Life Changes In Roland Smith's Novel Peak

Life changes. Everybody goes through experiences in their life that changes them and sculpts them into the person they are today. Roland Smith’s novel Peak tells the adventure of fourteen year old Peak who rebels against modern society in order to fulfill what he was “born” to do. Being the son of two of the ‘arguably’ best rock climbers in the world. The Novel opens to Peak committing a felony by vandalising a skyscraper in the city of New York with his signature blue mountains. Later he finds out because of him another boy was killed trying to climb the same skyscraper but falling to his death instead. After sending him to court his father took custody over him and moved back to Thailand, at least that was his intentions. Later Peak finds

He grows up in Wyoming, a very flat and miserably cold town, where the only way he can do what he was bred to do is climb walls and structures. As he gets older though that doesn't suit his fancy anymore. After a divorce he is relocated to New York city. This isn’t much better than Wyoming. He then turns to rebelling and climbing dangerous structures. Here Smith is setting the groundwork for us to understand Peaks actions and just how he grew up and his way of thinking. However when he does go to climb Mount Everest his growth as a person really takes off. Using these settings, he creates this relatable character. Many people always complain that if one thing was different in their life it would be so much better. As if not being there is the only thing holding them back. Not their drive, actions, or thought process makes a difference in how their life unfolds. Look at your own life. Yes, we all wish something could be different but that's not the problem. As a person they have to decide to be there, we are not always dealt the cards we want. In order to get the hand we want we might have to learn how to count cards. That's all life is about and sometimes you count those cards wrong. There is always the probability that things won't go your way. But if you keep counting those cards in your head even with the misdraw then you start to find your way through life just like Peak did. Peak

The characters tell the story obviously but the choice of characters has more impact than most people realize. For example, why was a monk chose to mentor Peak and not his father? I mean he is “arguably” the best climber in the world,right ? Wouldn't it make sense for his father to take him up the summit and reconnect with his son. This was the first time in years that they even have been in contact much less interacting with each other. But i believe his father saw much more than that. I think he saw what road his son was going down and gave up time with his son to become the best version of himself. Truly a selfless act. His father was the role model in the plot without even knowing it. Then he brings in Sun-jo. Sun being a few months younger than Peak gave him a person to connect with. If I was dropped off with a monk in the middle of an unfamiliar setting I feel I would be a bit shy too! However Sun impacted Peak by showing peak just who he was becoming. The harsh words he said were well needed. Many people need to hear what everyone tiptoes around to open their eyes and understand that there needs to be a change no matter how difficult. Smith understands how society works and being a more modern novel he notices how much every tiptoes around subjects. But with his development of characters he opens the reader's eyes to what society has tucked away. We see in