THE MOUNTAIN

A lively and inspirational coming-of-age tale from Rachel House as three kids–a cancer patient, a friendless boy honoring the memory of his mother, and a self-appointed “guardian of Mother Earth”--go on an adventure to try to ascend, off the beaten track, Mt. Taranaki, the second highest mountain on North Island. Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside of her Māori culture, is determined to fulfill her mission of connecting with her mountain in the hope they can heal her from the cancer she battles. Along the way, she meets some misfits and new kids in town: Mallory, who hopes to really find any kind of friends, and Bronco, who claims to be a runaway from his Dad who is too busy to notice him. As they make their way through the difficult “off the beaten track” route, they learn the true spirit of adventure and the magic of friendship.