When 12-year-old Atlas loses his mother, climbing becomes his outlet... and eventually, his obsession. He and his father begin traveling the world, climbing one mountain after another, in an attempt to leave the pain behind. So when the chance to summit Mt Everest arises, they both jump at the opportunity. When Atlas's father and the team push on, Atlas and his friend, Maddie, wait at base camp, only to watch as the team is buried in an avalanche. Now men's only hope is to be rescued by these two teens before they run out of time. But Atlas and Maddie might not be the only ones on the mountain. With WWII looming in Europe, the Nazis are anxious to summit Everest as well. When strange things start to happen on the mountain, Atlas and Maddie are left to wonder who will reach their fathers first?

Author Jennifer A. Nielsen is back with a new piece of historical fiction. One Wrong Step is an action-packed novel that will keep you turning the pages. Loosely based on historical events, this story about loss, family, and overcoming is incredibly well-written. I felt myself struggling with Atlas and pulling for him throughout the entire book. And when the teens were in trouble on Mt. Everest, I think I probably audibly gasped. One Wrong Step is very well done. Although marketed as middle-grade fiction, this book would be easily enjoyed by a variety of ages, and the historical setting and details give it added interest. Very well done and highly recommended.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was a great read! A fantastic combination of history and adventure. I think students will love reading it. At times, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. While I've read many stories about modern climbs of Mount Everest, I have not read one set in the early 1900s so I enjoyed hearing how they navigated the mountain. Can't wait to add this to my library!

This book is a fictional story about two teenagers that climb with their fathers on Mount Everest at the beginning of WWII. When the team gets caught in an avalanche on the ascent to the summit, the teenagers make a decision to rescue them. Will they be able to make the treacherous climb and rescue their fathers in time? I loved the characters, the plot, the terrifying moments while climbing the mountain, the victories of success, and learning terms that relate to climbing. This is a great book to read along with your middle grade student!

Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Wow- what an incredible blend of history and adventure! Protagonist Atlas is faced with a lot of challenges: the death of his mother, an impending war, and climbing the most treacherous mountain, Mt. Everest. I look forward to using this in my sixth grade ELA class to not only cover the standards but resiliency as well. Thank you to NetGalley, Nielsen, and Scholastic for the ARC!

“Where your eyes go, your feet will follow”…

Those wise words from Atlas’s father guide this whole story from beginning to end. At first, this just seems like advice for climbing, but as Alas learns, this is also advice for life.

When Atlas’s mother passes away while he and his father are on a hike, Atlas’s grief turns to anger that is pointed right at his father. Two years later, in 1939 with Europe on the cusp of WWII, Atlas and his father find themselves on the climb of a lifetime as they are presented with the opportunity to climb Mount Everest. Although Atlas will not be allowed to attempt the summit due to his age, his father will be part of the team that tries to go all the way. If their team is successful, they will be the first to summit the mountain, a feat that seemed impossible at the time. At first, everything is going to plan and the team is getting close to the top. However, when an avalanche cuts off communication between Atlas and the expedition, Atlas sets off on a quest to rescue his father and the others. As if climbing Mount Everest isn’t difficult enough, there is an added challenge: there are clues that Nazis might be on the mountain with them as rumors swirl that the Nazis are going to attempt their own summit to prove their power. With the help of new friends, Atlas must attempt the impossible as he learns to let go of his anger surrounding his mother’s death while also figuring out how to keep his eyes towards the future instead of the past.

Nielsen keeps the story moving with lots of action and suspense, and every chapter leaves readers on a bit of a cliff hanger (no pun intended). The maps of Atlas’s location on the mountain are also particularly helpful to visualize where he is at in his journey. The brief vocabulary at the start of each chapter clears up confusion surrounding specific terminology related to climbing and to mountains while also providing clues as to what the chapter will be about. This story gives readers a look into what it takes to climb Mount Everest, especially at a time where technology was so limited, and it would be interesting to pair it with Peak by Roland Smith. Middle grades readers will certainly enjoy this story, and compared to some of Nielsen’s other historical fiction novels (such as Resistance or Words on Fire) I think that it is more accessible and understandable without too much background knowledge. I only wish the rescue on the mountain was more action packed. It felt like the story built to this big moment, only for it to pass by relatively quickly and without much detail. Although every character’s story was wrapped up, I was still left wanting more in this area. Perhaps like climbing a mountain, the story was designed to take a long time on the ascent, only for it to end quickly on the way down. Although this wasn’t my favorite Nielsen book and it left me wanting a little bit more in some areas, I would definitely recommend this book to my students and I can’t wait to get it in their hands! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Jennifer Nielsen is a master at writing suspenseful, adventure-packed historical fiction for a middle-grade audience. One Wrong Step is another hit but really leans into the adventure side of the her writing with the setting of Mount Everest.

