The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Smith, Roland. Peak. HarperCollins Publishers, 2007.

Roland Smith's novel Peak is written from the first person point of view of the protagonist Peak Marcello and employs the past and present tenses. For the sake of clarity, the following summary relies upon a linear model and the present tense.

Fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello lives in New York City with his stepmom Teri Marcello, his stepfather Rolf Young, and his six-year-old twin sisters Patrice and Paula Young. Peak often feels restless in his urban life and seeks out adventure by climbing skyscrapers. Teri and his biological father Joshua Wood, or Josh, were avid climbers before Peak's birth. Teri gave up the sport when she sustained an injury when Peak was a baby, but Josh is still climbing. Peak has not seen or heard from him in seven years, but admires his father's talent and devotion to the sport.

In March, Peak climbs the Woolworth Building in Manhattan and stencils his signature tag at the top. Then the NYPD shows up and arrests him. Peak is taken to Juvenile Detention, where his English teacher Vincent visits him and gives him two Moleskine notebooks. Vincent tasks Peak with writing a story in the notebooks so he can complete the year. Afterwards, Teri visits and confronts Peak about the mistakes he has made. Not long later, the family accompanies Peak to court. Peak is shocked to see Josh there and even more surprised when the judge agrees to lighten Peak's sentence if he leaves New York to be with his father in Tibet.

Peak says goodbye to his family and catches a flight with Josh. Josh is distant and distracted throughout the trip. When they reach Kathmandu, Josh tells Peak that he wants him to join him in climbing Mount Everest. Peak is confused and overwhelmed, but excited. Not long after reaching the first camp on Everest, Base Camp, Peak learns that Josh is in fact using him to advance his own business. Afraid of losing his climbing company Peak Experience, Josh thinks that helping Peak make the record for the youngest person to summit Everest will grant him the financial backing he needs. Peak feels hurt, but does not confront his father because he wants to be close to him.

The longer that Peak is on Everest, the less he sees of his father. Josh devotes his attention to his climbing clients instead of to his son, and makes little effort to get to know Peak. Meanwhile, Peak writes in his notebooks, sends letters home, and gets to know a young Tibetan climber named Sun-jo. He soon learns that Sun-jo is trying to break the same record and feels threatened. However, Sun-jo and Sun-jo's grandfather Zopa inform Peak that if Sun-jo achieves the goal, he will be able to return to school in India and receive the opportunities he needs to make a life for himself.

Peak, Sun-jo, and their guides, Yogi and Yash, head towards the summit. When they finally reach the top, Peak tells Sun-jo to go ahead and touch the summit pole. Peak hangs back and videos Sun-jo breaking the record. Afterwards, he descends the mountain and reflects on everything he has experienced. When he meets back up with Josh, he tells him that he is returning home to New York to be with his family. Peak has realized that he cannot change Josh and that he needs to invest in his relationships with Teri, Rolf, and the twins instead. Back in New York, Peak is thrilled to see his family again. He spends his first night home celebrating his and his sisters' birthdays, writing in his notebook, chatting with the twins, and reflecting on his recent adventures.