First published 2020
William Finnegan built his life around surfing and won a Pulitzer Prize writing about waves. Then his teenage daughter Mollie discovers rock climbing and everything changes. She proves gifted at the sport while Finnegan struggles through an awkward apprenticeship. The usual roles reverse as Mollie becomes the teacher and her father the fumbling student. They start in climbing gyms and move to real rock faces in Central Park, Mexico, and Canada. Mollie transforms from a sports-averse teenager into a fierce climber who leads increasingly difficult routes. What starts as shared time becomes consuming passion as they chase harder problems and higher climbs. Finnegan confronts his physical limits while learning the specialized language of moves and rock types. The pursuit grows more dangerous as they tackle outdoor climbs with serious exposure. Fear and risk become constant companions. Through chalk-covered hands and muscle memory, father and daughter forge a new relationship built on trust, adventure, and the acceptance that falling is part of being human.
Genres: family-life, adventure, sports, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, role-reversal
Setting: Canada, Central Park, Mexico
Audio CD · Audible Studios on Brilliance Audio