Peak by Roland Smith

Peak is his name, named by his mountain climbing parents. When he gets in trouble for climbing a skyscraper in New York City, he is picked up by his father, put through physicals and tests without explanation. Then the two fly to Nepal and Peak finds himself in the middle of "Peak Experiences", his father's mountaineering company and their expedition to the top of Mount Everest.

Grades 6-10.

Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

This is the story of Holling Hoodhood's seventh grade year at Camillo Junior High in 1967, highlighted by Wednesday afternoons, when Holling is left alone in Mrs. Baker's class while his classmates go to temple or catechism class. Excellent middle school fiction.