Climb or Die [Hardcover]

Edward Myers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 1994 | Grade Level: P and up

After a car accident in a snowy Colorado pass seriously injures their parents, athletic fourteen-year-old Danielle and her brainy younger brother, Jake, must scale a mountain to find help.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Danielle, 14, Jake, 13, and their parents are driving into the Colorado mountains toward their cabin when they encounter a sudden snow storm and crash. The teens decide to climb to the weather station on top of Mt. Remington to get help for their injured parents rather than attempt the 20-odd mile trek back the way they came. Working together to survive, athletic Danielle begins to appreciate her brother's ingenuity as he applies McGiver-like problem-solving skills to the situation, using a smattering of tools from his dad's toolbox to aid their climb. Jake learns that he has to trust his sister and depend on her strength and knowledge of mountain climbing. They eventually get help for their parents and anticipate a successful rehabilitation. The writing is crisp and clear as the siblings fight their way to the station, overcoming a rock slide, a fall on the rope, and other physical and mental challenges. Characterization is a bit obvious, but this is an adventure story. Rather than bogging readers down in detail, the story surges forward with an emphasis on action. The author includes a warning against anyone trying such a dangerous substitution of common tools for proper climbing equipment. The cover is attractive and the book should appeal to readers who enjoy an exciting tale.
Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Jr. High School, Iowa City, IA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. When their family's car careens off a slippery Rocky Mountain road in a blinding snowstorm, injuring both parents, it's up to 14-year-old Danielle and 13-year-old Jake to get help. Since they are so far from the highway, their only chance for survival is to scale nearby Mount Remington, where there is a staffed weather station. Through a combination of Danielle's athletic prowess and mountaineering experience and Jake's inventive abilities and creative thinking, the brother and sister set aside theirÿ20usual sibling rivalries and make the climb, facing a variety of dangers in a suspenseful survival story that younger YAs of both sexes willÿ20enjoy. While Myers includes a disclaimer about the improvisedÿ20mountaineering techniques described in the story, he actuallyÿ20tested them all, giving the novel's details an exciting realism.ÿ20 Merri Monks

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (October 3, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786800267
• ISBN-13: 978-0786800261
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,267,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting!!!, October 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Climb or Die: A Test of Survival (Paperback)

This book was about a fourteen year old girl and her younger brother climbing a mountain after they were in a car crash. Their parents are injured. The kids have to climb the mountain to get to the observatory for help. This book was very exciting and fun to read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Climb or Die, August 29, 2000

By 

Matt Hummel (Neshanic Station, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Climb or Die: A Test of Survival (School & Library Binding)

Although this story did have a good story line at times it got boring to me. I liked the idea of two kids saving there parents from the cold but while they were climbing i thought it was just plain boring. The only reason i give it a two is the storyline......... the book it self wasn't that good.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Climb or Die, August 25, 2000

By 

Justin (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Climb or Die: A Test of Survival (Paperback)

Climb or die is an extremely well- written survival book about a family, the Darcys, vacationing in Colorado. To get to their log cabin deep into Rockies, they must drive on a lonely dirt road in a blizzard. With zero visibility on the road, their car smashes into a tree, leaving the mother and father both badly injured. To find help before its too late for their mother and father, Jake and Danielle, two teenagers, must climb a mountian and radio for help at a weather station on the top....