Summary
My Side of the Mountain is a beloved children's novel by Jean Craighead George. First published in 1959, this Newbery Honor Book follows Sam Gribley, a 12-year-old boy who leaves his New York City apartment to live off the land in the Catskill Mountains. The novel's vivid descriptions of wilderness survival and Sam's journey of self-discovery have inspired generations of young readers.
Plot
Sam Gribley has always lived with his parents in a small apartment in a big, crowded place—New York City. At age 12, he embarks on a mission to live on his own in the rugged, forested Catskill Mountains. Though unable to locate his great-grandfather's abandoned farm in the mountain, he decides to stay. Armed with only basic supplies and survival skills learned from library books, Sams creates a home inside a hollow tree and sets out to learn how to live off the land.
My Side of the Mountain follows Sam as he adapts to his new life and develops various skills for survival. He forages for edible plants, traps animals for food, and even trains a peregrine falcon named Frightful to hunt for him. Sam's adventures include encounters with a friendly weasel he names The Baron, an English professor nicknamed “Bando” who becomes a mentor figure, and various challenges posed by the changing seasons. Throughout his time in the wilderness, Sam grows more self-reliant and confident in his abilities.
The story takes an unexpected turn when Sam's solitary existence is interrupted by visitors, including a teenage reporter and Sam's own father. As news of the “wild boy”living in the forest spreads, Sam begins to realize he misses human companionship. The novel concludes with Sam's family deciding to move to the farm in the mountain, prompting him to reconcile his desire for independence with his need for human connection. This resolution brings the story full circle, as Sam learns to balance his love for nature with his bonds to family and society.
Themes
Independence and self-reliance
Connection to nature and wilderness survival
Coming of age and personal growth
Solitude versus human companionship
Perseverance in the face of challenges
Freedom and responsibility
Harmony between humans and wildlife
Setting
Set in the late 1950s, My Side of the Mountain unfolds against the backdrop of a rapidly urbanizing America. The story begins in New York City, where the protagonist Sam Gribley feels stifled by his cramped living conditions. This urban setting serves as a stark contrast to the wilderness that becomes Sam's new home.
The bulk of the novel takes place in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. This rugged, forested terrain provides the perfect backdrop for Sam's adventure in self-sufficiency. The Catskills, known for their diverse wildlife and natural beauty, become a character in their own right as Sam learns to navigate and survive in this challenging environment.
Within the broader Catskill region, the story focuses on the area near Delhi, New York. While the specific Gribley farm is fictional, George's vivid descriptions of the landscape, including the hollowed-out tree that becomes Sam's home, bring the setting to life. The nearby town of Delhi also plays a role, serving as Sam's occasional connection to civilization and a source of information as he hones his survival skills.
Characters
Sam Gribley: The protagonist. A 12-year-old boy, Sam leaves his family and their apartment in New York City to live on his own in the Catskill Mountains. He learns survival skills and grows more independent throughout the story.
Frightful: Sam's loyal peregrine falcon that he trains to hunt for food. Frightful becomes Sam's close companion in the wilderness.
The Baron: A weasel that Sam accidentally traps and befriends. The Baron frequently visits Sam's treehouse.
Bando: An English professor who gets lost in the woods and spends time with Sam. He becomes a father figure and occasional visitor.
Dad Gribley: Sam's father who allows him to leave, not believing he'll survive long. He later visits Sam and decides to move the family to the farm.
Matt Spell: A teenage aspiring reporter who discovers Sam and promises not to reveal his location in exchange for staying with him. He ultimately breaks his promise.
Miss Turner: A librarian in Delhi, a small town nearby, who befriends Sam and helps him access information about survival skills.
Tom Sidler: A local teenager who initially ridicules Sam but later visits him in the wilderness.
Jesse Coon James: A raccoon that Sam observes and learns from, particularly about finding mussels in the creek.
Bill: A man living in a cabin who teaches Sam how to make fire early in his wilderness adventure.
Quick facts
My Side of the Mountain was published in 1959 and named a Newbery Honor Book in 1960.
Decades after the novel’s release, Jean Craighead George wrote two sequels—On the Far Side of the Mountain in 1990 and Frightful's Mountain in 1999.
The story is set in the Catskill Mountains of New York, but the specific farm mentioned is fictional.
The main character, Sam Gribley, is only 12 years old when he runs away to live in the wilderness.
Sam's falcon, Frightful, was inspired by George's own experiences with falconry.
My Side of the Mountain has been translated into numerous languages and is popular worldwide.
A film adaptation was released in 1969, set in Quebec rather than upstate New York.
The novel has inspired many readers to pursue interests in falconry and wilderness survival.
George wrote a companion guide called A Pocket Guide to the Outdoors based on the book.
In 2012, School Library Journal ranked My Side of the Mountain #77 on its list of all-time best children's novels.
About the Author
Jean Craighead George (1919-2012) was an American author of more than 100 books for children and young adults. Growing up in a family of naturalists, she developed a deep connection to the environment from an early age. This passion for nature became a central theme in her writing, including her most famous works, the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves and the Newbery Honor book My Side of the Mountain.
George's background in both science and literature, which she studied at Penn State University, informed her unique approach to storytelling. Her career path was diverse, including stints as a reporter for The Washington Post, a member of the White House Press Corps, and a writer and editor for Reader’s Digest magazine before focusing on writing books full-time.
Committed to authenticity, George conducted extensive research for her books. For Julie and the Wolves, she spent time at the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory in Barrow, Alaska, studying wolf behavior and even learning to communicate with wolves in their own language. Throughout her life, George maintained a strong connection to the natural world. Over the years, she welcomed more than 150 wild animals into her home and backyard, many of which became characters in her books. She continued writing and exploring until her death at the age of 92, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to inspire young readers.
