The compelling novel Peak by Roland Smith follows the journey of the rebellious and determined Peak Marcello, as he undertakes the treacherous journey of climbing to the summit of Mount Everest. As Peak ventures to the summit he faces many challenges far beyond the physical, which by the end change him for the better. The once selfish teenager learns to put others first. He learns to measure his success not by the final goal but the path he took. This climb opens his mind to the importance of the relationships he has and that family may not always be what meets the eye.
Sometimes it can take a life changing experience to make a difference in one’s personality. Lacking in the empathy department, Peak’s life is initially very self-centred. It is in the first chapter Peak learns about a boy dying because he attempts the same climb up the skyscraper. Despite Peak feeling sorry for …show more content…
Peak says, “You don’t have to be alone to feel alone.” Without this significant person in his life, Peak’s family would in some ways feel like something was missing. However, as Peak journeys to the summit, he comes to realise that family comes in many forms. Peak’s friendship with Sun Jo develops far beyond any relationship he shared with Josh. He learns that the importance and value of a relationship is not determined by DNA, but rather by the sacrifices that one is willing to make for the other. This is why towards the end of the novel, Peak puts Sun Jo’s needs above his own and lets him reach the top of Mount Everest.
It is this life changing experience that leads Peak Marcello to learn many lessons about himself and the world around him. By the end of the novel, Peak is more compassionate and open-minded with a stronger family. It is not because of cold feet that Peak did not reach the summit of Everest, but is the journey that made it