I know my students will love this book. We have a copy ordered for our library and I recommend it to upper elementary and middle school students.

Thank you to Net Galley and Scholastic for the DRC. All opinions are my own!

Impossible to set down! A survival story that will keep you reading long past your bedtime. Jennifer Nielsen hits the nail on the head with these interesting characters, the pacing of the adventure, suspenseful writing and exciting setting!

3. I’m a real sucker for adventure stories and even more so for survival tales. But, I fell like this book tries to do too much. There’s the stories of Everest, particularly Mallory/all the information about the challenges in climbing Everest/ a possible Nazi spy/ WWII beginning/ the personal stories of both characters. It’s just a lot and leads to clear info dumping. The writing quality suffers for it. Also, the ending a bit too pat. At 339 pages it’s a bit long for classroom use. Good premise, but execution is lacking.

I absolutely love reading anything from this author. The details of her writing are absolutely the best. This read had me on the edge of my seat several times throughout the book. Several times I felt like I was right there feeling the pain and cold with the characters. And who doesn't love a great ending?

What an intense ride this book was!
Nielsen surely knew how to set the stakes and keep on escalating them throughout!
I enjoyed spending the time with Atlas and Maddie, (from the comfort of my own home of course). I have no desire to physically spend my time doing anything like they did! Lol. Despite that, whether you can relate to the actual hiking and mountain climbing itself, you can relate to the metaphorical mountain climb on a deep level. This is true no matter what kind of "fall" you've taken or what kind of setback you've had that makes you feel "sunk" and like it's hard to get back up and moving. It makes you ask big questions and gives you ideas of what to consider about how to push forward.
And... it genuinely kept me guessing till the end about the fate of all of the characters.
In fact, as I got close to end I was starting to get nervous we'd be left without knowing, but thankfully, no cliffhangers here (and no spoilers in this review either).

Not one of my favorite works by Nielsen and I LOVE her books!
It was okay, not bad, but just not as gripping as I'm used to from her. Didn't connect to these characters the way I'd have liked to.
In this novel we see a boy desperate to join his dad to the top of Mt. Everest to the point he puts himself in danger. Two kids, pretty unrealistically, coming to the rescue of a professional team.
That being said, it was still educational. Had some intense moments, and overall plot was still good. There is still a hint of WW2 drama within this nature adventure, but it was minimum and just added a bit of mystery tension to what was going on.

What an excellent adventure/survival novel for middle schoolers! I am always drawn to books like these due to degree in outdoor education, so it was no surprise to see I enjoyed this one. While the book does start a little slow and the flashbacks felt clunky at times this book took a common subject of kids climbing Everest and added an intriguing historical fiction twist! Having this novel take place in 1939 truly add a new high stakes thrill knowing that the 1930s was filled with competition between the Americans, British, and Nazis as they attempted to summit in the Himalayas first. There are also some great conversations to be had about the topic of grief. A great addition for any middle school library and even book clubs!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers at Scholastic for letting me read an advanced copy of this book!

One Wrong Step" by Jennifer Nielson is a gripping adventure set against the backdrop of 1939 on the treacherous slopes of Mount Everest as World War II erupts. The novel follows two teenagers, Atlas and Maddie, whose fathers are part of a climbing expedition. When a devastating avalanche strikes the group their fathers are with, the children embark on a perilous journey to find the team and rescue them.

This coming-of-age story is not only a thrilling survival tale but also a poignant exploration of grief and resilience. Atlas, grappling with the loss of his mother three years prior, finds unexpected solace in the face of danger. As he and Maddie navigate the icy terrain, their budding friendship provides a lifeline amidst the fear and uncertainty.

Nielson masterfully builds suspense, leaving readers constantly wondering what new peril awaits the intrepid duo. The inclusion of a detailed map before each chapter visually tracks their progress, while the inclusion of dates and helpful definitions enhances the reader's immersion in this gripping historical setting.

"One Wrong Step" is a captivating read; a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

I enjoyed the suspenseful story. The second half of the book was faster paced than the first. I think students will enjoy this adventurous story.

"One Wrong Step" was a book filled with examples of exactly that- wrong steps. Some were more impactful than others. I knew the eventual end to the story would be what it was- but it took quite a long time to get to that point. The research and logistics that went into this book were evident and appreciated.

One Wrong Step is a gripping adventure that many middle school students will zip right through alongside the I Survived series and the like. The flashbacks serve to keep the story moving rather then slowing it down, allowing events to explain the main characters feelings rather than making him explain them himself. The author acknowledges the far fetched nature of two teenagers attempting a rescue on Mt. Everest before it was ever summited, and this did take me out of the story a bit, knowing how impossible this would have been. In addition, between the main character's feelings of loss and anger, and the many dangers on the mountain, the slim additions of other vague threats seemed unnessecary. However, I think kids will fly through this novel and enjoy the read.

