No Summit out of Sight

May 19, 2014
Inspired by a mural in his California school depicting the highest mountain on each continent, nine-year-old Romero vowed that he would reach those "Seven Summits." Smoothly piloted by LeBlanc, this chronicle reveals how Romero, now 18, achieved this goal at a record-setting age, scaling each mountain under the guidance of his father and stepmother, professional athletes who compete in extreme adventure races. Romero sets the scene for each climbâfrom Mount Kilimanjaro in 2006 to Antarctica's Mount Vinson in 2011âwith notes on each region's culture, people, topography, climate, vegetation, wildlife, altitude, and atmospheric changes. While informative, segments detailing trip preparation and training are (expectedly) less gripping than accounts of perilous climbing expeditions; in the most dramatic one, Romero describes being slammed by an avalanche on Mount Everest. The emotional pitch of the story remains high as Romero contends with extreme weather, frustration, exhaustion, and homesickness to reach, with almost palpable exhilaration, each peak. Photos document steps Romero's odyssey throughout the book and in a color insert. Ages 12âup.

May 1, 2014
The true story of a 10-year-old who climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and subsequently summited the tallest mountains on the other six continents by the age of 15.Inspired by a school mural, 9-year-old Jordan Romero announced to his father his goal to climb each of the Seven Summits, the tallest mountains on each continent. He reached his first, Kilimanjaro, when he was 10 and conquered Everest at 13. At 15, Romero completed his final climb in Antarctica, becoming the youngest person to reach all Seven Summits, plus Mount Carstensz in New Guinea, and setting several world records. Romero's father and stepmother, both professional athletes, were unwaveringly supportive in helping him achieve his goal. Funding the expeditions was accomplished through corporate sponsorship, T-shirt sales, a lemonade stand and support from small businesses in Jordan's hometown. Now 17 (and with the assistance of LeBlanc), Jordan vividly chronicles his preparation for the climbs, his impressions of the countries he visited, the dangers and thrills of the ascents, and the physical and emotional endurance required to achieve his goals. A sheaf of color photographs documenting Romero's climbs is bound into the middle of the book.Romero's incredible, inspiring story may not inspire all readers to become record-setting mountaineers, but it will motivate them to set sights on goals of their own to achieve. (Nonfiction. 12-16)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 6 Up-At the age of 15, Romero became the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits, the tallest mountain on each continent. He set this goal for himself at age nine, when he saw a mural on the wall of his elementary school and wondered what it would be like to stand on each of those peaks. Other parents might postpone such lofty aspirations, but Jordan's father and stepmother, extreme adventure racers who compete all over the world, encouraged him. Neighbors, friends, and corporations helped with sponsorships and fund-raisers, while Romero's parents trained and accompanied him. From their first climb, Mount Kilimanjaro, where he set the record as a 10-year-old, to Everest at a record-setting 13, each peak presented unique and more difficult challenges. LeBlanc has written about mountaineering and of Everest, but Romero's voice comes through, as he excitedly describes, in first-person narrative, his emotions, hardships, occasional doubts, and reactions to foreign countries and cultures. It takes a certain amount of self-confidence to attempt and to persevere in the face of such an overwhelming task, and it is obvious that Romero has the bravado to do what many critics told him he couldn't. He continues to inspire young people to lead healthier lives and to follow their dreams with his 50-state "Find Your Everest tour," speaking about the importance of spending time outdoors, as well as climbing the highest peak in each state. Although the length of the book may be intimidating, it is an easy read and will appeal to adventure seekers.-MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School, Binghamton, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
With Linda LeBlanc. At nine years old, Jordan Romero decided he would climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. With ample support from his parents, he achieved his goal before turning sixteen. Romero recounts each climb chronologically, paying extra attention to difficult moments requiring stamina and mental fortitude. Adventure-seekers will enjoy living vicariously through Romero's travels in this earnest, occasionally thrilling memoir.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)