"Mom made excuses even when I was little.
The Towers took something he couldn’t get back.
No matter how fast he ran into flames.
No matter how hard he tried to forget.
Memories like that stick to your skin,
crawl deep inside you,
and curl up in corners
that still somehow smolder, all
metal and ash."
Finn Connelly has gotten himself in some big trouble letting his anger get the better of him, and kicking over the headstone of an important local, Edna Grace Thomas. Ms. Thomas was a dedicated climber of the 46 Adirondack Peaks, and encouraged thousands of others to discover the beauty and peace found in nature while climbing them. Instead of pressing charges against the seventh grader, Ms.Thomas' daughter seeks reparation through Finn agreeing to scale all 46 High Peaks before Labor Day. He will take the Thomas dog, Seymour, with him as often as is possible.
Finn also has unfinished work from school in English and Phys. Ed. to complelte during the summer. Whed two years ago. Finn is about to fail seventh grade and has never made headlines . . . until now. Caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery, he’s in big trouble for knocking down some dead old lady’s headstone. Turns out that grave belongs to a legendary local mountain climber, and her daughter makes Finn an unusual offer: she’ll drop all the charges if he agrees to climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks in a single summer. And there’s just one more thing–he has to bring along the dead woman’s dog. In a wild three months of misadventures, mountain mud, and unexpected mentors, Finn begins to find his way on the trails. At the top of each peak, he can see for miles and slowly begins to understand more about himself and his dad. But the mountains don’t care about any of that, and as the clock ticks down to September, they have more surprises in store. Finn’s final summit challenge may be more than even a hero can face. ile not enamored of the task, Finn agrees and is accompanied on his climbs by experienced volunteers who agree to help him face the summits. There is a lot for Finn to deal with, including his father's death and need to be a hero. In poetic verse, Kate Messner handles topics of grief, mental health, PTSD, friendship, identity, and growing up. She also includes founds letters, recipes, text messages between mother and son, school progress reports, and photographs taken of the many climbs.
Finn is a well-realized character whose growth and capability impress readers, as he moves forward despite difficulties and observed flaws to find out what he needs to know about himself. Eventually, despite reservations and many complaints, Finn finds what he needs in nature and with kind support. There are many discoveries to be made and his story, though heartbreaking at times, is going to win some major awards. It's that good!
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