Our read aloud book for December and so far into January was this survival-in-the-wilderness book by Newbery award winning author Jean Craighead George. Here are the views of two of the urchins on the book:
Review by Brown Bear Daughter (Age Eleven)
Book: My Side of the Mountain
Author: Jean Craighead George
Summary: It is about young Sam Gribley, tired of city life, who moves into the Catskill Mountains. He trains his own falcon, builds his own house, and finds his own food.
Review: I�d give this book, on a scale from 1 to 10, an 8. Although, in my opinion, the ending was disappointing, the rest of the book was very well written and I liked it a lot. This book is a Newberry Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Hans Christian Andersen Award Honor Book.
Review by Karate Kid (Age Eight)
What the book was about: The book was about a boy named Sam Gribley. He ran away from home to the Catskill Mountains. At the beginning of the story, it tells what’s happening right then. He’s in a big snowstorm. But before you get to hear about that, he tells all about how he got into the big snowstorm.
What I liked about this book: I like the idea of living in a tree. I’d like to have a trained falcon.
What I don’t like about this book: I didn’t like the part where everybody keeps on finding him. I wish he’d still get to live in the tree in hammocks.
So there you have it: two reviews by two impartial reviewers. I think Brown Bear Daughter liked it anyway. She’s already reading the sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain.
Jean Craighead George Website
CyberGuide Unit Study on My SIde of the Mountain
Peregrine Falcon Nest Webcam NOTE: there’s nothing going on now. Nesting season is from March to June. Check back then.
More links to teaching resources on the web for this book
What? There’s a sequel?
I read this book many times as a kid, and I agree with your urchins. Great book, disappointing ending. But I’ll have to look for the sequel.
This is one of my fave books from when I was younger. I fancied myself quite the outdoorsy type at the time. It was great “inheriting” a copy when we were in Ukraine, and giving it to my oldest to read.
The only other book by JCG that I’ve read was not nearly as engaging–but I still enjoyed it because it was set in our current locale.
We loved MSOTM! The third part of the trilogy is Frightful’s Mountain, written from the falcon’s perspective.
The Fourth Homeschooling Carnival is up, and this post is in it.=)
http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2006/01/fourth-homeschooling-blog-carnival.html
You have a falcon nest? Wow. We live in Ottawa. The peregrines nest at the Crowne Plaza Hotel downtown. Honest. Maybe I’ll save this book for the spring and link it in with that…
“I wish he’d still get to live in the tree in hammocks”
Too cute! That is exactly what my boys would have said!
Blessings ~ Patricia
i love this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it very good
I’m reading this book in english class right know!! its good so far!
Not only is there a second book, but there is a third one, as well called “Frightful’s Mountain.” Much of this last one is written from Frightful’s point of view. The last two books really do a good job of filling in the blanks left by the first one.
sams parents dont even care if he ran away or not