One Hold at a Time

Name: One Hold at a Time
Author: Lucy Marlowe

A Climbing Adventure in Yosemite

Ages 4–8
30 pages
8.5 × 8.5 in
Paperback
Coming soon

Tell me when it's out

Mila Wilder is NOT scared of anything. At least, that's what she tells everyone.

But halfway up a granite wall in Yosemite, with her leg shaking and the ground far below, Mila finds out that the bravest thing a climber can say is three little words.

A sun-drenched adventure about courage, honesty and friendship, with real facts about Yosemite, rock-climbing safety, peregrine falcons and the Miwuk people who call the valley home.

“One hold at a time.”

Look inside

A first look

Long weekend at Grandma Jo's den. — “Long weekends meant Grandma Jo's house, and pancakes for dinner.”

Mila zooms up the easy route, quick as a squirrel, and stands at the top of the slab with a fist in the air ("I go TEN at a time!"). — “Mila's turn!”

Close and quiet: "I'm fine," she whispered. — “…and the holds ran out.”

Author's direction: the whole spread is just Mila's triumph. — “In the morning, Mila tied in again, with Moose zipped into a carrier on her back. Lena held her rope.”

1 / 4

At the back of the book

Real facts, real safety, real questions

Mila's Field Notes

True things about Yosemite Valley, California, inside the book:

El Capitan
The Miwuk people
Peregrine falcons
Camp 4
Climbing calls

belay · holding the rope for a climberTake! · pull the rope snug and hold meTu-tok-a-nu-la · the Miwuk name for El Capitanportaledge · a hanging tent for sleeping on a cliff

Moose's Safety Rule

Check your knot. Then check your buddy's knot. Then ask a grown-up to check both. Woof!

Talk About It

Five questions for after the last page:

Have you ever said "I'm fine" when you weren't? What happened?
Why did Mila go off to the side, away from her rope?
What changed the second time Mila climbed the hard route?
How did Lena help Mila get unstuck? How did Moose help?
Grandma Jo said "Every time." What do you think she meant?

New friends

Who Mila meets in Yosemite Valley

Local friend

Lena

9, Southern Sierra Miwuk; has climbed at Swan Slab since she was five; reads routes from the ground; "Everybody's scared of something."

Mentor

Uncle Ray

Lena's uncle, Southern Sierra Miwuk, certified climbing guide; checks everything twice; wisdom line: "Everybody gets scared up there. The brave part is saying so."

Elder

Grandma Rose

Lena's grandmother (about Jo's age); shares the acorn rocks and the Tu-tok-a-nu-la story; holds Moose's leash at the crag; remembers Jo

Next adventure