The Impossible Climb (Young Readers Adaptation): Alex Honnold, El Capitan, and a Climber's Life

Product Description
A middle grade adaptation of the adult bestseller that chronicles what The New York Times deemed "one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever": Alex Honnold's free-solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.\nOn June 3, 2017, as seen in the Oscar-winning documentary
Free Solo, Alex Honnold achieved what most had written off as unattainable: a 3,000-foot vertical climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, without a rope or harness. At the time, only a few knew what he was attempting to do, but after topping out at 9:28 am, having spent just under four hours on this historic feat, author Mark Synnott broke the story for National Geographic and the world watched in awe.\nNow adapted for a younger audience,
The Impossible Climb tells the gripping story of how a quiet kid from Sacramento, California, grew up to capture the attention of the entire globe by redefining the limits of human potential through hard work, discipline, and a deep respect for the natural world.
From School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-This young readers' adaptation details Alex Honnold's dream and success of free-climbing the imposing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. While many climbers make ambitious attempts using harnesses, ropes, and other equipment, it is the rare athlete, like Honnold, who does not use anything except a chalk bag to climb some of the world's biggest peaks and monuments. Synnott spends the first part of the book detailing his own forays into daredevil escapades and professional adventuring pursuits, as well as Honnold's childhood and early years as an amateur climber. The second part spotlights Honnold as an unassuming and shy professional climber who conquers Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, Ennedi in Chad, Musandam Peninsula in Oman, and more. He secured endorsement deals and started a clean energy nonprofit. The most compelling part of the narrative explains Honnold's mindset, preparation, and the death-defying free solo ascent of El Cap in three hours and 56 minutes. Readers can use the glossary to clarify technical language and refer to images and videos online to understand the magnitude of other climbers' feats and aspects of the Freerider route up El Cap. Full-page photos complement the storytelling. VERDICT A heart-pounding adventure that will pull in any reader who is looking to live life to its fullest. A beautiful, unique addition to most nonfiction sports collections.-Jamie Winchell, Percy Julian M.S., ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
* "A heart-pounding adventure that will pull in any reader who is looking to live life to its fullest." —
School Library Journal,
starred review\n"A scramble into the wild world of rock climbing . . . plenty of thrills." —
Kirkus Reviews"A gripping story for readers of any age." —
Booklist Reviews
About the Author
Mark Synnott is a twenty-year member of the North Face Global Athlete team. He is a frequent contributor to
National Geographic magazine and has written for
Outside,
Men's Journal,
Rock and Ice, and
Climbing. He is also an internationally certified mountain guide and a trainer for the pararescuemen of the United States Air Force. He lives in the Mt. Washington Valley of New Hampshire.\nHampton Synnott lives in the moutains of New Hampshire with her family. She has spent the last twenty years working in sales for various companies in the ski, bike, fishing, and climbing industries in the United States and New Zealand. She loves nothing more than to travel with her family and divides her time between the mountains and the sea.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter One
The Hon Is Going to Solo El Cap
Jimmy Chin took a deep breath, puffed out his cheeks, and exhaled slowly. “There’s something I need to tell you,” he whispered. “Can you keep a secret?”
We were in the giant red tram,