The prolific Eric Walters is known for action-adventure novels that appeal to boys, and his latest project, Seven (The Series), is no exception. The series comprises seven books, each written by a different author, linked by a grandfather character who has bequeathed an adventurous task to each of his seven grandsons. Walters’ instalment focuses on DJ, the oldest and most reliable of the boys, who receives a package from his late grandfather instructing him to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to scatter the patriarch’s ashes. Accepting the challenge, DJ heads off to Tanzania, confident that climbing a mountain can’t be much harder than playing football.

Of course, DJ soon discovers that climbing “Kili” is no easy task. Within hours of arriving in Africa, he has his gear stolen, unwittingly makes a troublesome bargain with a local girl, and ends up with a slow climbing partner four times his age. Things take a Jon Krakauer-esque turn when DJ gets a cloying headache and mountain sickness starts to affect the climbers. In his signature clear, concise style that prioritizes plot development, Walters, who climbed Kilimanjaro himself in researching the book, realistically communicates the details associated with summiting one the world’s tallest mountains (complete with unpleasant intestinal happenings).

Despite the challenges DJ faces during his climb, the stakes never feel particularly high. This may stem from the series’ premise: there is no money, property, or other incentive up for grabs, and the grandsons have little interaction with one another, limiting opportunities for bragging rights. Readers may be left wanting for the kind of drama and intrigue inherent in The 39 Clues series, The Billionaire’s Curse, or The Westing Game, which are similarly based on unusual last wills and testaments.

Complete with its own website and promotional campaign, Seven (The Series) practically guarantees a built-in readership from fans of the individual authors. Readers who love Walters’ previous work will not be disappointed in this instalment, which stands alone as a solid outdoor adventure story.