This is an awesome book in a series that I really enjoy. It has 7 books in the series and 7 different authors, which is such a great way to be exposed to different authors while still having a series to sink your teeth into. I really thoroughly enjoyed reading about the adventure and challenge that DJ is given. I think that it is a great story about a young man who wants to honor his loved grandfather and follow his wishes. As a media specialist in a 5th - 8th grade building, I really think that I can promote and suggests this book as well as the others in the series. It has a similar concept to the 39 Clues series which has been a very popular series in our building. The books are published by Orca Publishers which really appeals to reluctant readers. I am excited to read all of the rest of the books in the series. ( )

I read a mission filled book by Eric Walters, “Between Heaven and Earth”. This book is in a series about 7 grand children of David McLean who tried to spread David’s most important and meaningful personal belongings in this life all around the world after he died. They are named David “DJ”, Steve, Spencer, Bernard “Bunny”, Jim “Webb, Adam, and Rennie.

This book in the series is about David’s oldest 18-year-old grandson named DJ (real name is David, but I will call him DJ so you are not confused). His mission is to spread David’s ashes on the top of Mt. Kili (An abbreviation of Mt. Kilimanjaro) in Africa. Being part of the local tribe, the Chagga people, David believed in a superstition that the summit of Mt. Kili is in between Heaven and Earth.

At first, DJ thinks that it would be very easy and only take him about 3 days to get to the top and down the other side. What he doesn’t know is that 30% of climbers are rushed down. Unluckily, when DJ lands in Moshi a town near Mt. Kilimanjaro, a gang of boys steals his stuff and they run away. Helplessly, he walks to his hiking tour’s hotel and is greeted by Sarah, a bossy girl who is the daughter of the hiking tour guide. She helps him find the boys and he has to pay them everything he has.

After she helps him, he agrees that she will be his porter up the mountain. What he doesn’t know is that no woman has been a porter before. During the first day, DJ now realizes that climbing the mountain is a lot harder than he thought. The tour guide decides to cancel the journey because three people get mountain sickness and had to be rushed back down. DJ feels very upset because he can’t go up and spread his grandfather’s ashes. Then, he texts his twin brother Steve. Steve tells him that he can’t give up and he has to go up for Grandpa David. At the end, David reaches the top and spreads his ashes sadly but knowing that his Grandpa would always be with him.

My favorite character is Steve. Steve encourages David to make it to the top. Without his wise advice, I don’t think that David would have made it. I think that he must be a wise person. I wonder how he uses his courage to go through what he is doing is Spain (where he is for his grandpa’s Will). I think that what the author is trying to tell us is that we should do what we believe is the right thing to do and to listen to our best selves. We often tend to let the ideas of others influence us when we should believe in ourselves.

I like this book because it is about a person that learns that the world can be very hard. If I wrote this book, I would portray the porter’s rude attitude toward Sarah differently. I think this is wrong because people shouldn’t be judged by their gender.

I would recommend this book to kids 2nd to 4th grade. I would also rate this amazing book 7 out of 10. ( )

A wonderful YA story of a Canadian grandson who climbs Kilamanjaro to affirm his deceased Grandfather wishes. ( )

I received this book through LibraryThing Early reviewer.

It was OK. I found it to be some what boring, even though it was a quick and easy book to read. I fall outside the age group that this book is intended for and I'm sure if I was a "reluctant teen" I might have connected better with this book, however, it just wasn't for me. ( )

This book is perfect for reluctant readers at the middle to early high school level. Reminiscent of other stories where a teen has to overcome obstacles to deliver cremains to a unusual place (in this case, Mt. Kilimanjaro). D.J. finds that his arrogance and limitations stand in his way of achieving his goal. D.J. has to deals with his personal obstacles. Issues relevant to teens today. Author does a fantastic job with his attention to detail of the landscapes and scenes. I would recommend to high interest, low level students. They would enjoy this story. ( )