This historical fiction book is set in 1939 and follows climbers Atlas and his dad. Thirteen year old Atlas is deeply disappointed when he is instructed to stay at Advanced Base Camp while his dad and a small group of men attempt to summit Everest. Two weeks later tragedy strikes and Atlas’s plans change when an avalanche traps his dad somewhere near Everest’s Steps. Can Atlas tackle Everest? Can he save his dad? Will past heartache prevent him from succeeding?

My students are always clambering for adventure/survival stories so I’m happy Nielsen combined that genre with historical fiction. The world needs more stories that remind students they’re never too young to be a hero and I’ll happily preorder this book for my classroom library.

Riveting adventure from one of our favorite authors in our middle school library! Loved the illustrations that showed where they were on the mountain, stop by stop. Not sure two children climbing Mt. Everest essentially alone was believable, but our students will not care about that! They will be in line to check this one out!

I turned the last page. Now I can breathe again. This book is so well written, I could feel the cold and the terror of the predicaments encountered on that mountain.

This is a YA/middle grade story based on two teens climbing Mount Everest. The setting is historic 1939, (The Berlin Wall, the Titanic, the onset of World War II, and now - Mt Everest). Two young people, although well mountain climbing trained, are set to ascend the most brutal summit in the world. I found this premise a bit far fetched, but just go with it and enjoy a good story.

In September of 1939, Atlas and his father, and their climbing team are attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. At this point in history, no one has made it to the very top yet. George Mallory came the closest, but he disappeared and his body has never been found. So did he actually scale to the top? Edmund Hillary didn't get there until the 50s,

Twelve year old Atlas and his dad are seasoned mountain climbers. It’s the way they've found to cope with his wife and Atlas’s mother’s death. Atlas, at his tender age, always seems to make some kind of mistake. For example… freezing up at the wrong moment, not following his dad’s directions, nearly falling to his death, or putting other people in danger. Now for the ultimate climb, Everest. Wisely, his father insists that, although Atlas can come, he will not be allowed to the top, rather he will remain at one of the base camps about halfway up. But as 12 year olds do, he begs his father repeatedly to join the party to the top. Every time the answer is an emphatic no.

Maddie and her father soon join the group. Now, this part I felt could have been left out of the book as I didn’t think it really added to the story although they do encounter boulders on the climb. You see Maddie is terrified of heights, and her father only brought her along because her mother had a premonition of her falling off a boulder…and there are boulders near her home.
Now you have two stubborn tweens on this expedition. The inclusion of terms was necessary to capture this particular reader audience.

Maddie’s father is out there to not only reach the summit, but also to study the effects of altitude and altitude sickness on the body. Maddie is bossy and Atlas seems to think he’s always right, but they were likable. And did I mention stubborn?

Eventually the team heads up to the summit, leaving Atlas and Maddie at base camp with their sherpa Chodak. There are frequent picture maps of the trail among the text labeled with the trail stops and an icon showing their progress, very helpful!

But then there’s an avalanche involving the team farther up the mountain. Now Atlas and Maddie have to face a big choice, save their own lives or take a big risk going up the mountain to try to save their dads and the team.

The outcome of the saga is pretty unbelievable but has a feel good vibe.
Be assured the author did not attempt to rewrite history with this story.

Readers who are fascinated by Mt. Everest will pick it up, but i don’t predict this book to be a huge circulator like A Night Divided or The False Prince.

Fast paced, tense and so descriptive.

Thank you to Scholastic Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: One Wrong Step is an action-packed historical thriller by Jennifer A. Nielsen, centered around two children and a Sherpa fighting for survival on the treacherous heights of Mount Everest.

As a middle school librarian, I’m familiar with Nielsen’s work; her books are immensely popular with students, particularly her historical fiction and fantasy. We currently have 22 of her titles in our collection, and they are often my top recommendations when introducing young readers to historical fiction. When I had the chance to preview her latest release set on Everest, I couldn’t resist!

One Wrong Step will captivate young readers with its fast pace and suspenseful plot, following two children who must navigate dangerous, icy terrain to save the adults in their lives. The historical context, set against the backdrop of WWII, adds an intriguing layer, especially as the narrative gradually reveals a Nazi subplot. While this addition isn’t essential to the core mountain-climbing adventure, it introduces the complexity of trust and wartime uncertainties. Another notable touch is that each chapter begins with fascinating historical facts relevant to the story’s events, enriching the reading experience.

With One Wrong Step scheduled for publication on March 4, 2025, students will soon have the chance to experience this intense adventure and historical insight, a combination that Nielsen masters so well.