Himalaya

French translation, Himalaya, Nathan, Paris, 2006. This is another novel for ages 8 to 12, and the protagonists are the same children as in Lost at Sea. Again, nail biting adventure is combined with the complexity of love and loss in families. As with the previous book, the aim is to write a book in which the language is simple enough for people learning to read, but the emotional complexity is close to that found in serious adult novels. This means doing more with less, and relentlessly showing rather than telling. The previous novel concentrated on family dynamics. This one deals with love, lies and longing in families. But it opens the story out to explore the complex social relations between rich white climbers and Sherpas and porters on a Himalayan expedition. It also deals with the contradictions of masculinity for both men and boys, without ever losing the girls. This book and output 1 were well received. Publisher's Weekly called Lost at Sea "a white knuckle read" and the School Library Journal found it "a tense, exciting adventure story with likeable, believable characters".