First of all, thank you to @netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes book about two young teens climbing Mount Everest, this is the perfect book for you or the young readers in your life.

I enjoyed this book. It was gripping and raw just like Jennifer A. Nielsen’s other stories. Although there is less of a focus on historical World War II, Nielsen keeps the story gripping with the life and death moments shared by the two main characters, Atlas and Maddie. The book felt a little slow at times but Nielsen certainly uses plot twists to keep the reader hooked.

The friendship between Maddie and Atlas was touching! I loved how they grew to like each other, and due to circumstances, they had to depend on their friendship to stay alive. It was remarkable, really!

Next, I loved Atlas’ personal triumphs. At the risk of sharing spoilers, I can’t say much more, but I related to Atlas greatly and he inspired me to climb my own hurdles and mountains. The end of the story was extremely touching and even bittersweet. The ending suited the book well.

All in all, this book is perfect for young readers who like climbing, have an interest in Mount Everest, or just want an action-packed book. I’d highly suggest this to homeschool parents who want to integrate history into their children’s literature curriculum!

Happy reading,
Bethany the Bookworm Girl

CW: mentions of premonitions, references to Buddhist religion, death, life and death stakes, grief

Jennifer A. Nielsen does it again! This time, her hero is a boy climber, joining his dad on an attempted summit of Mt. Everest in 1939. When danger strikes the group, Atlas must dig deep to save his dad. Joined by a girl, Maddie, they learn to trust each other in the rescue attempt.
Suspenseful, thoughtful, intriguing and exciting - all the things we love about a Nielsen novel, in a totally different environment. More like this please!

I have to be totally, 100% honest - the first half of the book was difficult for me to get through. Overall, the author's formatting and pacing of the story is good and appropriate, but I was having difficulty getting into it, if you know what I mean. But hang in there, reader, the halfway point on is very exciting!

So our story follows Atlas, a young male climber who is still suffering from his mother's death. He climbs in hope that he will find peace somehow, but it never seems to work. Instead, he struggles to make the right decisions at critical times, leading his father to believe he isn't ready to make it to the top of Mt. Everest.

The two of them join a team, which includes Maddie from Texas and her father. You can tell that Maddie and Atlas will become friends, but they also become a rescue team. Both of their fathers leave to make it to the summit, when disaster strikes. They could be alive or dead, no one knows, but Maddie and Atlas won't give up on trying to save them. But this is all happening as news of a war is coming. What they don't know is that War World II is about to impact all of them - IF they make it back down the mountain alive.

This book was quite educational on what it takes to climb Mt. Everest. As I said, I've seen many documentaries and this was accurate to first account stories I've seen. The author does state at the end that she is not implying that people so young as Atlas and Maddie could have made this climb in 1939, but she wanted to use it as a story of encouragement. This is fiction, after all, so I am fine with stretching my imagination a bit. I also believe however, it could be possible, when someone is that motivated with sheer will power. I've seen stories of survivors on Everest who never should have made it back down, but they did it because they knew they had to get back to their families. That is what Atlas's story reminded me of, so I believe it is a great homage to those who have made the journey in real life.

There is a subplot involving WWII, and the potential threat of Nazi's on the mountain. I couldn't really tell where it was going at first, but I see what the author was doing by the end. It adds just enough mystery to scare Atlas and Maddie even more, while also giving us some lesser known history about the time, so I found it interesting.

I will say, this book does include some spiritual elements that reflect the real life of the Sherpas and monks who live there and climb Mt. Everest. I don't believe the author is trying to push a certain religion on anyone, but she kept it accurate yet again to what I've seen in documentaries. The monks who live there requite everyone to be part of a ceremony before they climb the mountain, and that is true in real life too. Maddie's character also talks about her mother having "premonitions", though it would seem in the book that may not be entirely accurate. A monk also tells Atlas something that is mysterious in nature, and Atlas isn't sure if he is predicting his future or not. By the end of the story, it seems more so that the monk was offering him some deep advice that goes over Atlas's head to begin with. Just be aware of that if you are a parent or teacher passing this on to a student. Some will prefer to skip over those parts, or maybe not read it altogether, but the author is accurate to the location and people who live there.

