NO BARRIERS (THE YOUNG ADULT ADAPTATION)

An adaptation for teens of blind sportsman Weihenmayer’s 2017 memoir of the same name.

The prologue offers a brief overview of Weihenmayer’s life, from losing his vision completely just before entering high school to his accomplishment as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest in 2001. The leader of this expedition told him not to make Everest the greatest thing he ever did, so the following year, he made another mark, becoming the first blind person to scale all of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent. When a young quadruple amputee working toward his goal of climbing Kilimanjaro inspires Erik to solidify his own dream of kayaking the Grand Canyon, he begins several years of grueling preparation. A year before embarking on the trip, he’s dismayed to find out he won’t be the first blind person to kayak all 277 miles of the Grand Canyon, but he pushes his jealousy aside and invites the man, retired Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell, to join his all-male team. Weihenmayer’s voice is clear, direct, and honest, and his descriptions of learning how to navigate white water rapids as a blind person vividly convey his frustrations and triumphs. This story of human versus nature will appeal to readers who enjoy wilderness and survival stories.

A gripping tale for dreamers, thinkers, and adventurers.