Royal Robbins and Warren Harding were two wildly different men who loved the challenge posed by big walls of granite—some that had never been climbed! They paired up to attempt an epic climb on Half Dome. When they didn’t make it to the top, they went their separate ways and soon became fierce rivals, racking up first ascents around Yosemite Valley.

 This suspenseful, true story offers a fast-paced adventure with a dash of sports history and environmental awareness, told by Kate Messner—one of today’s foremost writers of nonfiction for young people—and climber-illustrator Stevie Lewis, whose love of the sport is on dazzling display. Readers will join the journey as the climbers chase their personal passion for thrilling exploits, which in turn showed the world the heights that are possible when there is someone pushing you to achieve.

 Perfect for:

• Fans of Kate Messner’s popular History Smashers series
• Fans of adventure stories, sports biographies, and national parks tales
• Teachers and librarians looking for picture books about nontraditional and action sports
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers searching for exciting nonfiction to engage young minds

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

KIRKUS REVIEWS, August 1, 2025 (Starred Review): “The Messner/Lewis team ascends to dizzying, breathtaking heights of text and art….Rivaling any photo, Lewis' images convey nail-biting, awe-inspiring feats. Messner’s riveting prose deftly distinguishes her subjects….An edge-of-your-seat story of human dedication and daring, in dramatic circumstances.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, July 2025: “The story demonstrates the power of friendly competition to help us (literally) reach new heights. . . . Messner's descriptive language and engaging narration bring readers close to the action, while digital illustrations make the majestic rock formations come alive for readers who have never had the pleasure of visiting them.”

BOOKLIST, August 2025: “Two athletes with wildly opposing personalities and guiding principles clashed while becoming titans in the field of big wall rock climbing, and Messner charts their fierce rivalry, plus a bit of sports history, through their failed attempts and first ascents…. A solid snapshot of climbing history and a safe addition to collections where athletic rivalries thrive.”

HORN BOOK, September/October 2025: ”The text evokes the drama of scaling a rock face . . . and draws readers in.” 

Kiss the Book Junior, July 2025: “I love seeing a book geared towards outdoor adventurers; kids love climbing so much.... great story-telling and engaging illustrations...and includes a lot more interesting information.” 

New York Times–bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books for kids who wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow, The Next Scientist, and The Scariest Kitten in the World, as well as novels for older readers, including Breakout and The Trouble with Heroes. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers illustrated nonfiction series and leads the multi-author team behind the chapter book series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class. She lives on Lake Champlain and is a proud Adirondack 46er. Stevie Lewis is an illustrator of more than 30 children’s books. After leaving her job in animation, she sold everything she owned, built out a van, and hit the road with rock climbing gear and a sketchbook. Over the next few years, she climbed in some of the most beautiful places in North America. When she’s not working on books, she also enjoys painting, hiking, and mountain biking. She lives in western Montana with her husband and baby.