Tom Hornbein
Rising, by climber and guide Sharon Wood, captures a major breakthrough for women in high-stakes mountaineering. Her exploration not only of the climb itself but also of relationships, her passion for the mountains, and her own uncertainties make Rising an inspiring read for anyone pursuing their own sense of place on this lumpy planet.
Rocky Mountain Outlook
Wood’s Rising is a top-tier memoir. Her every sentence is precisely constructed, but with sureness and competence and never stiff or forced, just as her every foot and hand placement had to be on her solo climb of Tocllaraju in the Peruvian Andes via the steep, technical West Face.
Shelf Awareness - BrocheAroe Fabian
Written lyrically about the harsh natural environment and with unflinching candor about personal growth, Rising illustrates how social connections and support systems—essentially relationships of all kinds—can have lingering effects and shape the path to success.
Julie Summers
A simply riveting read that is a 'must' for all dedicated mountain climbing enthusiasts, ‘Rising: Becoming the First North American Woman on Everest’ is an extraordinary life story of an extraordinary woman.
Joanna Croston
Rising is a most welcome addition to the swaths of mountain literature about Himalayan exploration and exploits on Everest. Emotional, poetic and heartfelt, Rising proves that not only is Wood skilled when summiting peaks, her words on the page shine with integrity proving she is a force to be reckoned with as she sets a new bar for literature in conveying the truth of the mountaineering world.
Bernadette McDonald
More than a superb, nail-biting account of her ascent of Mount Everest, Rising is Sharon Wood's deeply personal reflection on loyalty, gratitude and the unbreakable bonds formed on the mountain.
Outside - Jayme Moye
Wood strives to answer tough questions—about risk, reward, and her motivation to climb mountains—with vulnerability and integrity.... Wood’s fiercely honest prose is finest when she’s narrating interactions between herself and her teammates on the mountain.... Wood innately understands that these intimate details provide the truest account of expedition life.
Cassidy Randall
Riveting.... [Wood] beautifully articulates the simplicity and euphoria of mountaineering that has addicted so many adventurers to the pursuit. And she captures the mythology of Everest, whose awe-inspiring capabilities, even after its commercialization in recent years, remain undiminished still.
The Seattle Times - Irene Wanner
Wood’s writing [is] both technically descriptive and personally revealing, a mix that sets it apart.... Her memoir is a spirited, perceptive account that’s been well worth the wait.
Alpinist - Sarah Boon
Rising is a gripping book—Wood openly shares her experience as a woman in climbing, and has a knack for writing compelling scenes that draw the reader in.
