We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(2) Base camp
Jason's a great narrator. He speaks teen in an easily decipherable voice, and there aren't any big words. The only thing a reader might need to bring to this novel is some background in Judeo-Christianity. (Note: not Judo-Christianity. That is something entirely different). For those who don't know the Book of Genesis from the band Genesis, no worries—that's what Shmoop is here for. We've got your back… though not in a martial arts kinda way.