The last half of the book is the most exciting. I was flying through it! It is so action packed and frightening, you just have to find out what happens and you can't put it down. I also enjoyed Atlas and Maddie's character growth. They make some very mature decisions, and I enjoyed seeing them learn. Overall, I do recommend! Especially for those who love learning more about Mr. Everest, or history in general.

"One day you'll climb it, Atlas, and when you do, you'll surprise us all. I think you know as much about Everest as anyone else in our party."

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A Nielsen

This was another fantastic historical fiction from this author. I enjoyed how it has a thrilling plot, scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat, and a history that I had not really known about: the fact that countries raced against others to the top of Mt. Everest, and this included the possibility there were Nazis trying to reach the top as well.
The author keeps this middle grade appropriate while also laying bare the perils of climbing Mt. Everest.
I loved the camaraderie between Atlas and Maddie and how they work together to help rescue their fathers.
I also liked the fact that the finished book has a map of the climb up the mountain and shows where Atlas is throughout the book. The book's chapters also includes a word associated with climbing Mt. Everest and explains the word, like equipment, parts of the mountain, and other vocabulary words.

Favorite Parts: Historical Fiction, camaraderie between the teens, thrilling plot, rescue, Mt. Everest
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: no romance
Violence/gore: dire peril, injury, frostbite, talk of war and Nazis and Hitler
Substance Use: none
Prejudices: Mild-Comments are made against various cultures/countries
Religious Content: discussion and mention of afterlife
Other: Mild-grief, loss of parent (past)

Book Info:
Series: standalone
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Romance Level: none
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Scholastic
POV: single

I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

Mt Everest is recognized as one of the biggest obstacles for humanity to conquer. An obstacle of immense peril. I would like to recognize middle school as an equally perilous obstacle. Maybe the dangers are different, but the lessons to be learned from both can be similar.
Nielsen writes an incredible adventure that kids and adults can both enjoy. With the danger and intensity of a mountain and the trials and fears of a twelve-year-old, the story moves quickly from one thrill to another. In the end friendships, family relationships and self-discovery are found in a way that only climbing a mountain (real or analogous) can provide.

This exciting adventure is told by Atlas, a boy who loves climbing mountains. His mother died two years before, when Atlas and his dad were out climbing and Atlas feels like he never had a chance to say good bye. Now, two years later, in 1939, Atlas and his dad are planning to be a part of an expedition to climb Mount Everest. Unsurprisingly, things don't go according to plan, but each part of the journey brings Atlas a new lesson to learn. It was fun to read and had some historical points about climbing and politics that I'd never heard before, which I found intriguing. Jennifer Nielsen is an amazing writer and her work is always so much fun to read.

Friends, I just finished this new release from Jennifer A. Nielsen and I can’t say enough good things about it. Though the premise seemed a little far-fetched to me at first (two teenagers climbing Mount Everest in 1939 at the outbreak of WWII), it was a wonderful story with so many important lessons. I found that it matched up so well with Nielsen’s “Once Upon A Climb” which is one of my favorite motivational books and one I have at the ready when my writing journey gets tough.

The book is geared toward 9-12 year olds but I think older teenagers and adults will enjoy it as well. I handed it straight to my 13-year-old when I finished, and I’ve already started begging the local elementary to get this book into their classrooms.

This book had action, adventure, and high stakes. It pulled me in and kept me invested the whole time. It gives a message of not losing hope and learning from our mistakes. In the end, one wrong step might be all it takes to fail, but taking many right steps will lead us exactly where we need to be.

“My eyes were open now, and from now on, I planned to look forward and to look upward. Where the eyes went, my feet would follow.”

