Title: My Side of the Mountain*
Author: Jean Craighead George**
File Under: Adventure, Nature, Read-Aloud
Age Group: Primarily middle-school age, but would be enjoyable for an older kid to read and littles would like to listen along, although some of it may go over their heads; enjoyable as light reading for the adult, especially the tense parent who needs to snap out of it a little.
This may be an ideal book to read just before summer starts, when one is becoming anxious about how the children's time will be spent after school lets out. To me, this book is somewhat in the same category as Farmer Boy (not that it approaches what I consider to be the greatness of that work) — just in that it is a reminder about the nature of boys and of what they're capable, when given the freedom — although the fun and adventure will be appealing to girls, as well. If you were to decide to read this aloud with your kids, for example, I can imagine them being inspired for many hours of imaginative play as a result – saving you the trouble of signing them up for another summertime “activity.”
My Side of the Mountain is a fictional, first-person account of a boy's venture into the woods of the Catskill Mountains to live primitively, off the land. The story is simple, told largely in the form of a journal account, and focusing mainly on the practical details of day-to-day living without any basic conveniences or even tools. The 1950s come through slightly when dialogue appears (which is fairly seldom, given the topical solitude of the protagonist), but otherwise the story has a timeless feel.
Anyone who's ever cared to build a fort in his backyard will find immense appeal in the boy's description of how to start a fire without matches, how to carve a home out of a hollow tree, how to use deer skins, and how to make “pancakes” out of acorn flour. The author, who learned all about woodland life from her father, who was a “naturalist and a scientist” (according to the preface) does an impressive job of leaving almost no questions unanswered — to the point that it seems fairly plausible that this bright, adolescent kid really could have made it through an Upstate New York winter entirely on his own devices. There are pleasant little pen illustrations to enliven the description of the wildlife of the Catskills.
I picked up this Newbery Honor Book from the “giveaway” shelf at my library, simply because the sound of the title rang a familiar bell in my mind and so I figured it must be worth reading someday. I ended up reading it a week or so ago because it was right there on the shelf when I needed another book for nursing, and it was a conveniently small size to fit in one hand (a mere 177 pages).
I read parts of it aloud to Finnabee (currently age 3) because she begged me to read to her about “the boy in the woods” after she heard me discussing it with The Artist at the dinner table. (I have steered her away from My Side of the Mountain for now, in favor of A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, but I look forward to having her pull it off the shelf in a couple of years.)
It's about freedom, about being young and needing to learn things for yourself, about being in touch with nature, about the oft-stifled abilities of children when given their space, about the existential questions relating to solitude and mastery over things versus community and convenience… but, basically, it's just a fun little book that will make your offspring (and maybe you) want to head into the woods with nothing but an ax and some string and see how you can make out.
*I was not aware, when I read it, that it is the first of a series of books. I will have to get back to you about the other four when I've read them!
**George is also the author of Julie of the Wolves,*** of which I have only the slightest memory but which I recall with great fondness as a book that I totally loved when I read it sometime around age 13.
***[Update] Some readers have mentioned, in the comments, that caution is necessary when approaching Julie of the Wolves, because of a particular scene involving the main character being imposed upon by an offending young man. I do recall this scene in that vague yet strong sense that characterizes how topics of a sexual nature stick with us, especially at an impressionable age. I agree that parents should use discretion before handing this book to their daughters and consider appropriateness based on maturity. It is a coming-of-age story. I will say, however, that the scene is not bad — it depicts something very evil in a deft and true way. Julie's reaction to the forced advances is disgust and self-defense. In so far as this scene stayed with me, I believe that it contributed to the basic knowledge that all my formation gave me: the girl has the right to follow her instincts to push back, to run away, etc. Actually, it seems to me that this consideration is helpful in a world where Twilight-type entertainment tends to glamorize this issue and makes girls being imposed upon seem appealing. It's not appealing; it's scary and the proper response is literally to feel sick, which Julie does.
Julie says
This was one of our favorites, too; we read two sequels – will have to look for the third.
Adele says
There is also a companion with plant identification and how to build some of the simple tools. My detailed oriented mechanically brained daughter loved using it.
Laura Jeanne says
Yes, my son read this book at age 11 and he absolutely loved it. It’s one of his favourite books of all time (although he’s only 12). 🙂
Lorelei says
I’ve read and loved all of those books! Note on Julie of the Wolves- there is an attempted rape scene. Very much part of the plot, but perhaps might want to read it before handing it to a younger child.
