best friends to bf/gf takes them both by surprise and takes some getting used to, but they're adorable!
I ended up actually really enjoying reading about Everest and all that's involved in climbing it. It was interesting to see it as a commercial tourist trap with all the base camps and facilities needed. I knew nothing of the Sherpas or any of the social economics surrounding the mountain and its impact on the Nepalese which is what made this more than just a teen romance story.
It did solidify one thing I already knew though - you must be mad to try it! What a selfish thing to do for just one moment of glory.
March 2, 2020
Above All Else by Dana Alison Levy is a book that definitely exceeded my expectations for it when I started reading it. This is a story about two best friends attempting to climb Mount Everest, but the further I got along in this book, the more I realised that it's about much more than climbing the highest, and most dangerous, mountain in the world.
As the story progresses, the reader learns more and more about our main characters and best friends, Tate and Rose. And as they slowly climb Everest, both their relationship and their personalities grow. I truly wasn't sure if I was going to like this story, or where it was headed, when I read the first half. I'm very happy to say that I was proven wrong.
Of course, the things I didn't like about the first three quarters of this book still stand: some of the dialogue and writing felt quite dry (especially at the beginning), how some characters seemed a little too much like caricatures and how some scenes seemed to jump from one thing to another.
But the last part of this book was truly something else. The story evolved to something much deeper, which gave the characters more dept as well. Some parts were truly heart wrenching and so well written that I cried, which is definitely not something I expected to happen when reading this book.
So yes, this book was filled with YA tropes I didn't always like or felt like were executed well, but it's also very real and it hurts. I started caring for all of the characters in this book and I was sad when it was over. I truly felt like I went on an amazing and terrifying adventure with these characters and it ended up being a great experience.
Lastly, I'd like to say how much I appreciate the research and effort that went into making this book. I would never, ever want to even attempt something close to climbing Mount Everest, but reading about it filled me with excitement and awe. So props to Levy for giving me a story about an experience I haven't read about before and working very hard to make it an inclusive and educational experience.
As the story progresses, the reader learns more and more about our main characters and best friends, Tate and Rose. And as they slowly climb Everest, both their relationship and their personalities grow. I truly wasn't sure if I was going to like this story, or where it was headed, when I read the first half. I'm very happy to say that I was proven wrong.
Of course, the things I didn't like about the first three quarters of this book still stand: some of the dialogue and writing felt quite dry (especially at the beginning), how some characters seemed a little too much like caricatures and how some scenes seemed to jump from one thing to another.
But the last part of this book was truly something else. The story evolved to something much deeper, which gave the characters more dept as well. Some parts were truly heart wrenching and so well written that I cried, which is definitely not something I expected to happen when reading this book.
So yes, this book was filled with YA tropes I didn't always like or felt like were executed well, but it's also very real and it hurts. I started caring for all of the characters in this book and I was sad when it was over. I truly felt like I went on an amazing and terrifying adventure with these characters and it ended up being a great experience.
Lastly, I'd like to say how much I appreciate the research and effort that went into making this book. I would never, ever want to even attempt something close to climbing Mount Everest, but reading about it filled me with excitement and awe. So props to Levy for giving me a story about an experience I haven't read about before and working very hard to make it an inclusive and educational experience.
January 31, 2020
2.5/5 stars:
I received an e-ARC of this story through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
Above All Else is a book, at its heart, about the challenges we face as we grow up and have to live through doing the things we love most and, at the same time, fear most. This book is very heavily centered on climbing and even though I have never been highly invested in the topic I found myself real enjoying learning more about it. I think that people who love climbing or mountain stories will really enjoy this book.
I know that giving this book a 2.5 rating might make it seem like I think this isn't a good book but that isn't it at all. I think this book was simply not for me but I can appreciate the story in itself and the effort put into it and I can see it becoming a favorite book for some people.