Sadly, this is my least favorite book from this author. Admittedly, rock climbing is a subject I have very low interest in and that was a factor. I was hoping there would be enough connection to the characters and harrowing action that would keep me interested but that was not the case. The story is well written and there is character growth and lessons learned as Atlas and his Dad take to climbing mountains to deal with grief, I just didn't find it compelling. A climbing term is defined at the beginning of each chapter which is helpful for those of us who know very little about climbing.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Intense historical fiction!

Atlas and his parents love to climb mountains together. When his mother gets sick, the doctors suggest taking her to stay with grandparents who live in Utah because the air is dry and should help her. When Atlas and his father leave to climb King’s Peak, he says a casual goodbye to his mother, not realizing that will be the last time he speaks to her because she dies while they are away. Atlas and his father throw themselves into mountain climbing after that and end up in Nepal to climb Mt. Everest. They join a team set to reach the unreachable, the Summit of Mt. Everest. Atlas will face the fight of his live and must make the toughest of choices.

Likes/dislikes: I like how the author includes a definition at the beginning of each chapter. The setting is extremely interesting with the threat of World War II hanging over the story. The characters are believable.
Mature content: G
Language: G for 0 swears.
Violence: G
Ethnicity: predominantly white

One Wrong Step" by Jennifer A. Nielsen throws you into the high-stakes world of Mount Everest with 12-year old Atlas Wade, grappling with some heavy emotional baggage—his mom's death. He's up on the mountain with his dad, and it's supposed to be this epic expedition. But, naturally, things go completely off the rails. An avalanche hits, and suddenly, survival becomes the name of the game. It's not just about battling the brutal elements, either. Nielsen throws in a twist with Nazis lurking in the shadows, adding a layer of historical thriller to the already intense setting. Atlas, along with a girl named Maddie and their Sherpa, Chodak, have to navigate this treacherous landscape, both physically and emotionally.

Think of it as a blend of adventure and emotional depth while also being a story about processing grief and forging connections in the face of extreme adversity. It's about how intense situations can force you to confront your past and find strength you didn't know you had. So, if you're into stories with a mix of action, historical elements, and character development, "One Wrong Step" might be worth checking out.

Jennifer A. Nielsen delivers another spectacular historical page turner for YA readers! This is a must have for all collections where historical fiction circulates well. Hand this to fans of Nielsen's other works and readers who enjoy Alan Gratz.

When 12-year-old Atlas loses his mother, climbing becomes his outlet... and eventually, his obsession. He and his father begin traveling the world, climbing one mountain after another, in an attempt to leave the pain behind. So when the chance to summit Mt Everest arises, they both jump at the opportunity. When Atlas's father and the team push on, Atlas and his friend, Maddie, wait at base camp, only to watch as the team is buried in an avalanche. Now men's only hope is to be rescued by these two teens before they run out of time. But Atlas and Maddie might not be the only ones on the mountain. With WWII looming in Europe, the Nazis are anxious to summit Everest as well. When strange things start to happen on the mountain, Atlas and Maddie are left to wonder who will reach their fathers first?

Author Jennifer A. Nielsen is back with a new piece of historical fiction. One Wrong Step is an action-packed novel that will keep you turning the pages. Loosely based on historical events, this story about loss, family, and overcoming is incredibly well-written. I felt myself struggling with Atlas and pulling for him throughout the entire book. And when the teens were in trouble on Mt. Everest, I think I probably audibly gasped. One Wrong Step is very well done. Although marketed as middle-grade fiction, this book would be easily enjoyed by a variety of ages, and the historical setting and details give it added interest. Very well done and highly recommended.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was a great read! A fantastic combination of history and adventure. I think students will love reading it. At times, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. While I've read many stories about modern climbs of Mount Everest, I have not read one set in the early 1900s so I enjoyed hearing how they navigated the mountain. Can't wait to add this to my library!

This book is a fictional story about two teenagers that climb with their fathers on Mount Everest at the beginning of WWII. When the team gets caught in an avalanche on the ascent to the summit, the teenagers make a decision to rescue them. Will they be able to make the treacherous climb and rescue their fathers in time? I loved the characters, the plot, the terrifying moments while climbing the mountain, the victories of success, and learning terms that relate to climbing. This is a great book to read along with your middle grade student!

Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Wow- what an incredible blend of history and adventure! Protagonist Atlas is faced with a lot of challenges: the death of his mother, an impending war, and climbing the most treacherous mountain, Mt. Everest. I look forward to using this in my sixth grade ELA class to not only cover the standards but resiliency as well. Thank you to NetGalley, Nielsen, and Scholastic for the ARC!

“Where your eyes go, your feet will follow”…

Those wise words from Atlas’s father guide this whole story from beginning to end. At first, this just seems like advice for climbing, but as Alas learns, this is also advice for life.

When Atlas’s mother passes away while he and his father are on a hike, Atlas’s grief turns to anger that is pointed right at his father. Two years later, in 1939 with Europe on the cusp of WWII, Atlas and his father find themselves on the climb of a lifetime as they are presented with the opportunity to climb Mount Everest. Although Atlas will not be allowed to attempt the summit due to his age, his father will be part of the team that tries to go all the way. If their team is successful, they will be the first to summit the mountain, a feat that seemed impossible at the time. At first, everything is going to plan and the team is getting close to the top. However, when an avalanche cuts off communication between Atlas and the expedition, Atlas sets off on a quest to rescue his father and the others. As if climbing Mount Everest isn’t difficult enough, there is an added challenge: there are clues that Nazis might be on the mountain with them as rumors swirl that the Nazis are going to attempt their own summit to prove their power. With the help of new friends, Atlas must attempt the impossible as he learns to let go of his anger surrounding his mother’s death while also figuring out how to keep his eyes towards the future instead of the past.

Nielsen keeps the story moving with lots of action and suspense, and every chapter leaves readers on a bit of a cliff hanger (no pun intended). The maps of Atlas’s location on the mountain are also particularly helpful to visualize where he is at in his journey. The brief vocabulary at the start of each chapter clears up confusion surrounding specific terminology related to climbing and to mountains while also providing clues as to what the chapter will be about. This story gives readers a look into what it takes to climb Mount Everest, especially at a time where technology was so limited, and it would be interesting to pair it with Peak by Roland Smith. Middle grades readers will certainly enjoy this story, and compared to some of Nielsen’s other historical fiction novels (such as Resistance or Words on Fire) I think that it is more accessible and understandable without too much background knowledge. I only wish the rescue on the mountain was more action packed. It felt like the story built to this big moment, only for it to pass by relatively quickly and without much detail. Although every character’s story was wrapped up, I was still left wanting more in this area. Perhaps like climbing a mountain, the story was designed to take a long time on the ascent, only for it to end quickly on the way down. Although this wasn’t my favorite Nielsen book and it left me wanting a little bit more in some areas, I would definitely recommend this book to my students and I can’t wait to get it in their hands! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Jennifer Nielsen is a master at writing suspenseful, adventure-packed historical fiction for a middle-grade audience. One Wrong Step is another hit but really leans into the adventure side of the her writing with the setting of Mount Everest.

I know my students will love this book. We have a copy ordered for our library and I recommend it to upper elementary and middle school students.

Thank you to Net Galley and Scholastic for the DRC. All opinions are my own!

Impossible to set down! A survival story that will keep you reading long past your bedtime. Jennifer Nielsen hits the nail on the head with these interesting characters, the pacing of the adventure, suspenseful writing and exciting setting!

3. I’m a real sucker for adventure stories and even more so for survival tales. But, I fell like this book tries to do too much. There’s the stories of Everest, particularly Mallory/all the information about the challenges in climbing Everest/ a possible Nazi spy/ WWII beginning/ the personal stories of both characters. It’s just a lot and leads to clear info dumping. The writing quality suffers for it. Also, the ending a bit too pat. At 339 pages it’s a bit long for classroom use. Good premise, but execution is lacking.

I absolutely love reading anything from this author. The details of her writing are absolutely the best. This read had me on the edge of my seat several times throughout the book. Several times I felt like I was right there feeling the pain and cold with the characters. And who doesn't love a great ending?