My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Title:   My Side of the Mountain

Author:  Jean Craighead George

Publisher: Puffin Books        Year:  2004  c1959

ISBN:  0-14-240111-0

Genre: Fiction/Adventure/Survival

This book is for Ages: 8 and up

Awards: Newbery Honor Book

AR Points:  6.0         

Subjects/Themes: Survival/Adventure/Wilderness/Self-reliance

Plot Summary:   Sam Gribley runs away from his crowded New York apartment to live on his grandfather’s land in the Catskill Mountains.  He makes his home in a tree and becomes friends with a weasel, raccoon and other animals.  His best friend Frightful, a pet falcon becomes his hunting partner.  Sam lives an exciting life in the wilderness, fishing hunting and gathering food and firewood to prepare for the cold winter.  Will Sam survive the winter?  Will the rumors of the “Wild Boy” bring the city to Sam’s mountain?

Review:  This is a great story.  Sam is a wonderful kid who just wants to live away from the crowds and the city.  He is smart and learns new things from the animals about how to survive in his new environment.  The language is beautifully descriptive.  Sam teaches us so many wonderful things about living in the forest, raising a falcon, and the value of community.

If you like this book you may also like:  The Hatchet, By Gary Paulsen,