I love a good adventure book. Not a thriller, not sci fi or superhero or whatever (though all of those are great too) but adventure. In this case, climbing Everest which honestly sounds horrible. But for Rose and Tate, they have been training for it their whole lives and their parents are climbers and this is it, at the end of high school, this is their big trip. Only it doesn’t go to plan to start, Rose’s mom can’t come and then things change at Everest.

Rose and Tate narrate the book in alternating chapters. They are having some emotional growth, especially Tate as he wrestles with a previous climbing accident. Having never climbed any mountains like this, I can’t say if it is realistic but it certainly feels that way—especially with the amount of death included and discussion of the issues with climbing Everest because the people who live in the area are so poor but climbers pay huge amounts of money to go.

The ending is shockingly uplifting if slightly unbelievable. But I did feel some rugs at my heartstrings to go with the action in this adventure story.

rose and tate attempt to take on and climb mount everest . A story of family, illness and the expectations placed upon our children

I really struggled with this one. I know absolutely nothing about rock climbing but the climbing aspects seemed real enough and kept me hooked. While it was an interesting read, I struggled a lot with the added romance between the main characters. The story was interesting enough to begin with as Rose and Tate each deal with their own complicated issues, along with their struggles to train and summit Mt. Everest. Despite being best friends, the romance feels like it came out of nowhere and didn't really add or progress to the story.

** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow. What a book! So I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect with this, as this sort of “real world” story isn’t really my thing. I definitely got more than I bargained for, and a new found respect for any one who survives Everest. The things I liked:

1. The setting description is incredible. You can tell the author did her research well, and did a fantastic job.
2. The depictions and hardships of mental illnesses (PTSD, ADHD, and possibly anxiety)
3. Setting each character up completely uniquely.

I liked how each character had a specific reason for tackling the mountain, and each characters determination. I liked that the “family problems” were real and ones that many people face. The description of climbing Everest really shed light on it; how truly dangerous and deadly it can be. How people die, and are left on the mountain forever. I don’t think people who are not climbers really understand that, not like those who have experienced it, and I appreciate that I learnt so much. Plus the cover is beautiful!

The only thing I didn’t like was the romance - it moved too fast and came out of nowhere; before the first kiss, there was no real signs of attraction to each other, and the physical side happened way too fast to say they were concentrating and focused on a very deadly climb. So that pulled the story back a bit.

I will remember this story, and think about it for a long time. It’s been a while since a book made me cry, and this really did. A real heart rending, touching, incredible story that may be fiction, but is based on real events. R.I.P to all the climbers who never made it off the mountain ❤️

Thank you so much to net galley for giving me a copy of this book. As someone who has been very involved in the mountain climbing scene I was excited to read this book. I ended up not really enjoying the book as much as I thought.

I had to DNF this because of a reading slump.
I only managed to get 20% in but I did enjoy what I read.
I'm going to pick this up again as soon as I'm back in my reading mood.

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.

"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

People often say that they love books because they can take them on new adventures; to places they haven’t been before. That is especially true with this fantastic book, Above All Else.

Rose and Tate are two high school seniors and best friends who are passionate about mountain climbing. Rose’s mom and Tate’s dad have been climbing with them, and the four have been training for the hardest climb of their life — Mount Everest — for 10 years. Finally, at the end of Rose and Tate’s senior year, it is time to summit the mountain. Since Rose’s mom was diagnosed with MS, she stays behind while the other 3 embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

From the moment I started reading, I did not want to put this book down. I’ve never been interested in climbing, but I was so fascinated by this story. This is the kind of book where you are rooting for every character. This book has it all - adventure, family dynamics, thrill, romance, and mental health struggles. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Climbing Mt Everest is a new dream that I will never do 😂
This story follows two best friends whose dream has always been to climb Mt. Everest. When things don't go as planned for one of these friends, the trip spirals into weird temper tantreums and eventual drama at the end. I like the ending more than the entire book. Alot of it just didnt add up to me, like the fact that everyone trained daily but one of the hikers practically took a 2 week break and was perfectly fine. Yeah okay. It was very superfluous and boring but was definitely a great read if you are interested in learning more about Mt. Everest and the climb. You can tell ALOT of research went into this book.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I am obsessed with mountains, so I knew I would love this book in one way or another. While the writing was great, I did find Rose and Tate's tone and voice a little too immature and it sometimes pulled me out of the story. The plot was also a little slow in some parts, but it still only took me two days to read. Honestly, this story will stay with me forever, I think, because it has sparked an interest in a whole new genre for me - I want to read more books about mountain climbing!!! It's just so fascinating seeing the training and trauma people put themselves through just to reach the summit of a mountain. The themes of this book were so strong and it's what captivated me the most: Rose and Tate's motivation for climbing, the realities of PTSD, what the mind and body go through in order to survive, why people climb mountains in the first place. (Also, Tate is my son and I love him). SUPER INTERESTING. And what I loved the most was that the consequences of their choices and their journey and the brutal environment of the mountain were very real. I was just so impressed by this and I'm excited that I've found a new niche genre that I love!

I'M DEVASTATED, like how amazing the book is, being from the land of mount Everest itself I know how hard and addicting it is. And I know the danger is real. Talking about the cover first, how stunning that is. Title is definitely appropriate, because they'll above all else! But the tremendous amount of research done by author can be seen reading the book. And it was written beautifully. I crashed with them, I fell with them, I rose higher with them, I cried with them. And this tells that yes, I'm devastated and I'm willing to be more

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. 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.