Rose and Tate, our main characters, felt very real and flexed-out. We follow them as they train for their summit of Mount Everest and we also learn about their lives before and after this great adventure will be over. If there was one thing I really didn't enjoy about this book it was the romance. I didn't feel compelled to like the two main characters together and I think the romance comes kind of out of nowhere. I think, for me, the book would have had a higher rating if the friendship between Rose and Tate had just stayed a friendship.
Unfortunately, this book has one of my most hated tropes in the history of the world: bilingual person who speaks nothing like a true bilingual person speak. I'm bilingual in both Spanish and English but i the case of the book character we have a man who is French and speaks English throughout the book. I don't know if the author is bilingual or not but the portrayal of bilingualism wasn't accurate at all and it irked me gravely.
As I said before, I have very limited knowledge about climbing but I did know a little about Mount Everest before getting into this book and I really appreciated how some of the problematic aspects of its climb where touched upon in this book. I liked that we had our main characters being aware of their privilege, I like that they question whether or not what they're doing is ethical and I like that we're made aware that climbing Mount Everest isn't just about the climbers and their dreams.
I think, overall, if the premise of this story seems like something you will enjoy you should pick it up. I can see the potential of this story in the hands of people who tend to enjoy YA contemporaries. In the end this book wasn't for me but I can see that it could be a good read for other people.
I received an e-ARC of this story through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
Above All Else is a book, at its heart, about the challenges we face as we grow up and have to live through doing the things we love most and, at the same time, fear most. This book is very heavily centered on climbing and even though I have never been highly invested in the topic I found myself real enjoying learning more about it. I think that people who love climbing or mountain stories will really enjoy this book.
I know that giving this book a 2.5 rating might make it seem like I think this isn't a good book but that isn't it at all. I think this book was simply not for me but I can appreciate the story in itself and the effort put into it and I can see it becoming a favorite book for some people.
Rose and Tate, our main characters, felt very real and flexed-out. We follow them as they train for their summit of Mount Everest and we also learn about their lives before and after this great adventure will be over. If there was one thing I really didn't enjoy about this book it was the romance. I didn't feel compelled to like the two main characters together and I think the romance comes kind of out of nowhere. I think, for me, the book would have had a higher rating if the friendship between Rose and Tate had just stayed a friendship.
Unfortunately, this book has one of my most hated tropes in the history of the world: bilingual person who speaks nothing like a true bilingual person speak. I'm bilingual in both Spanish and English but i the case of the book character we have a man who is French and speaks English throughout the book. I don't know if the author is bilingual or not but the portrayal of bilingualism wasn't accurate at all and it irked me gravely.
As I said before, I have very limited knowledge about climbing but I did know a little about Mount Everest before getting into this book and I really appreciated how some of the problematic aspects of its climb where touched upon in this book. I liked that we had our main characters being aware of their privilege, I like that they question whether or not what they're doing is ethical and I like that we're made aware that climbing Mount Everest isn't just about the climbers and their dreams.
I think, overall, if the premise of this story seems like something you will enjoy you should pick it up. I can see the potential of this story in the hands of people who tend to enjoy YA contemporaries. In the end this book wasn't for me but I can see that it could be a good read for other people.
May 28, 2020
I feel like this book could have been more.
This story is about Tate and Rosie, two High School Seniors who are best friends and have grown up with a love of climbing. Their parents both have climbed with them and fully support them in their interest. It is read in both points of view, with the primary story taking place at the start of their journey to climb Mount Everest. While part of Tate's being from a climb 4 months During this last climb Tate hit some bad ice and fell through a crevice, his ice pick being secure is possibly the only thing that saved his life. He is now struggling to mentally prepare for the new climb and is scared.
Rosie is having some trouble of her own. She always dreamed of climbing the mountain with her mother, but recently her mom was diagnosed with MS and can no longer climb. So she is determined to do this for both of them.
The story emphasizes that a little thing going wrong can be exaggerated and have big consequences when climbing Everest. So now we follow them while they are getting prepared at Basecamp and then slowly working their way up. I won't give away too much more of what happens, but as this book read so fast I didn't feel like I had as much time to get invested with most of the characters. Reaching the summit was not as momentous moment as it would lead you to believe it would be. The more important stuff is happening closer to base and really makes you think of how dangerous things are, even for those who train for years.
