What worked:
Each chapter begins with a few lines sharing facts relevant to the following events. Mountain climbing is a major part of the story and readers will learn much about it. The first chapter shares information about Atlas’s first mountain climb to the summit of Kings Peak in 1936. It’s also the time when his mother loses her battle with a chronic disease. A map to the summit of Mt. Everest precedes the second chapter with information about the sherpas who assist climbers. Other chapter introductions explain terms like acclimation, climbers adjusting to the lack of oxygen, columns of ice called seracs, and various tools used during a climb. These descriptions are helpful to understand the nuances of scaling Earth’s tallest mountain. Additional maps throughout the book identify Atlas’s location on Mt. Everest to give readers context for the dramatic events. They’ll discover it takes months, a lot of money, courage, and a bit of luck to attempt a climb up Mt. Everest.
The story is told in first-person by Atlas, a teenage boy from London. This allows readers to learn about his feelings and unspoken thoughts about mountain climbing and special memories. Dealing with grief is an issue since Atlas hasn’t had a serious talk about his mother’s death in the three years since it happened. He’s frustrated that his father won’t let him climb to Mt. Everest’s summit but that doesn’t stop Atlas from trying to change his mind. An avalanche will find Atlas climbing farther than his father expected. Telling the story first-person also lets readers in on Atlas’s climbing knowledge and strategies as well as his conflicted thoughts about his mother.
The climbing team presents a variety of personalities to enhance the plot and drama. Mr. Blake is financing most of the expedition but his superior air creates conflict and mystery. He loves to hear himself talk, mostly about himself, and he frequently shares disparaging remarks about Atlas’s age and skill. Hushed comments between Blake and another team member create uncertainty about Blake’s character and his motives. Chodak is the main sherpa guide and his kind personality is a stark contrast to Blake. He’s the group’s biggest asset but an accident complicates his role. Maddie is about Atlas’s age and Atlas initially doesn’t like her presence on the mountain. She has very little climbing experience and one of her phobias may make her a liability. What kind of father makes Mt. Everest his daughter’s first mountain-climbing event?
What didn’t work as well:
The Nazi subplot slowly emerges but it’s not a necessary complication to the mountain-climbing adventure. The avalanche and Atlas’s subsequent efforts and setbacks to rescue his father provide plenty of drama for one book. Reader attention is distracted from this gripping problem as the topic of a Nazi spy continues. Mentioning the possibility of Nazis on Mt. Everest adds historical context to the plot but it would be better to leave it at that.
The final verdict:
The author captures the life-threatening perils and the harrowing weather conditions found on Mt. Everest to help readers experience the torturous quest to reach the summit. Atlas struggles to deal with his grief over his mother’s death and this subplot may resonate with readers. Overall, this riveting survival story will appeal to a wide audience and I recommend you give it a shot.

I always enjoy books by Jennifer Nielsen.. I liked this one, but it’s not my favorite. I had me on the edge of my seat for parts, but other parts dragged a bit. I still think it’s going to be popular.

Wow! Exhilarating and exciting all the way through! The adventure and journey of this book kept me reading, and I didn't want to stop. The journey young Atlas takes on is one of courage, and strength. We are all on this wild journey called life and even though we may not physically climb Mount Everest, we all have our own mountains to climb through. Great story, I recommend to middle grades (6-8 grades). Boys especially will enjoy this thrilling adventure Jennifer Nielsen takes us on in "One Wrong Step".

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book. I was so enthralled with this story! The maps definitely help visualize the monumental task of mounting Everest. This is definitely one I'll be purchasing for my classroom!

Wow! What a story, it was hard to put down!
1939 Europe, an attempt to climb Mount Everest, an avalanche, and a rescue attempt, this book has it all!

Will the audience get the underlying thoughts behind this? I hope so. While the story is about climbing Mount Everest in hopes of saving family members, it really is so much more. It is about keeping going when things are tough, putting one foot in front of the other. Atlas' father says it best, "Where your eyes go, the feet follow". If we are not looking forward, we get stuck in the muck and can stay there for a long time. This is an important message for all of us, but especially our young people.

Thank you Jennifer Nielsen for another wonderful book!

This was not my favorite Jennifer Nielsen book. I've enjoyed several of her other books and appreciate her ability to develop interesting characters and storylines, but this novel was slow going. The characters felt flat and one dimensional, and it never felt like there was any threat or danger in spite of the elements. The historical aspect was interesting, particularly in connection with World War 2 looming.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Jennifer A. Nielsen wrote this perfectly and had that survival element that I was looking for. It had a strong plot that I was hoping for and enjoyed getting to go on this journey. The characters had that realism that I was looking for and enjoyed how they were written. I thought it worked well as a Mount Everest story and had that tension that I was looking for.

Jennifer A Nielsen has an award winning way with words. She can easily grab the readers attention and keep it through the book. Great storyline and characters. This is an incredible read.