From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes the historical novel based on the life of Junko Tabei, the first female climber to summit Mount Everest.
Junko is bad at athletics. Really bad. Other students laugh because they think she is small and weak. Then her teacher takes the class on a trip to a mountain. It’s bigger than any Junko’s ever seen, but she is determined to make it to the top. Ganbatte, her teacher tells her. Do your best.
After that first trip, Junko becomes a mountaineer in body and spirit. She climbs snowy mountains, rocky mountains, and even faraway mountains outside of her home country of Japan. She joins clubs and befriends fellow climbers who love the mountains as much as she does. Then, Junko does something that’s never been done before… she becomes the first woman to climb the tallest mountain in the world.
Junko Tabei Masters the Mountains is the story of the first woman to climb Mount Everest. Even more than that, it's a story about conquering fears, personal growth, and never shying away from a challenge.
This historical fiction chapter book includes additional text on Junko Tabei’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to strengthen physical skills and conquer fears.
About the Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series
Meet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader!
Junko Tabei Masters the Mountains is a biography of mountaineer Junko Tabei aimed at middle grade readers. Due out 25 Feb 2020 from Rebel Girls, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardback and audio formats.
This is a biography which is factually based but also has allowed some (unspecified) changes for narrative flow. I liked that Junko wasn't naturally athletic or academically gifted. She worked for her progresses and when she had failures and setbacks, she picked herself up and tried again. Strength and conviction are a recurring theme in her life and I respect her determination.
Stories with strong and believable female role models are important and welcome for boys and girls alike. This is a well told biography of a subject who will be unfamiliar to the majority of readers. The art by Montse Galbany is colorful and engaging and illustrates the story well.
Well done and worthwhile. This would be a superlative choice for classroom, school library, gift, or personal library.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
