Levi and Vik are best friends, gamers, and reckless thrill-seekers who are always in search of their next adrenaline rush—their next virtual adrenaline rush, that is. But when Levi slacks off with family chores, his soon-to-be stepdad, Bryce, pulls the plug on his electronics. Levi resents the punishment, almost as much as he resents Bryce’s annoying attempts to act like a father.

Bored and restless, Levi and Vik opt for a real-life adventure—a hike up nearby Split Fang Bluff. They climbed the steep mountain twice last spring, but the recent storm that just dumped two feet of snow would make this climb epic! Levi hopes the climb will shake off his lousy mood about Bryce and his new family setup. But instead, his troubles cycle through his brain in loops of rewind and fast forward. Meanwhile, Vik, a hardcore Mount Everest geek, can’t stop reciting facts about the dangers on that mountain—avalanches, icefalls, the “Death Zone,” and others. But what about Split Fang

When a severe storm blasts the area, the boys’ hyped-up adventure turns into a harrowing battle to stay alive. The boys must use all they’ve got—gaming skills, mountaineering know-how, their solid friendship, and a reboot on Levi’s notion of family—to survive.

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.