ON TOP OF THE WORLD

A dramatic recreation of that final, climactic morning in 1953 when New Zealand beekeeper Edmund Hillary and his veteran Sherpa companion, Tenzing Norgay, climbed the last 1100 feet to stand on Earth's highest point. Drawing on both climbers' memoirs, Fraser captures their skill and determination as well as the delicate balance of luck, will, and planning required to make the whole expedition a success where so many others had failed. In a final note, the author summarizes climbing technique and equipment and mentions subsequent assaults on Everest. Her full-page color paintings don't match the text's excitement, but they are well designed, and have a good choice of detail. Glossary. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 8-11)*justify no*