Children's Classic Books discussion

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighhead George
Published: 1959
Newvery Honor Book: 1960

Summary (Goodreads): "Every kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going--all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel for companions and his wits as his tool for survival. In a spellbinding, touching, funny account ...."

You can possibly find this book online in a couple of places:

Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/mysideofm...

Overdrive (Libby): https://www.overdrive.com/media/47047...

I started this one over the weekend. I like how Sam isn't completely on his own - he hitchhiked to the area, he got the librarian to help him research the land, the farmer he stayed with at first. It does seem rather melancholy when he is alone, though, which is most of the time. I just read the part where (view spoiler)[he found Baldo and spent several days with him. He seemed quite lonely after Baldo left. (hide spoiler)] I'm a little surprised he hasn't really sought out any companionship since he made his camp.

I'm also surprised that his family hasn't come looking for him. I can see how they could have at first thought, haha, let him have his little camping trip, he'll be back in a couple of days. But after a week or so I would have though even the most permissive and free-range parent would have wanted to come after him and bring him back home. Perhaps that will be explained later.

I have it here but haven't started it yet; I plan to read it this week.

I read this back in the 80s when my daughters were in elementary school. We all enjoyed it. The public library also screened a film version of the book.

Marianne wrote: "I'm also surprised that his family hasn't come looking for him. I can see how they could have at first thought, haha, let him have his little camping trip, he'll be back in a couple of days. But after a week or so I would have though even the most permissive and free-range parent would have wanted to come after him and bring him back home. ..."

I know! I'm surprised by this as well. But I'm enjoying hearing about all the food he manages to put together. Healthy, that's for sure. And after having such an adventure in life, there wouldn't be much that would intimidate him.

Alright, I'm at the part where (view spoiler)[ he meets the escaped convict (hide spoiler)] and it's stressing me out. I can't believe that he'd (view spoiler)[ tell him that he wouldn't tell the police and then show him his hideaway and storehouse (hide spoiler)]. Not only does it seems unwise but completely naive. I haven't finished the chapter yet so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

There are sequels, but I haven't read them.
The author also wrote Julie of the Wolves.

Rosemarie wrote: "There are sequels, but I haven't read them.
The author also wrote Julie of the Wolves."

Thanks, Rosemarie! They are:

On the Far Side of the Mountain and
Frightful's Mountain
Frightful's Daughter
Frightful's Daughter Meets the Baron Weasel

for anyone who wants to carry on with the series on their own.

I put a hold on the two sequels now that I've finished. Have any of you read the author's introduction? I rarely do that before reading a book since most have too many spoilers, but I read this one. This book is about what many kids would like to do--sort of a fantasy experience in the woods. His parents know where he is, and it was written in the 1950s--he is old enough he doesn't have to go to school anymore even though he's not yet 18.

I was a bit nervous about the convict at first as well.

Many questions being asked her will be answered one way or another during the book :)

Karin wrote: "I put a hold on the two sequels now that I've finished. Have any of you read the author's introduction? I rarely do that before reading a book since most have too many spoilers, but I read this one..."

It looks like there are a couple more books; I've added them above.

I read the introduction and it was wonderful! It took me back in time to when life was simpler and more meaningful and joyful. I never read introductions either, if they're written by someone else but if they're written by the author, I do.

So, I am just starting. I read it for the first time when I was in 5th grade I believe, 1972. I have read the whole introduction!! but am delighted. I did not know that Jean Craighead George was taught Falconry by her brothers!! Wow. I am sure my childhood self skipped the introduction.

Page 7 and I already have that thrill of book joy.

Oh there are so many details that my childhood mind would not have considered: " "That land is still in the family's name. Somewhere in the Catskills is an old beech with the name Gribley carved on it. ...... and here I am three hundred feet from the beech with Gribley carved on it. " p. 9 (in my version)

No trespassing signs and laws make it hard to run away to the woods. Sam didn't have that problem.

Rosemarie wrote: "There are sequels, but I haven't read them.
The author also wrote Julie of the Wolves."

I read three Julie of Wolves books as an adult about 15 years ago. I really liked them all. (Not sure if three is the complete series or not.)

I've read the first two Julie of the Wolves books, but didn't like the second as much as I did the first so stopped. Perhaps I should read the last one.

