Helpful Score: 3
This was my favorite book from childhood, and one which I later read to my own children. Unfortunately, I lost my copy in a fire about ten years ago. So, imagine my surprise when for my birthday last year my girlfriend presented me with an autographed and inscribed copy of all three of the books in this series! She remembered what I told her about the book, located the author, explained my history with the book, and the author sent me a new copy, autographed and including a note thanking me for being so devoted to the book.
The book itself is the first of the "My Side of the Mountain" trilogy, and introduces the wonderful character of Sam Gribley, a young boy from New York City who runs away to the Catskill mountains, to live on the land owned by his family. His adventures, and the lessons he learns as he grows to be a young man, have captured the hearts of generations of children. But no matter what your age, you owe it to yourself, and to your children, to sit down and share this tremendous story with them. It took Jean 40 years to complete the trilogy, and it was well worth the wait.
The book itself is the first of the "My Side of the Mountain" trilogy, and introduces the wonderful character of Sam Gribley, a young boy from New York City who runs away to the Catskill mountains, to live on the land owned by his family. His adventures, and the lessons he learns as he grows to be a young man, have captured the hearts of generations of children. But no matter what your age, you owe it to yourself, and to your children, to sit down and share this tremendous story with them. It took Jean 40 years to complete the trilogy, and it was well worth the wait.
Sheryl O. (Everett-Reader) reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 216 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I loved this book as a kid!
Amazon.com
Every kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going--all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel for companions and his wits as his tool for survival. In a spellbinding, touching, funny account, Sam learns to live off the land, and grows up a little in the process. Blizzards, hunters, loneliness, and fear all battle to drive Sam back to city life. But his desire for freedom, independence, and adventure is stronger. No reader will be immune to the compulsion to go right out and start whittling fishhooks and befriending raccoons.
Jean Craighead George, author of more than 80 children's books, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves, created another prizewinner with My Side of the Mountain--a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Hans Christian Andersen Award Honor Book. Astonishingly, she wrote its sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain, 30 years later, and a decade after that penned the final book in the trilogy, Frightful's Mountain, told from the falcon's point of view. George has no doubt shaped generations of young readers with her outdoor adventures of the mind and spirit. (Ages 9 to 12) -
Amazon.com
Every kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going--all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel for companions and his wits as his tool for survival. In a spellbinding, touching, funny account, Sam learns to live off the land, and grows up a little in the process. Blizzards, hunters, loneliness, and fear all battle to drive Sam back to city life. But his desire for freedom, independence, and adventure is stronger. No reader will be immune to the compulsion to go right out and start whittling fishhooks and befriending raccoons.
Jean Craighead George, author of more than 80 children's books, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves, created another prizewinner with My Side of the Mountain--a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Hans Christian Andersen Award Honor Book. Astonishingly, she wrote its sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain, 30 years later, and a decade after that penned the final book in the trilogy, Frightful's Mountain, told from the falcon's point of view. George has no doubt shaped generations of young readers with her outdoor adventures of the mind and spirit. (Ages 9 to 12) -
Helpful Score: 2
Wonderful story. A boy runs away and lives off the land--he has a hollowed out tree house and a pet falcon. His family eventually finds him and they plan to build house there.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book as a young adult. The main character was so resourceful. As an adult I wonder a bit more about it, where were the parents in all this? Still, an excellent story.
Helpful Score: 1
Newbery honor Book, author also wrote Julie of the Wolves, which won the Newbery Medal. Adventure book about survival alone in the wilderness.
