High as a Hawk by T. A. Barron (2004) is based on the true story of Enos Mills, a famous mountain guide who founded the Rocky Mountain National Park. While doing research on Mills, the author came upon a letter written by an eight-year-old girl named Harriet Peters. Turns out Mills guided Harriet to the summit of Longs Peak. In September 1905, she became “the youngest person ever to reach the 14,255-foot summit of Longs Peak.”
Ted Lewin’s paintings are lovely. They capture the people and the majesty of the trail. Mills and Peters encounter “surprises” on their journey: a herd of elk, winds, rocks that wobble beneath their feet, and even snow. Just as Harriet is about to give up, they’ve reached the top. Harriet feels “‘High as a hawk.’”
