BOOK REVIEW

Book: Climb by Philip Barker (U.S.)
Book: www.philipbarkerwrites.com (AU)
Review By: Keith Bell

As a primary student many, many years ago, I walked to school through Ryde Park in Sydney. I always made a point to swing on the monkey bars in the morning and spent the afternoon climbing trees on the way home, particularly in cicada season. At the time, I was completely unaware that these activities were the precursors of my long climbing career. I was pleased that Ashley Davies, the principal player in Philip Barker’s novel Climb, had similar metallic and arboreal predilections destined to be assuaged in a similar manner.

As the name suggests, this novel is about climbing but undertakes a long and thought-provoking journey to reach this summit. There is much to like as Ashley faces the trials and tribulations associated with the pressures of family, friends, teachers and small-town attitudes while embarking on her largely secretive climbing career.

I found further personal parallels with this story. After I attained the Scout Rock Climbing Badge, my mother made me promise that I would never climb again. Needless to say, like Ashley I hid my ascent activities until a friend asked me in front of my mother if I had packed the rope prior to us heading out for another weekend "bushwalking trip."

I really enjoyed Ashley’s long journey to her first climbing competition in Bathurst. The plot unfolds a slow burn of long-held secrets and important knowledge finally exposed at the Competition. Their effects are far-reaching as the accompanying despair, ignorance, and bullying are finally exposed and despatched. It was fascinating to see many characters unveiled in their true light, perhaps still flawed, but more personable and likable. What Philip Barker has presented is a suspenseful and descriptive coming-of-age story with a strong female lead that readily kept me turning pages in order to read the next twist or revelation.

​However, what about the climbing? Well, it is there from the very start in an Important Message from the author that states:

“Rock climbing is a [potentially] dangerous activity that without proper training, can cause severe injury and fatalities.”

Fortunately Ethan, the school’s groundkeeper, recognised Ashley’s climbing abilities and became her mentor. He was later assisted in this process by an unexpected associate. I was pleased to see the initial message also gave prospective climbers the following advice.

“Do not begin rock climbing unless under the instruction of a professional, qualified mountaineering guide.”

Those readers who do not climb are well catered for by a useful climbing vocabulary before the start of the text. The author has also placed footnotes throughout, explaining the technical climbing terms used. I think that many readers will find these valuable.

By now, readers have probably gleaned that Ashley experiences a rocky path to ascend towards her ultimate goal – to qualify in the competition at the Bathurst Show. Interwoven secrets, incidents, relationships, aptitudes as well as pitfalls are skilfully and gradually revealed to reach a crescendo at the Bathurst Show. Like any good piece of music or writing, the ending left me with a warm glow and a smile on my face. How did she go you may well ask? Here I have to be a spoilsport and suggest that you read the book.

Certainly, one of Ashley’s pitfalls along the way can be attributed to her lack of experience and poor decision-making. Again, it is worth recounting the words of the author when he states:

“The situations and events that take place in this novel are entirely fictional and not intended to be enacted in real life.”

This is sage advice given the author’s target audience of 7 to 18 years.

In a previous article I once wrote the following:

“I suppose anybody who has climbed for any length of time has some skeletons in the cupboard. By this I mean an incident or decision that took them to the edge in more ways than one.”​

Illustration of the lead character Ashley. (Credit: Katrina Churchill)

Ashley certainly racks up her own share of skeletons, unexpectedly performed on steel structures. Her first trial on a water tower is impulsive and poorly thought out. And, as the author warns should not be enacted by anybody in real life. The second is carried out on a steel structure at the Show. This time, although dangerous, it is well thought out (almost) and is undertaken to save a good friend’s life. ​

Ashley’s growth throughout the story is heartwarming, and it was great to see that young love has a way of improvising. The solution to carry out the rescue honours a unique Australian climbing icon and can be found on the front cover of the book – I’ll leave that one hanging too!
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Keeping in mind the warning from the author, let me point out a concern that I have with Ashley’s first abseil (rappel). While Mr. Mayberry quite rightly gives her the appropriate gear and explains its use, he then moves off to stabilise and control her descent from below. Ashley is left to set up and start the descent alone. Going over the edge is the hardest part of any abseil as Ashley found out with much apprehension and concern.

”What if I hadn’t tied it correctly? What if I didn’t attach the anchor correctly? What if it slipped? She turned and looked over the edge. It, [The bottom of the cliff] looked miles away.”

Somebody being there and providing a top rope helps to overcome the fear and unsteadiness associated with starting the drop on a first abseil or rappel. Once over the edge and fully on the rope, abseiling becomes a breeze. At the bottom Mr. Mayberry handed her a bag full of chalk and announced, "Let’s get climbing!" (1)

Climb is a gripping and entertaining book that I am sure will appeal to its target audience as well as to many adults. Its resilient young female aspirant surrounded by many strong and interesting characters caught in diverse domestic and social situations carried my interest throughout. The book is the first of a trilogy and I look forward to reading and reviewing the next Ashley adventure - Climb Harder.

Philip Barker, author of the teen-fiction novel "Climb." (Photo Credit: Philip Barker Collection)

(1) Chalk is mentioned here and later on in the text. While it is widely used in contemporary climbing, for some its use is controversial particularly when used outdoors. The latter are offended by the white smear marks that build up on formerly pristine rock and the visual environmental degradation that it causes. I (the reviewer) do not carry a chalk bag or use chalk.