"My Side of the Mountain" is a classic novel by Jean Craighead George that tells the story of Sam Gribley, a young boy who runs away from his crowded city life to live in the wilderness of the Catskill Mountains. Sam learns to survive on his own, befriends a falcon named Frightful, and explores the challenges and rewards of living off the land. The book captures Sam's journey of self-sufficiency, connection with nature, and the importance of human companionship, all while showcasing themes of survival, independence, and adventure.
The plot unfolds as Sam navigates the harsh winter, builds a home in a tree, and learns valuable skills for survival, such as hunting for food and making tools. The writing style of the book is engaging and thought-provoking, with vivid descriptions of Sam's experiences in the wilderness, his interactions with animals, and his personal growth throughout the story. Readers are taken on a captivating journey alongside Sam as he discovers the beauty and challenges of living in harmony with nature.
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From The Publisher:
Fifteen-year-old Sam Gribley has decided to run away from his crowded apartment home, but unlike most kids who rarely get beyond their block, Sam goes from New York City all the way to the ruined farm of Great-grandfather Gribley in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There are no buildings or people on the old Gribley farm, so Sam sets up residence by hollowing out the trunk of an ancient Hemlock tree. He has brought only a few tools of survival with him: a penknife, a ball of cord, an ax, 40 dollars, and some flint and steel to help him make fire. Using these simple tools and his wits, Sam learns to live off the land, and in the course of a year, discovers just how much he values freedom, independence, and adventure when faced with the challenges of blizzards, loneliness and fear.
Jean Craighead George is particularly adept in her use of animal characters, whose actions and habits communicate as much as if they were imbued with the unrealistic ability to speak. Sam's pet falcon, Frightful, for example, is a lively and complex companion, as is The Baron, a humorous weasel who lives nearby.
This Newberry Honor Book combines recipes, drawings, diary entries and narration to create an enthralling portrait of a boy's self-sufficiency. Outdoor lovers will find lots of information about survival skills, and all readers will identify with Sam's ups and downs as he lives out every child's secret dream. For those who would enjoy reading more about Sam and Frightful, George has penned a sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain, as well as the final book in the trilogy, told from the falcon's point of view, Frightful's Mountain.
Ratings (36)
Incredible (10) | |
Loved It (16) | |
Liked It (6) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (74):
Read It (38) | |
Want To Read (18) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (17) |
1 comment(s)
A quaint story from a bygone era. I did not remember or anticipate that ending.
What can you read after
My Side of the Mountain?
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