Danger Peak

What's on top of Danger Peak? That's what thirteen-year-old Robert Kin and his two best friends, wisecracking and loyal Chris and sweet but put-upon Rinnie, want to find out in their small suburban town of the late 1980s. The three teens are members of the motorbike-racing club the Wild Boars, and with the inadvertent help of their eccentric technology teacher, Dr. Howard (who prefers to be called "Doctor," not "Mister," thank you very much), they build Robert a better, faster, and stronger dirt bike—piece by piece. Haunted by flashbacks of his older brother Danny, who died trying to scale Danger Peak the year before, Robert becomes obsessed with conquering the magical mountain. For the respect of his friends and school, and with the aid of his improved Action Bike, he discovers what lies beyond the peak of the mountain—and maybe even beyond the bounds of Earth itself. Filled with humor, adventure, and, most importantly, heart, Danger Peak is an inspiring story about what it takes to achieve your dreams—and what it means to feel alive.

Danger Peak, winner of multiple literary awards, is sure to entertain both teens and adults with its nostalgic look back into what it was like growing up in the 1980s.

Perone weaves a compelling tale of one young boy's coming-of-age journey in his engrossing debut… (He) beautifully develops Robert's emotional arc (of wanting) to attain his goal of conquering the mountain but feels frustrated in the face of his father's impossibly difficult attitude. He deftly portrays the young boy's fears and insecurities, his longing for Danny, and his burning need for acceptance and understanding. Crisp and straightforward, the prose is smooth and the pacing measured. A dash of magical realism adds to the intrigue, and themes of teenage angst, friendship, bullying, grief, understanding, acceptance, and sibling bonds are beautifully woven into the narrative. A gripping, raw read.

—The Prairies Book Review