My Side of the Mountain facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Jean Craighead George |
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| Country | America |
| Language | English |
| Series | Mountain |
| Genre | Children's adventure novel |
| Publisher | E. P. Dutton |
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Publication date
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1959 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Pages | 177 |
| Followed by | On the Far Side of the Mountain, Frightful's Mountain |
My Side of the Mountain is an exciting adventure novel for young readers. It was written and illustrated by Jean Craighead George and first published in 1959. The story is about a boy named Sam who learns to live on his own in the Catskill Mountains of New York. He discovers courage, how to be independent, and why friends are important. In 1960, the book was honored as a Newbery Medal runner-up. Later, in 1969, it was made into a movie. Jean Craighead George also wrote more books that continued Sam's story many years later.
Contents
Sam's Mountain Adventure: A Plot Summary
Sam Gribley is a 12-year-old boy who really dislikes living in his family's small New York City apartment. He has eight brothers and sisters, so it's very crowded. Sam decides to run away to his great-grandfather's old farm in the Catskill Mountains. He wants to live by himself in the wild.
The story starts in the middle of Sam's adventure. Sam is safe in his treehouse home during a big blizzard. His pet peregrine falcon, Frightful, and a weasel named The Baron are with him. Sam then remembers how he got there.
Starting Life in the Wild
Sam heard about his great-grandfather's abandoned farm near Delhi, New York. He learned how to survive in the wilderness by reading books at the New York Public Library. Sam's father said he could go to Delhi, as long as he let people know he was staying at the farm.
At first, Sam couldn't find the farm. He tried to live on his own, but it was hard. He met a man named Bill in the woods. Bill taught Sam how to make a fire. Sam then went to town and found out where his grandfather's land was. He found the farm, but the old farmhouse was gone.
Sam started looking for plants he could eat and trapping animals for food. He used fire to make his hollow tree home bigger inside. He saw a peregrine falcon hunting and decided he wanted one. Sam went back to town and read about falconry at the local public library. He took a baby falcon from a nest and named her Frightful. Later, a forest ranger saw smoke from Sam's fire. Sam hid in the woods for two days to avoid being found.
Preparing for Winter
In the fall, Sam made a box trap to catch animals for food. He caught a weasel and named him The Baron because of how he moved. When a poacher illegally killed a deer, Sam took the deer. He smoked the meat to preserve it and tanned the hide. Frightful became very good at hunting.
Sam got ready for winter by hunting and storing wild grains and tubers. He smoked fish and meat and made storage spots in hollow trees. He found another poached deer and made deerskin clothing to replace his old, worn-out clothes. Sam also saw a raccoon digging for mussels in the creek. He learned how to find shellfish by watching the raccoon.
New Friends and Challenges
One day, Sam came home and found a man there. Sam thought the man was a criminal and called him "Bando" (short for "bandit"). But the man was actually a professor of English literature who was lost. Bando stayed with Sam for 10 days. They built a raft, fished, and Bando taught Sam how to make jam. He also showed Sam how to make a whistle from a willow branch. Sam promised to visit Bando in town for Christmas.
Sam built a clay fireplace to keep his home warm. He took two more dead deer from hunters to make more clothes. He also started storing as many fruits and nuts as he could. Sam almost died when he made his home too warm and trapped carbon dioxide inside. He got very sick with carbon dioxide poisoning but managed to get out.
Sam went to town just before Christmas. He met Tom Sidler, a teenager who made fun of his wild look. Sam spent the night with Bando. Bando showed him many newspaper articles about the "wild boy" living in the forest. Sam went home and was surprised on Christmas Day when his father arrived. They were very happy to see each other. Sam learned how animals act in winter, even during blizzards. He also fixed a vitamin problem by eating the right foods.
The End of Solitude
In the spring, Matt Spell, a local teenager who wanted to be a reporter, came to Sam's treehouse. Sam didn't want to be interviewed. He offered Matt a deal: Matt could stay with him for a week if he promised not to tell anyone where Sam was. Matt agreed. A few weeks later, Bando visited Sam, and they built a guest house. Matt spent a week with Sam, but at the end, he told Sam he had broken his promise. Soon after, Tom Sidler visited the farm. Sam realized he really missed having other people around.
When Bando returned to check on Sam, Sam said he planned to visit his family in New York City. In June, Sam was surprised to find his whole family at the farm. His father announced that the family was moving to the farm. Sam was happy at first, but then also a little sad. It meant his time living completely on his own was ending. As the book finishes, Sam realizes that life is about finding a balance. He wants to live off the land, but he also wants to be with the people he loves.
Main Characters in the Story
- Sam Gribley – A 12-year-old boy who leaves his crowded home to live in the wilderness. He learns to be very independent.
- Dad Gribley – Sam's father. He allows Sam to leave, thinking Sam will come back quickly. He is surprised by Sam's strength and determination.
- Bill - A man Sam meets in the woods who teaches him how to fish and make a fire.
- Mrs. Thomas Fiedler – A 97-year-old woman who asks Sam to help her pick strawberries. She later tells others about Sam.
- Miss Turner – A librarian in Delhi, New York, who becomes a friend to Sam.
- Frightful – Sam's pet peregrine falcon. Sam trains Frightful to hunt for food.
- Baron Weasel – A weasel that Sam accidentally catches. The weasel becomes a close companion to Sam.
- Bando – An English professor who gets lost in the woods and spends time with Sam. He becomes like a father figure to Sam.
- Jesse Coon James – A raccoon Sam befriends. Sam learns how to find mussels by watching Jesse.
- Matt Spell – A teenage boy who writes for a local newspaper. He visits Sam and later writes about him in the newspaper.
- Aaron – A songwriter who visits the wilderness near Sam's home to find ideas for his music.
- Tom Sidler – A boy from the town of Delhi, New York, whom Sam calls "Mr. Jacket."
- Alice Gribley - Sam's younger sister.
- Mom Gribley - Sam Gribley's Mother.
Movie Adaptations
A film adaptation of the book was released in 1969. It was directed by James B. Clark and made by Paramount Pictures. The movie My Side of the Mountain is set in Toronto and the Notre Dame Mountains in Quebec, Canada. This is different from the book's setting in New York City and the Catskill Mountains in New York State.
The Mountain Book Series
Jean Craighead George wrote and illustrated a sequel to My Side of the Mountain in 1990. This was more than 30 years after the first book! Over the next 16 years, three more sequels were published. The first three novels were illustrated by George herself. The last two were picture books illustrated by Daniel San Souci. All the sequels were published by Dutton Children's Books.
Here are the books in the series:
- My Side of the Mountain (1959), illustrated by George
- On the Far Side of the Mountain (1990), illustrated by George
- Frightful's Mountain (1999), illustrated by George
- Frightful's Daughter (2002), illustrated by Daniel San Souci, 32 pages
- Frightful's Daughter Meets the Baron Weasel (2007), illustrated by San Souci, 48 pages
The three main novels were also put together into one big book called My Side of the Mountain Trilogy (2000). This book has about 600 pages and keeps the original page numbers.
In 2009, Dutton published A Pocket Guide to the Outdoors: Based on 'My Side of the Mountain'. This guide was written by Jean Craighead George and her daughter, Twig C. George. It gives tips and instructions for camping, building shelters, finding water, and cooking outdoors. Some activities might need an adult to help.
