76 pages • 2 hours read
Roland SmithPeak
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2007A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Themes
Friendship and Competition
Until he meets Sun-jo, there is no mention of Peak having friends. It is unclear whether this is because of his isolated upbringing or because he doesn’t know anyone else who climbs, but friendship with people outside his family is not something Peak either has or needs at the beginning of the novel. His easy and immediate camaraderie with Sun-jo implies that this has been lacking, even if he has not consciously felt it.
On one hand, Peak feels camaraderie with Sun-jo because they are both climbers of the same age. On the other, this puts them in direct competition with one another. Peak realizes this when he sees that Sun-jo is a serious climber, and Peak is excited that there is someone on the trip who will challenge him. It brings out his competitiveness, which can be a positive quality between friends if it helps them both achieve their goals and have fun. However, friends in competition with each other risk resentment and jealousy—even a possible end to their friendship—and this is what Peak experiences when he loses his place in the media spotlight to Sun-jo. He is even more gutted when he learns, or assumes, that Josh brought Sun-jo as Peak’s replacement in case Peak cannot make the climb. Though this proves to be untrue, it is another way in which competition threatens the boys’ friendship.
Peak’s decision at the end of the novel to let Sun-jo reach the summit proves that he has learned to value friendship over competition. His ability to motivate Sun-jo when Sun-jo thinks he can’t go any further and his filming of Sun-jo reaching the top so Sun-jo can use the footage for publicity show that Peak can use his competitiveness for good. He is no longer competing against Sun-jo: They are both competing with the mountain. Sun-jo goes from an adversary to a teammate when Peak realizes that Sun-jo needs his help to succeed. Having Sun-jo place Peak’s flag at the summit symbolizes the part Peak played in helping Sun-jo achieve his goal and shows that the journey was ultimately fulfilling for Peak as well.
Fatherhood’s Meaning
A number of characters in the novel represent different models of fatherhood: A large part of Peak’s coming-of-age process is choosing which father to see as a role model. At the same time, he must also learn to define himself as an individual with his own goals and values.
Peak’s misadventure with the skyscraper gives him the opportunity to reconnect with Josh, his estranged biological father. However, as he witnesses Josh’s self-serving nature, he realizes that Rolf, his stepfather, has the potential to be more of a father to him than his biological father ever will be. Rolf’s letter containing $300 and the message “come home” emphasizes to Peak how easy it would have been for Josh to show him the same level of care and concern. Peak’s argument with Josh about Josh’s lack of response to his letters is a key moment of emotional growth for Peak because he realizes that it is useless trying to get Josh to be the kind of father that Rolf already is. In Peak’s close relationship with Rolf and the twins, the novel shows that love is more important than biology in creating a supportive family.
Though Josh lacks character development, the narrative reveals that his motives are not completely selfish. His feeling of responsibility for Sun-jo’s father’s death is what prompts him to bring Sun-jo along on the trip. It is perhaps ironic that he shows a sense of responsibility for someone else’s family when he shows so little for his own. Even Josh’s selfless act is problematic: He finds a way to make sure Peak has an opportunity to finish the climb with Zopa, but he abandons him again in the process. This nevertheless displays selflessness: By leaving Peak and Sun-jo to take a different route, Josh gives up the chance to claim he took the youngest climber to the top of Mount Everest. This event also makes it clear that Peak will no longer attempt to pursue a relationship with Josh.
Zopa is the other primary father figure in the novel. Sun-jo lost his father on K2 and has been raised by Zopa, who, in his resourcefulness and willingness to lead by example, serves as a type of father figure to anyone who needs it. On the journey, Peak also learns from Zopa’s wisdom. For instance, after his excitement about all the gear Josh gives him for the climb, Zopa takes him through the process of replacing each of those items with more practical or appropriate ones. One of the most optimistic implications for Peak’s future is that even without Josh, he has enough positive male role models to become a good father himself.
Passion Versus Obsession
Passion and obsession, though seemingly similar, are fundamentally different in their nature and impact on individuals’ lives. Peak explores the fine line between passion and obsession as it relates to climbing, showing how the Everest climb affects each character’s life differently.
Before discussing the novel’s treatment of this theme, it’s important to have a working understanding of these terms. Passion is a positive, motivating force that drives individuals toward achieving goals, fostering growth, and experiencing fulfillment. It is characterized by enthusiasm, dedication, and a healthy balance between one’s interests and other aspects of life. Passionate individuals find joy and satisfaction in their pursuits, whether in careers, hobbies, or relationships. This enthusiasm often leads to personal and professional growth, as passion inspires creativity, perseverance, and a positive outlook.
In contrast, obsession is an intense, often unhealthy fixation on a particular subject or activity, characterized by compulsive behavior and a loss of balance in life. Unlike passion, obsession can be all-consuming, leading to neglect of other important areas such as health, relationships, and overall well-being. Obsessive individuals may experience anxiety, stress, and a lack of fulfillment, as their intense focus on a single aspect of life can lead to burnout. The compulsive nature of obsession can also result in negative consequences, such as strained relationships, decreased productivity, and mental health issues.
Peak shows signs of treating climbing as an obsession rather than a passion. Peak’s obsession with climbing and need for its adrenaline rush lead him to attempt the dangerous, illegal act of climbing skyscrapers. In New York, he no longer has climbing as a healthy outlet as he did in Wyoming, and his sense of dislocation leads him to seek a compromise, whether it is sustainable or not. The key difference between passion and obsession lies in control and balance. In New York, Peak cannot find this balance, and this is why he jumps at the chance to accompany Josh back to Nepal.
Climbing is also an obsession rather than a passion for Josh. Passionate individuals maintain control over their pursuits, integrating them harmoniously into their lives. They can step back and enjoy other activities, ensuring a well-rounded existence. This is how Teri relates to climbing. Though she valued her climbing career and was highly skilled, she realized being there for her family was more important after her injury. Josh could not make the same transition and left Teri and Peak to pursue his climbing career. By the end of the novel, Peak has learned to experience climbing as a passion rather than an obsession; it is part of a fulfilling life that includes caring for his family rather than a pursuit that leads him to isolate himself as Josh does.
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