First Ascent
The Epic Yosemite Rock-Climbing Rivalry of Royal Robbins and Warren Harding
Kate Messner author Stevie Lewis illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Yosemite Conservancy
Published:18th Sep '25
£14.99
Supplier delay - available to order, but may take longer than usual.
New York Times–bestselling author Kate Messner presents a daring game of one-upmanship that pushed the sport of rock climbing to new heights during the Golden Age of Yosemite climbing.
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.”
ISBN: 9781951179335
Dimensions: 279mm x 241mm x 10mm
Weight: unknown
54 pages