THE LADDER OF SNOW

By the author of numerous adventure stories, most recently Greenhorn's Cruise (1964), the Ladder while it's pretty high up in the Swiss Alps, doesn't attain any great story-telling heights. 15 year old Simon and his 12 year old sister Mag, done out of a mountain climbing expedition, are permitted a compromise vacation with their bulldoggy Aunt Flora, an artist, who shows unfulfilled promise of being a Margaret Rutherford sort of personality. Aunt Flora has absolutely forbidden any climbing while the children are in her care, but Simon can't stand being right within view of a tempting peak. Mag contrives an involved plan which includes getting them all up the slope, straightening out a quarrel between two guides and hence reuniting a pair of starcrossed lovers. It still seems unlikely even as it comes off. There are some nice descriptions of the Alpine peaks.