My Side of the Mountain

Determined to leave behind the noise and pollution of his New York City home, teenaged Sam Gribley heads for some forgotten family land in the Catskill Mountains. Equipped with a penknife, a ball of cord, an ax, some flint and steel, and $40, Sam is determined to live off the land. Writing his story on bits of bark, Sam shares his adventures in the wilderness: how he captured and trained a female peregrine falcon, details of the hollowed-out tree that becomes his home, and the various woodland secrets he learned for surviving on his own. A Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, My Side of the Mountain has been made into a major motion picture. While she was writing this distinguished book, Ms. George camped and foraged in the Helderberg Mountains. Her own experiences, along with the survival training she received from her naturalist father, are part of what make this book a delight for readers of all ages.