I gave this a 3 rating, because I could tell how much was put into the accurate description of things with climbing Everest and preparing when you get there, but it just did not pull me into the story like the description led me to hope.
Thank you Netgalley and Charlesbridge Teen for an Digital Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story is about Tate and Rosie, two High School Seniors who are best friends and have grown up with a love of climbing. Their parents both have climbed with them and fully support them in their interest. It is read in both points of view, with the primary story taking place at the start of their journey to climb Mount Everest. While part of Tate's being from a climb 4 months During this last climb Tate hit some bad ice and fell through a crevice, his ice pick being secure is possibly the only thing that saved his life. He is now struggling to mentally prepare for the new climb and is scared.
Rosie is having some trouble of her own. She always dreamed of climbing the mountain with her mother, but recently her mom was diagnosed with MS and can no longer climb. So she is determined to do this for both of them.
The story emphasizes that a little thing going wrong can be exaggerated and have big consequences when climbing Everest. So now we follow them while they are getting prepared at Basecamp and then slowly working their way up. I won't give away too much more of what happens, but as this book read so fast I didn't feel like I had as much time to get invested with most of the characters. Reaching the summit was not as momentous moment as it would lead you to believe it would be. The more important stuff is happening closer to base and really makes you think of how dangerous things are, even for those who train for years.
I gave this a 3 rating, because I could tell how much was put into the accurate description of things with climbing Everest and preparing when you get there, but it just did not pull me into the story like the description led me to hope.
Thank you Netgalley and Charlesbridge Teen for an Digital Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC!
Above All Else is a heartwarming story, about adventure, bravery, love, and challenging yourself to the extreme.
The cover is absolutely stunning, and I truly appreciate the amount of studying this author did for this book. It really payed off, and gave this book a realistic feel.
The story follows Rose and Tate, two high-school seniors who have been climbing for years, working towards their main goal--to summit Mount Everest.
There are many challenges along the way. Rose is heartbroken and must accept that her mother, a fellow climber, cannot join her due to health issues. Tate, who suffered injuries from an accident that could have easily taken his life, suffers from panic attacks and has a sudden change of heart. He doesn't want to let Rose down, but he's broken inside. Can he really do it?
Rose is becoming weaker as the training takes a toll on her body, and Tate is figuring out what to do with himself, and feeling the pressure from his father regarding his future. With all of the hardships and confused feelings for each-other, will the two of them make it to the top of Mount Everest?
The expedition aspect of this story was fascinating. I've always been interested in real-life Mount Everest stories, and putting that into a YA book was such a creative and unique concept. The romance between Rose and Tate was cute, and I found myself rooting for them.
I recommend this book if you want a meaningful yet adventurous story, with the perfect touch of romance and self-discovery.
Above All Else is a heartwarming story, about adventure, bravery, love, and challenging yourself to the extreme.
The cover is absolutely stunning, and I truly appreciate the amount of studying this author did for this book. It really payed off, and gave this book a realistic feel.
The story follows Rose and Tate, two high-school seniors who have been climbing for years, working towards their main goal--to summit Mount Everest.
There are many challenges along the way. Rose is heartbroken and must accept that her mother, a fellow climber, cannot join her due to health issues. Tate, who suffered injuries from an accident that could have easily taken his life, suffers from panic attacks and has a sudden change of heart. He doesn't want to let Rose down, but he's broken inside. Can he really do it?
Rose is becoming weaker as the training takes a toll on her body, and Tate is figuring out what to do with himself, and feeling the pressure from his father regarding his future. With all of the hardships and confused feelings for each-other, will the two of them make it to the top of Mount Everest?
The expedition aspect of this story was fascinating. I've always been interested in real-life Mount Everest stories, and putting that into a YA book was such a creative and unique concept. The romance between Rose and Tate was cute, and I found myself rooting for them.
I recommend this book if you want a meaningful yet adventurous story, with the perfect touch of romance and self-discovery.
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