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My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1)
My Side of the Mountain - Mountain, Bk 1
Author: Jean Craighead George
Sam Gribley is tired of living in a crowded New York City apartment, so he runs away to the Catskill Mountain wilderness to forge a life of his own. No one takes his plans seriously -- except Sam himself. — With only a penknife, a ball of cord, forty dollars, and some flint and steel, he must rely on his own ingenuity and on the resources of the ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780140348101
ISBN-10: 0140348107
Publication Date: 2/2/2000
Pages: 177
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 76

4.1 stars, based on 76 ratings
Publisher: Puffin Books
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on
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.
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) -
reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 36 more book reviews
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.
reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 130 more book reviews
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.
reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on
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.
Read All 31 Book Reviews of "My Side of the Mountain Mountain Bk 1"

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reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
I read this book when I was growing up and got it for my son for Christmas. He loves it almost as much as I did!
thepinkpapayagirl avatar reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
I read this book when I was my son's age and had him read it for a book report. He enjoyed it as much as I did. I re-read it just for fun. Looking back on in at an adult the book may not be realistic but the magic of running away appeals to all ages.
Hairsprayartist avatar reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 38 more book reviews
I'm an outdoorsy gal and when I read this as a young teen is was a wish that I could be this character. Gutsy and self sufficient! I hunted it down and found a copy now that I'm a Mother and made sure it was available in my Family library for my children and other prosperity to come. In my book it's a must read!!
reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 34 more book reviews
great book in series
gentlymad avatar reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 29 more book reviews
An interesting book that older children and adolescents would enjoy. You have to suspend disbelief and realize the author is not writing a "how to survive in the wilderness" book but simply creating a fantasy of living in the woods with lots of detail how a boy would go about doing it.
reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 24 more book reviews
A wonderfu, wonderful book for kids 4th grade and up. I remember reading it as a kid and it making me want to learn camping and exploring the wilderness. It is devoid of the REAL fears of living alone in the wilderness so it is a bit misleading to kids but it is great as a romanticized version of nature and of a boy living his dream.
reviewed My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
Got this for my son who is just getting old enough to camp out on his own. He loves it.


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