JUNKO'S CLIMB

Japanese mountain climber Junko Tabei never gave up.

Not many 10-year-old children are capable of scaling a mountain, but Junko Tabei was, despite being small for her age and weakened by pneumonia. In 1949, she climbed Mount Nasu on a class hiking trip; despite her classmates’ doubts, she put one foot in front of the other and set her sights on the summit. The mountains continued to call to her, and she found other women with a similar passion for climbing. They withstood ridicule and exclusion from male climbers by forming a club; they trained and raised funds to tackle Mount Everest. When the day came, the women and the sherpas who guided them headed out, step by step, through bitter cold, snow, and wind. The women encouraged one another through each obstacle, but one evening, disaster struck! An avalanche mangled a tent in which Junko and four other climbers were sleeping. Injured and uncertain about going on, Junko rested for several days before setting out again. Her resilience was rewarded by a spectacular summit view and the respect of the global community. Relying on a palette of warm oranges, cool blues, and earthy browns, HifuMiyo’s illustrations lend Gavin’s detailed, earnestly worded story a vintage charm. Endpaper sketches depict the array of tools used in climbing.

A compelling testament to inner strength and deep friendship.