Everest, Book 1: The Contest

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

The Contest is the first of a trilogy about the youngest group of
climbers to attempt the ascent of Mt. Everest. Twenty accredited young
climbers and four “wild cards,” who have collected enough
advertisers’ drink tabs and candy wrappers to qualify, gather at boot
camp for training to climb the “Death Zone.” The novel describes
their training regimen, their personal idiosyncrasies, their hopes and
fears, their interpersonal relationships, and the onset of stress as
more and more cuts are made until the final four are chosen.

This is an exciting and compelling read. The core characters are
excellently drawn; they are well-rounded but typical teenagers who never
veer into caricature. Psychological profiles from the doctor’s medical
log are interspersed throughout the story to further develop and explain
the characters’ motivations. The suspense builds as successive cuts
are made and the pressure of competitiveness and envy affects
interpersonal relations. The rigorous training and individual climbing
feats are realistically portrayed. The surprise ending adds to the
interest.

The book is up-to-date with respect to teenage culture: the progress of
the contenders is tracked through Web sites, media press reads like a
reality TV episode, and the teens listen to current bands. Highly
recommended.