45 pages 1 hour read

Jordan Romero

No Summit Out Of Sight: The True Story Of The Youngest Person To Climb The Seven Summits

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Middle Grade | Published in 2014

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Background

Cultural Context: Mountain Climbing and Extreme Sports

Mountaineering culture is defined by strength, community, and international camaraderie. Along his journey, Jordan meets countless people from around the world who congratulate and encourage him. He befriends all sorts of people that he would never otherwise meet. Many youths like Jordan are drawn to mountain climbing and other extreme sports because it provides a strong rush of adrenaline and a sense of purpose: Accomplishing dangerous or risky feats brings a sense of pride that few other things do. Skateboarding, mountain biking, and inline skating are examples of other popular extreme sports that have a strong appeal for youths and young adults. Jordan uses this general interest in extreme sports to inspire kids to reach their goal, whatever it may be, and emphasizes the importance of training and support when undertaking any extreme risk.

Historical Context: The History of Mountain Climbing

People have been climbing mountains for thousands of years, and in past eras the primary purpose was often to create a settlement, see the land, or perform religious ceremonies and rituals. In Tibet, for instance, before Chinese occupation, more than six thousand monasteries existed, many of which were situated high in the mountains. Some of the less reachable monasteries still exist today, but most were destroyed in the 1950s and beyond.