Above all else ... is a YA adventure story but of a very different kind. It’s about scaling the highest peak in the world- MT Everest !
The first half of the book was basically just prepping for the epic adventure of all time’s . Rose and Tate are teenagers who have been climbing since childhood with the ultimate dream to summit Mt Everest together. This is their story, how their lives change , how they overcome the obstacles not only those outside but also their inner demons . The trials and tribulations that one has to go through before attempting the highest peak is no mean feat. Just reading about the horrers that the mountaineers must deal with gave me goosebumps. The last part of the book which deals with the final summit n the road leading to it was quite exhilarating. And heartbreaking too. It brought tears to my eyes!
Kudos to the author for having done the research thoroughly. It really showed in her work . I liked the book but I am never ever going to try my hands on the beast called Mt Everest.

Rose and Tate are best friends and climbing partners. They set off to something that for most people is just a wild, unattainable dream: climb Mt. Everest. It's the adventure of a lifetime. They had been planning it since 4th grade and originally, Maya, Rose's mom was supposed to come with them, but a recent diagnosis prevented her from coming along.

I could never do anything like that. I was anxious enough reading about Rose and Tate doing so. I don't really read adventure type of book before so I was surprised how quickly I was sucked into the story. I was only two chapters in when I knew I wouldn't be putting down this book before I finished. Would Rose, Tate and Tate's father make it up and down the mountain in one piece? Rose is determined, but Tate is more hesitant after taking a scary fall a new months ago. I felt for Tate as he struggled with some PTSD from the fall and struggled with ADHD.

I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read this.

Everyone has a sport or craft of which they are passionate. In ABOVE ALL ELSE we are introduced to a small community of dedicate mountain climbers. The young men and women of this community have lofty goals, climbing Mount Everest. The title refers to both their efforts to reach this goal and the mountain itself. Reaching the summit is a challenge that few meet. With the preparation for a climb that will test their wills and the expectations of their family and peers, these young people are risking their lives for a singular experience. Dana Alison Levy did an excellent job of bringing the mountain to us. Her backstory of the young people's lives sets the mountain up to be the life's challenge that they do not recognize until it may be too late. While the characters are well developed and definitely up to the challenges, the story of the climb is the most fascinating part of the book. A great read that is not usually what I read but I'd recommend to all my reading buddies.

Rose and Tate have been friends their entire lives. Climbing is part of what they do together. Now, they are heading out to the biggest challenge that they can face: climbing Mount Everest.

Each of these young people is dealing with a few things that are distracting them from the task at hand. Rose’s mother, Miami usually climbs with them but she is dealing with a serious illness. Someone who has always been solid and excited about climbing is now going to be waiting for text messages and videos updating her.

Tate has a challenging relationship with his father. His father is one of those people who has been successful at most things that he does... maybe an over achiever. Tate is a more gentle soul and struggles with letting his father down.

I have read a lot of climbing books, it’s one of my favourite topics. I found that the switching back and forth in time took away some of the emotion and excitement of climbing. The pacing of the novel was a bit slow fore me. Arguably, the author may have chosen a slower pace because it reflects the slow nature of a climb. Climbing is for the slow and methodical.

I think that some young adults will appreciate a book that is about climbing!

I really enjoyed Above All Else! I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this book.

Rose and Tate are both such relatable characters. I couldn't help but root for them and want them to succeed. They both have their goals and I love how they grow and learn throughout the story. I really liked Tate's character development and how he learned the importance of doing what he feels is best for him and saying 'no'. I found both characters a little bit annoying but it was realistic.

I really liked the romance in this book. Childhood best friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes! Most importantly, I liked how Rose did not give up on her goal and dream just because of Tate and that Tate did what he knew was best for him despite Rose continuing to climb. I love how they've both been there for each other through everything.

The parent/child dynamics in this book were great as well! Tate and his dad's relationship is far from perfect but I like how they talk and begin to resolve things as the story progresses. Rose dealing with her mom's sickness and continuing to climb without her was also touching.

This book was very well researched. It was fascinating to read about the local Nepalese culture and I'm really glad Dana Alison Levy mentions the effects tourism has on the environment, the poverty in the area, and Rose's guilt for paying thousands of dollars for the Sherpas to risk their lives over and over.

The challenge of climbing Mount Everest was very real. It was not romanticised and the characters struggled.

Although I don't climb myself, I could definitely feel Rose's drive and passion and love for climbing at the beginning of the story.

I was so immersed. I definitely cried at the end. (and there were Disney song references!)

Thank you so much, Netgalley and the publisher, for allowing me a free, advanced, digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. One of the reasons I joined Netgalley was to learn of upcoming books that I could recommend to my students. I feel like a came away with a potential recommendation depending on the student, but there were some things about this book that knocked a few stars off for me.

First, the romance didn't really work for me in this book. It seemed like it was zero to 60 in no time and then the romance itself didn't develop. This book seems more about the expedition instead of about two best friends falling in love, so I feel like the romance should have either been left out or worked in a different way. Basically, if something's going to be marketed as a romance, the most dramatic part of the romance shouldn't be 30% of the way into the book. I feel like this is more of an adventure story then a romance.

Second, the first 30% of the book seemed kind of slow and choppy. I had a lot of issues connecting the dots and feeling like there was a natural purpose for what the author included and didn't include. Sometimes it felt like the author was trying to through in social justice issues just to say she did when she actually ends up naturally touching about some important ones as the plot develops. My personal opinion: you don't have to address the whole gamete of social issues in one book.

BUT most of my issues with the book were in the first 30% of the book. Though I almost DNF this book because of the first third of the book, I found this to be an incredibly interesting, intriguing, and intense read once I got past that point. I actually felt like I was on the mountain with the expedition team and Tate and Rose. The emotions in their friendship and concerning other members of the team were vivid and realistic. The terror of what they faced was intense. I felt like the author captured what it might be like to climb Everest without getting to caught up in technical jargon.

Ultimately, it was an enjoyable read...after the first 30%.