Junko Tabei was the first woman to summit Mount Everest in 1975 and surprisingly I'd never heard of her! I picked up this book becuase I love the Rebel Girls series so I'll read anything they put out, and this was another wonderful biography. I especially liked this one because Junko was not your typical athletic type to start with but out of a sense of adventure decided to join a school trip to climb a mountain. And, she very nearly didn't make it to the top! She had other setbacks throughout her life as well, but from the support of her family and friends and her persevering spirit she became one of the best in the world. It just goes to show that you never know what hobbies will spark interest so go ahead and try something new and just do your best!

The message of the power of size is so well done. There's always something so meaningful and powerful in books about the lives of people who accomplish big physical goals. I always feel like I am living vicariously through these stories since I am a chicken as well as too lazy to climb mountains. Honestly, this was really well written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Love these books that show the vast array of female talent to our younger generations. Vey well done!

We enjoyed this book. The graphics were well done, bright and fun. The story was inspiring and made us want to climb mountains!

Thank you for sharing this book through NetGalley.

When I started to read this book, I thought I was reading a manga. It's an ordinary Japanese life, the ones I read in manga. And I read a lot of Japanese comic strips.

Then I was waiting for the surprise, like this kind of Rebel Girls book. But unlike most of them, this slow paced book is downright interesting. It brought me to the thing I rarely (or even never) read in any kind of manga: rock climbing. The fun yet difficult activity that needs passion and determination to reach the top.

I end up looking for the photo of Junko Tabei, who is indeed petite, and marveled all over again, how this woman can have a big spirit inside her little body.

I love the idea of choosing a female figure who managed to become one of the best representatives of an exreme sport that had been practcally exclusive to men.
Now, however inspiring Junko Tabei’s life journey is, her setting school aside and lying to her family to do what she wanted, which happened to be a risky activity, aren’t good examples to show kids as a clever and brave example to follow. I would change that aspect of the story.
This is a good book nonetheless, but it's my least favorite from the series so far.

"No mountain is too high if you put one foot in front of the other."

Thanks to Rebel Girls for the ARC!

Another perfect, inspiring story! Junko Tabei was the first female climber to summit Mount Everest. Even with all the difficulties on the way, she never gave up. Even though it's written for children, I think this book has a very important message to everyone about determination. Sometimes our dreams might seem unreachable, but we still have to believe in them.

I will always read the rebel girls series because THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DISAPPOINT YOU!

This one is awe-inspiring as was expected and I would have never known this personality had it not been this book! And I am so glad that #NetGalley made it possible for me to grasp and read this book #JunkoTabeiMasterstheMountains

And as always, it's the first half of the book that is so well written getting hold of your attention offering you the best childhood stories ever told!
I really like the simple, interesting writing style of the book. The illustration is just amazing! Every relevant point in the life of the personality has been mentioned with such warmth and enthusiasm that it's just impossible for you not to get motivated. Ever heard of teachers who motivate students without discrimination? Got it here. Ever heard of great fathers giving full support of their daughters' dreams? Got it here. But ever heard of a relevant someone in your life not supporting the same? Got it here as well! Ever heard of life threatening difficulties in the way of achieving your biggest dreams? Yes, the book is the answer to this!

Wow! And the bonus part?! I totally adore the love story! It's so like cute and inspirational!

One of the best books in the rebel girls series!

I had rated the book lower, because I'd read it as a work of non-fiction. Only now, as I was studying the book again to write this review, did I see the note from the publisher on the back of the title page stating that this is fiction. Viewed through that lens, this is a great story for readers 3rd grade and up, telling how a young Japanese girl overcame her own fears and the conventions of the day to become the first woman to summit Mt. Everest.

I do wish the publisher had made the fiction designation more visible and had included some informational back matter, such as a timeline, sample sources and suggestions for readers want to know more. That being said, this is a beautiful little novel that will be easy to recommend to young readers.

This was a great introduction and I think offers a great tribute to Junko's life and legacy.

I also liked the activities at the end that teach readers new skills that also help them connect to Junko.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (both volumes) is very popular at my library. When I saw that a new middle grade series was being published, I was intrigued. After reading about Junko, I am inspired! I hope our middle grade readers will love this book as much as I do. I am looking forward to exploring the other titles in the series. Thanks to Net Galley for the ebook ARC.

This is another fine offering by Rebel Girls. The strength of the series is that it highlights the life of accomplished women and the obstacles they have overcome in the form of societal resistance as young women. This one accomplishes the same goal. It is also well illustrated.

