My Side Of The Mountain - A Book Review

My Side Of The Mountain

Written by Jean Craighead George

First published in 1959

Recommended ages 8+

A book review by Anna Kay Thomas

This classic Newbery Honor book is both written and illustrated by Jean Craighead George and is considered to be one of her best and most beloved works. Based on the idea that every child has dreamed of going on adventures and making it on their own, Ms. George wrote in the preface that it is “better to run to the woods than the city” and set out to write such a tale. Using her own experiences, knowledge, and some of the methods that were passed down to her from her father and brothers, Ms. George provides the whole picture.

The reader follows young Sam Gribley, a boy who runs away from home in New York City to try a self-sustaining lifestyle in the wilderness of the Catskill Mountains. With a well-prepared plan and precious few supplies, Sam learns how to live off the land, make it into a home, and find friends in the creatures around him.

This is truly a unique, timeless, and inspiring book that teaches how to approach the natural world with wonder and confidence. Wrapped in a beautifully written and moving story, the reader gets an educational experience of the world through Sam’s eyes. 

The arts of falconry, fishing, plant identification, foraging, preparing wild food, nutritional science, meteorology, carpentry, and others are taught in such a fun way that the outdoors is full of more possibilities than before. Once it has come to an end, the things that are learned from this memorable book can be applied to any adventures to come.

This book is for those who want inspiration for their journeys through nature, who have Boxcar Children-like daydreams of building their own world from what they find, who are looking for new hobby suggestions with easily provided natural materials, and who are ready to enjoy all of the topics that Jean Craighead George weaves seamlessly into all of her writings. Wishing you the best on your literary trek!

“The sun has a wonderfully glorious habit of rising every morning.” - Jean Craighead George

Reflective Question: 

Did you ever make a plan to run away when you were little? 

After you’ve finished this book, how would the techniques that you’ve read about improve that plan?