Thrilling adventure and chilling terror unfold in the telling of three real-life events. Read about the decades-long obsession by many climbers to be the first to reach the top of Mount Everest; the exploration of the Arctic, from the search for the Northwest Passage to the battle to be the first to reach the North Pole; and a modern-day hijacking by dangerous pirates who committed a crime at sea on behalf of a large, criminal group. Features include detailed maps, educational front/back matter, full-color illustrations, full-color photographs, glossary of key words, index, informative sidebars, primary-source text, sources for further research, suggested websites, and table of contents. Downloadable Teacher Notes available.