I completed this one this past week. I enjoyed the charm of the story and Sam's ingenuity in learning survival skills. I liked that he was sometimes lonely and felt the need to go back to town to see other people. I did feel it veered into the realm of a child's fantasy when (view spoiler)[his dad came to visit and seemed jealous of his wilderness life, and even more so when the family decided to all come live in the woods. (hide spoiler)]

My version had an excerpt from the next book, but I was disappointed to hear that (view spoiler)[the family had gone back to the city, except for one sibling. I thought it would have been neat for the next story to be kind of a modern Little House on the Prairie with mom trying to keep a nice house, dad learning to live in harmony with the land, and the kids running wild in the woods, but knowing that there was a safe haven nearby. (hide spoiler)]

Like you, Lynn, I'm absolutely loving this book. Part of my enjoyment is, of course, the story and the writing, but I also love learning about nature, the woods and how to survive in them. I think Swallows and Amazons is one of my favourite books because I get to learn all about sailing and how to set up tents, etc.

About the boy he met in town: " I never asked his name. I liked him although we hadn't even had a fight. All the best friends I had, I always fought, then got to like them after the wounds healed." I love this! It seems so natural, such a boy-thing to do.

Even though I'd vaguely heard about falconry, I had never thought about having the bird hunt for the falconer. I'd never liked the thought of the birds captive, but in this story, Frightful seems, if not completely free, as free as she wants to be and is happy with her lot.

I'm getting near the end, so I'm going to wait to read your spoilers, Marianne. I'm so sad that it's ending and a little hesitant to read the second book in case it isn't as good.

Cleo wrote: "Like you, Lynn, I'm absolutely loving this book. Part of my enjoyment is, of course, the story and the writing, but I also love learning about nature, the woods and how to survive in them. I think ..."

I hadn't realized that it's only female falcons who work for falconry, and I would think it would only work well if the falcon has a good relationship with the falconer. It makes sense that they start forming a bond from when the falcon is a chick.

I just finished the second book. On the Far Side of the Mountain and enjoyed it as much as the first. The two books were written 30 years apart. I can see why the author wanted to do that.

The first book written in 1959 really taps into the "back to nature" trend that was flowing through American society at the time. Yet, over time environmental sensibilities changed. The second book resolves the plot lines and really feels like it is just the last chapters of the first book. Also, the first book is more about individual survival and the second is more about sustainable communities that do not harm wildlife. I really liked these selections.

Lynn wrote: "I just finished the second book. On the Far Side of the Mountain and enjoyed it as much as the first. The two books were written 30 years apart. I can see why the author wanted to do t..."

I'm glad you liked it as much since I just picked it up from the library yesterday.

Marianne wrote: "I completed this one this past week. I enjoyed the charm of the story and Sam's ingenuity in learning survival skills. I liked that he was sometimes lonely and felt the need to go back to town to s..."

I finished and absolutely loved the book. I had, however, the same quibble as you ...... to me I wouldn't say that the ending felt like fantasy, more like it was simply awkward. It felt rather jarring in that the book spent most of the time focusing on an individual (view spoiler)[ then all of a sudden adds a whole bunch of people which completely changed the feel of it. I think perhaps George was trying to get the point across that while solitude is good at times, we really do need companionship. Up until that point I thought she was doing a good job of highlighting that concept. (hide spoiler)]

Lynn wrote: "I just finished the second book. On the Far Side of the Mountain and enjoyed it as much as the first. The two books were written 30 years apart. I can see why the author wanted to do t..."

Thanks the update, Lynn. I saw your review and was curious as to the details. Unfortunately I don't own the book and the library doesn't have it but I will definitely keep a look out for it in the used bookstores!

Cleo wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I just finished the second book. On the Far Side of the Mountain and enjoyed it as much as the first. The two books were written 30 years apart. I can see why the author w..."

Are you able to borrow books from around the province? ie is your library a member of bc.libraries.coop? I learned about that back when I use to borrow books on my late mother's card.

Karin wrote: "Are you able to borrow books from around the province? ..."

I can but they usually take 4-6 months to arrive and then you only have them for 2 weeks with no renewals. So it's not the best system to say the least ....

Cleo wrote: "Karin wrote: "Are you able to borrow books from around the province? ..."

I can but they usually take 4-6 months to arrive and then you only have them for 2 weeks with no renewals. So it's not the..."

Wow, 4-6 months? I only did that once and it was there on time; I don't visit long so it was no problem. The other times I just borrowed one there.

I know I'm well and truly spoiled living in this state when it comes to interlibrary loans. It's also much smaller than BC even though the population is larger; there are regional networks and then one that says state, but is the eastern part. It includes some university and college libraries plus some public school ones (win/win for the schools and public libraries) but not all books I try to put on hold are allowed to come here if it's from the state one.