The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong

Losing your mother and home then becoming lost at sea and stranded on a desert island may be a bit much for any teen, or any adult even, to handle. That is the situation in which Ben and his two brothers, Gerry and Dylan, find themselves. When their mother dies in a car accident, the boys and their father are unable to bear their grief. Ben's father goes off the deep end and sells their home so they can sail for a year around the Bahamas. Ben is not happy with his father's decision, and this creates a rocky relationship between them. Being stuck on a small sailboat with three others who are not getting along can make for a very long year at sea. It turns out they do not get stuck together for a year on the boat. Instead, the Ben's father disappears off of the boat and is lost at sea, leaving Ben to take care of his brothers and the boat. Then a storm shipwrecks the boys on a desert island. Ben finds himself in the role of father to his brothers. Each brother has his own troubles surviving on the island between accidents and just plain going insane.

The book is a fast read, mainly because it is a page turner. You will be dying to find out if the boys make it off of the island alive. Some parts are predictable, and I became a little tired of the constant reminders of the family's grief over the loss of their mother (yeah, kind of cold- I know). However, the book is definitely worthwhile. I recommend for a pleasurable summer read for guys and girls.

Book; 12+; ISBN 9780670063307; New York : Viking Childrens Books, 2008

Peak by Roland Smith

Have you ever dreamed of being the first to do something? Or to just plain do something that very few people get to do? Peak Marcello finds himself in just that position. Born to famous, rock climbing parents, Peak has inherited their love of rock climbing. However, he and his mother have moved from Wyoming to New York City to live with his step-father, and New York City is not exactly a rock climber's paradise. Peak turns to climbing sky scrapers instead, and, to add some excitement, he leaves secret tags on his conquests. Climbing sky scrapers is illegal, and one day he is caught and thrown in juvenile hall with the possibility of spending years in jail. Lucky for Peak, his long absent father steps in and strikes a deal with the judge: Peak will leave the United States, and the media blitz his actions have caused, to join his father in Thailand. However, when Peak lands in Thailand, he finds that his father has other plans for him. Peak will become the youngest person to ever reach the peak of Mount Everest. Peak jumps at the chance, but soon learns that his father has his own motivations for getting Peak to the top. Furthermore, one of Peak's father's guides has his own plan for getting another young man to the top. Climbing Mount Everest takes a great amount of ambition, and some are more ambitious than others. The preparation for ascending Mt. Everest can be more difficult than the actual push to the top. There are so many obstacles in Peak's way. Will he make it? Will he even survive the treacherous climb in a place that even stepping out of your tent to go to the bathroom can mean your death?

Peak is a page turner with just the right amount of suspense and danger. You don't need to know anything about mountain climbing as Smith describes everything you need to know without going into too much detail. I recommend this book for everybody, not just adventure junkies and/or guys. It is a quick read that will keep you guessing until the end.

Book; 12+; ISBN 9780152024178; Orlando, FL : Harcourt Children's Books, 2007

Leonardo’s Shadow, or, My Astonishing Life as Leanardo da Vinci’s Servant by Christopher Grey

Giacomo has no idea who he is, including his real name. His last memory is of running from a mob who thought he was a thief. As he falls off a rooftop in trying to escape his pursuers, he is rescued by Leonardo da Vinci, the great Italian painter and inventor. This is a story of Giacomo’s quest to discover who he really is and of da Vinci’s creation of his masterpiece, The Last Supper. Da Vinci is horribly in debt and must finish The Last Supper before the Duke of Milan gives up on him and hires Michelangelo to finish the painting. He is already two years behind in working on the painting. Giacomo has a plan to help da Vinci get the painting finished and please the Duke of Milan before he becomes penniless. In the meantime, Giacomo is sure that da Vinci know the secret of his past, but why won’t da Vinci tell him? Furthermore, da Vinci refuses to give Giacomo painting lessons even though he works with pampered and spoiled young nobles to teach them an art they will never truly appreciate. Giacomo is determined to have his questions answered and to gain da Vinci’s trust.

The book is a great story that gives insight into da Vinci’s life and 15th century Milan. Giacomo tells the story as if you are living each step with him. If this were a movie, he would be speaking to the camera much of the time. The book is an easy read, but older teens will be able to enjoy it as much as younger teens. It's a must read for those who like to read historical fiction in order to learn more about certain time periods and historical figures. If you plan to travel to Italy someday, you may enjoy it for the location as well.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-1416905448; New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006