This is a great biography with gorgeous illustrations. I think younger readers will be able to relate to Junko’s nervousness to try something new, her self-doubt, and being overwhelmed by school and anxiety. I certainly did. But readers will also cheer her on when she discovers a passion for rock climbing and becomes a skilled climber in a time when female climbers were rare.
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One of my favorite parts of the biography talked about how she loved being a mother as much as she loved climbing. Having kids doesn’t mean moms have to stop doing what they are passionate about. It just changes how we go about doing it.

This is a beautifully illustrated story which gives us an insight into the lesser known side of rural Japanese life, as well as having an empowering message.
Rebel Girls focus on telling stories from a female perspective which are empowering for children, as they see that whether you're a girl or boy or any gender you can do amazing things!
This is all done in a non preachy way.
In Junko Tabei Masters the Mountains we get a glimpse into life in rural Japan, growing up as a girl, and a cast of colourful characters who encourage or spur Junko on to achieve what she does.
As a teacher, this a book that would find itself right on home on any classroom bookshelf, and in the hearts of kids especially those who for whatever reason, might feel different, or like they 'can't' do something. They CAN!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and Rebel Girls for granting me access to an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The beautiful middle-grade biography chronicles the life of Junko Tabei, the first woman climber to summit Mount Everest. An unlikely climbing hero, Junko failed PE class in middle school.

Growing up in a rural region of Japan, Junko had no independent female role models in the 60s in Japan. Junko didn’t want to settle down and marry after high school, she wanted to attend college and live an independent life full of adventure.

With the support of her father, she went away to college in Tokyo, where she discovered a deep interest in mountaineering. Climbing mountains helped her feel at peace when life seemed too overwhelming.

Junko overcame her natural shyness, joined a climbing club, and eventually became a master climber. She eventually meets, falls in love with, and marries a not-so-traditional Japanese climber, Masanobu Tabei, who encourages her to follow her dreams.

Readers who love biographies will love this story of an ordinary girl who grows up to do daring things. The bright illustrations help support the text, and girls of all ages will fall in love with Junko and cheer for her as she overcomes obstacles and hardships.

Oh, this book is so cute! The Rebel Girls books are adorable, and super empowering. Definitely a good addition to the amazing 6-8 series that are coming out right now, we need more nonfiction that's actually interesting to kids and isn't just spouting a ton of facts.

Junko Tabei Masters the Mountains is a biography of mountaineer Junko Tabei aimed at middle grade readers. Due out 25 Feb 2020 from Rebel Girls, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardback and audio formats.

This is a biography which is factually based but also has allowed some (unspecified) changes for narrative flow. I liked that Junko wasn't naturally athletic or academically gifted. She worked for her progresses and when she had failures and setbacks, she picked herself up and tried again. Strength and conviction are a recurring theme in her life and I respect her determination.

Stories with strong and believable female role models are important and welcome for boys and girls alike. This is a well told biography of a subject who will be unfamiliar to the majority of readers. The art by Montse Galbany is colorful and engaging and illustrates the story well.

Well done and worthwhile. This would be a superlative choice for classroom, school library, gift, or personal library.

Five stars

I love this series of books - I learn so much (and usually tear up a time or two). Before this, I didn't know about Junko Tabei, but I'm so glad I do now. The story is told in such an engaging way that even though it covers a lot of years in a few pages, I feel like I really encountered Junko. A few pages at the end even teach a few climbing skills (e.g., knot tying, balancing).

This is a lovely true story about Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mt. Everest. It's a story of perseverance and staying true to yourself. It's a story about a dangerous sport, which isn't hidden, and sensitive children might be upset about a death that occurs. It's also a story that models a romantic partnership grounded in respect and equality, which is a detail that might not be as important to children when they are reading it but is a great thing to plant seeds for later in life. The artwork is also delightful. Once again, I love these chapter books.

This historical fiction middle grade novel follows Junko Tabei who was the first woman to climb Mt. Everest. Many readers will appreciate Junko's inner strength as she follows a path unlike the average Japanese girl and woman. In school as a child, Junko was considered small and weak. However, when faced with climbing a mountain, she follows her teacher's advice to do her best and successfully completes the climb. This sparks Junko's life
Omg passion for climbing.

I particularly appreciated the accessibility of the text. This book is written in fairly simple language with a message that rings loud and clear. Junko's care for the environment in her later years is an important facet of a book that demonstrates how to follow your passion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.