Peak by Roland Smith

Fourteen-year-old Peak gets arrested for climbing tall buildings in New York City. After this, he is sent to live with his dad, who is a mountain climber, in Thailand. When he gets there, Peak discovers that his dad wants him to become the youngest person to climb Mount Everest. This amazing adventure story is about his climb, and the relationships he makes along the way. After reading this book, you will have a good idea of what it takes to climb very tall mountains! Peak is on the 2012 Rebecca Caudill list and is recommended for students in grades 5 and up.

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

This historical fiction novel is set during the Revolutionary War. Samuel (age 13), returns from hunting one day to find his village burned and his parents gone, presumably kidnapped by British soldiers and Iroquois Indians! He must use his survival and hunting skills to track down his parents and rescue them from their kidnappers. At the end of each chapter, Gary Paulsen adds facts about what it was like to live during that time. Because this book is set during the war, there are a few fighting scenes that are graphic. Recommended for grades 6 and up. Woods Runner is on the 2012 Rebecca Caudill list.