Banner In The Sky is an amazing acount of a fictional mountain climbing expedition based in historical accounts of the conquer of the Matterhorn. The protagonist, 16-year-old Rudi Matt, is forced to wash dishes in a hotel instead of following his true dream; climbing the Citadel, the very mountain that had claimed his father's life fifteen years ago. The antagonist is, obviously, the Citadel herself, the last unconquered peak in the area. Although an overprotective mother and uncle also get in the way of Rudi's dream. When Rudi finally gets a chance to join the expedition up the mountain, he shows everyone that he is determined to complete the journey his father started. Rudi's journey is a journey of faith and stamena and also forgiveness and loyalty. These values are all summed up in the red shirt that Rudi carries with him to place at the peak of the Citadel; the very shirt his father wore the night he died before giving it up so that another man could live. This book is all about following your dreams, but also about the fact that one must work hard to achieve those dreams. James Ramsey Ullman combines history with an extraordinary account of the happenings in the small village of Kurtall in the Swiss Alps. For me the highlight of the book was a Rudi's nighttime encounter with the spirit of his father as he sits in the very spot that claimed his father's life. A chilling and magical scene.

My friend told me that Banner in the Sky is a very good book, well I'm here to vouch for that. Banner in the Sky is the most intriguing story I have ever read. James R. Ullman's book is about a legend, named Josef Matt, whose son is determined to climb the mountain that Josef died on. If Rudi Matt can do this, if he can climb the Citadel, he will be the first one ever to climb it. But in all good stories there's a catch, Rudi's mom and uncle won't let him climb the mountain because of his father's death. Plus Rudi is not built to climb! Along the way Rudi meets Captain John Winter, the best climber of his day. The Captain gives Rudi his chance to climb, but will he? Banner in the sky is a gut-wrenching story about sheer will and determination. My recommendation, simple, if you ever have had parental problems (and I know you have) then this is your book!

This was one of the best books I've read, and I've read some really good books,but this was probably the best.It was so good, I plan on reading it again. It's about a 16 year old boy named Rudi Matt. His dream is to climb a mountain called the Citadel in the Alps. His dad died on it right after Rudi was born.He wants to get to the top to put his dad's red shirt on the summit.The ending was the most tense spot in the book. If you like mountain stories, this is the book for you,but even if you have never read one before, like me, I still recommend it. If I were you I would plan on buying it.

The White Tower was written towards the end of WW2 & set in that time period. Although the book hinges on a rather fantastic coincidence right from the start, if you go along with it it's a good story & well-written. Ullman gathers together a number of characters struggling with their role (or lack of role) in the war, and sets his main character, Ordway, to collect them all together in an attempt to conquer an unclimbed peak (the Weissturm or White Tower). Since the group includes an Austrian who fled from her Nazi husband, an Englishman who failed repeatedly on Everest & who was unable to force himself to join in the war, a Frenchman who deserted & retreated with all his wordly goods, a confirmed Nazi on leave, an American who crashed his plane nearby (Ordway himself) and a local Swiss guide trying to do what he can while his country remains neutral, the dynamics are quite interesting & Ullman does a good job while not caving in to stereotypes too much. Tensions mount as they struggle up the mountain and the effort & altitude take their toll (those who've read "Into Thin Air" will recognize some of the symptoms, although the Weissturm is not exceedingly high), but the characters remain true to themselves and the end rings true. For climbers, it's also an interesting window on what climbing used to be, with a strong emphasis on "the fellowship of the rope." I'd recommend it!