What’s on top of Danger Peak? That’s what 13-year-old Robert Kin and his two best friends, wisecracking and loyal Chris and sweet but put-upon Rinnie, want to find out in their small suburban town of the late 1980s. The three teens are members of the motorbike-racing club the Wild Boars, and with the unintentional help of their eccentric technology teacher Dr. Howard (who prefers to be called “Doctor,” not “Mister,” thank you very much), they build Robert a better, faster, and stronger dirt bike—piece by piece. Haunted by flashbacks of his older brother Danny, who died trying to scale Danger Peak the year before, Robert becomes obsessed with conquering the magical mountain. For the respect of his friends and school, and with the aid of his improved Action Bike, he discovers what lies beyond the peak of the mountain—and maybe even beyond the bounds of Earth itself. Filled with humor, adventure, and, most importantly, heart, Danger Peak is an inspiring story about what it takes to achieve your dreams—and what it means to feel alive.
Gold Book Award
Perone sets up the perfect teenage boy crusade in these pages, packed with dirt bike racing, mechanical know-how, a dash of romance, and even some high-speed chases, all under the guise of Robert’s quest to “conquer the mountain that had conquered his brother.” …In the end, this feel-good tale on how to handle grief, accompanied by a crash course on refusing to give up your dreams, will please younger readers.
—Publishers Weekly
Perone immediately engages the reader… A compelling bildungsroman about grief and finding wisdom.
—Kirkus Reviews
Perone weaves a compelling tale of one young boy’s coming-of-age journey in his engrossing debut… A dash of magical realism adds to the intrigue, and themes of teenage angst, friendship, bullying, grief, understanding, acceptance, and sibling bonds are beautifully woven into the narrative. A gripping, raw read.
—The Prairies Book Review
Danger Peak is a feel-good coming-of-age story… Readers are taken on an adventure filled with nostalgia, courage, and determination… The characters are well developed, and the author perfectly portrays the teenage attitude where all kids want to do is hang out with friends and have a good time, making this a relatable read to young readers… Danger Peak is an entertaining, page-turning read that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. 5 out of 5 stars.
—Literary Titan
Danger Peak now available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon:
Michael Thomas Perone 