Dixon, Descending

DEBUT Outen’s first novel presents a solid story of how family dynamics impact an individual life. Free-flying older brother Nate keeps pushing his younger brother Dixon to join him in his quest to be the first Black American to reach the summit of Mount Everest. An almost-Olympian, Dixon is now a middle school psychologist with a daughter in college. The athlete’s passion in Dixon wars with his responsibilities to his students and family. He does get swept up in Nate’s enthusiasm, though, and agrees to accompany him on his Everest expedition. The brothers find themselves at the foot of the mountain, then making the agonizing climb and a disastrous decision to push on to the summit. Returning home with a broken body and spirit, Dixon struggles to adapt to his physical challenges while he searches for purpose in his new reality. The narrative alternates between past and present; the vivid imagery of Nepal, the harrowing circumstances, and the stunning landscapes provide a counterpoint to the characters’ lives back home.