Walters, Eric. Between Heaven and Earth. (Seven the Series.)

Walters, Eric.  Between Heaven and Earth. (Seven the Series.)     Orca  245p  $9.95 978-1-55469-941-4       2012  ms/hs   E-BN    Realistic Fiction

DJ is the oldest of seven cousins.  He is a natural leader and very self sufficient.  When Grandpa dies, he leaves a will that gives each cousin the gift of a trip and a task to perform.  DJ is to scatter some of Grandpa’s ashes on the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  At first he hates flying, but he survives three different flights.  Once he is in Africa, all his belongings are stolen, and he has to buy them back with the help of Sarah, the granddaughter of his father’s friend.  Then she insists on being his porter on the climb.  She would be the first female porter, as well as the youngest porter on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

On the climb, DJ finds that his size, which is great for football, could be a problem for climbing a mountain.  He stops each time Doris, a mature female member of the party, needs to stop, but soon DJ has to admit that he needs the stops just as badly as she does.  When others in the group need to be taken down the mountain quickly, DJ, Doris and Sarah disobey the head guide (which he expected) and proceed to the summit. 

DJ learns that he needs to follow directions, eat some humble pie, and accept help from others.

This novel is well written.  The speech patterns of the local Tanzanians sound British.  The action on the mountain shows that the author completed his own climb and knew of what he wrote.  The novel provides enough excitement and action, with some lessons as well.   Seven the Series consists of seven titles, each by a different author, one for each grandson and the special trip/quest he is to undertake.   

Mt. Kilimanjaro–Fiction, Adventure-Fiction                  --Joan Theal