Laura says
Yes, I read it by myself when I was 9 or 10, and that scene is all I remember about the book. Impressionable age. 🙁
Therese Cross says
You opened my memory bank with this post. This was a book I read in my younger years and completely forgot about. I didn’t even introduce it to my 5 kids. How did that happen? However, your post brought back so many fun thoughts and feelings of excitement. The book made me long to go off and live on my side of the mountain. By the grace of God, many years later, I’m sort of living it :o)
Jill says
I remember this book! Such memories. Occasionally I still think about it, even at 50 yrs old and no kids. But I couldn’t remember what the title of the book was.
Lacy says
I’m so glad you mentioned this book. A teacher read a book with a very similar plot to our class when I was a girl, and I just loved it! I’ve, unfortunately, long since forgotten the title or other identifying information. I’ve ordered this book in the hopes that it’s the same one and look forward to reading it to my own children.
Dixie says
This is a splendid book — great choice! — and I agree that both boys and girls of many ages will enjoy it. It’s one of those books that the parent enjoys reading aloud, too. I love how he adults in the book respond to the boy. It reminds me of how the mother in “Swallows and Amazons” lets the kids alone but does make sure they aren’t being stupid about things.
The sequels were okay, but they don’t possess the same “go-it-alone-ness” of the first story, so they’re less compelling. The boy’s sister (Alice?) joins him for the second one. Fun to read to continue the saga, but the first one is the great book.
A child of 10 or 12 who likes this one might also like Gary Paulsen’s “Hatchet,” which is more dramatic because it is about a boy surviving on his own in the woods after a plane crash (so not good for younger children) with nothing but a hatchet to help him along, and is compelling. It has a different feel than “My Side of the Mountain,” (which, for its part, has such a wonderful everyday-life feeling about it that children will love) and is very exciting.
(Same thoughts about the sequel to “Hatchet” as about the sequels to “Mountain.”)
Another excellent book in this vein (although in a historical setting) is Elizabeth George Speare’s “The Sign of the Beaver,” about a boy left alone for months to tend a new homestead in the Maine woods in the late-18th or early-19th century. Great!
For girls — Avi’s “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.” High seas!! Although a little down on being ladylike.
Okay, I’ll stop now!
CMerie says
This was my favorite book as a child. I often consolled myself when young that I would run away and move to the Catskills and carve a house out of a tree. I planned to take this book with me as my guide. (And all of this even though I had never been farther east than Nebraska!) I never did realize that dream, but it brought comfort when times were rough. 🙂 You can bet it was one I offered to my 10 year old this year. He devored it much like I did. I don’t know if he dreams of running away like I did, but he really enjoyed it.
Emily says
Julie of the Wolves has a rape scene. Perhaps you were too young to understand it when you read it, though it seemed quite spelled out (though not graphic). I would definitely *not* recommend it!! Please be careful! Your readers trust your judgement and don’t have time to read everything themselves. They will likely not see this comment so please post again to clarify.
Deirdre says
I have written again to address that in the post, Emily. It seems to be a little wonky right now – you might have to hit shift+refresh to see the new paragraph at the bottom of the post.
Stephanie says
Yes to My Side of the Mountain! My husband read all three books aloud to my three eldest daughters while they fell asleep in their bunks in beautiful wild Alaska. My daughters are excited for their younger siblings to read them too one day…and I think its because they will get to hear the story again. I think it is so sweet to read A. A. Milne aloud as well. Off topic but somewhat literary…did you see PBS is releasing a Little Women series????
Lucy says
There’s a similar book set in England at an earlier time called Brendon Chase by BB which is about three brothers who run away and live wild in a hollow oak in the woods. Both my son and daughter love it
Elizabeth says
Deirdre, this is unrelated, but I just read an interesting article from a mom about Samaritan Ministries, detailing everything she did after her son was injured, explaining how wonderful and supportive she found SM.
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/samaritan-ministries-review/
For people who are nervous about leaving mainstream medical insurance behind, I think this article is quite helpful.
Audrey says
I love that you recommend this for the “parent who just needs to snap out of it”. It’s exactly the advice I didn’t know I needed!
Anamaria says
Yes, I have been thinking of that book lately! A great read, though it’s been since middle school that I’ve read it.
Reading Winnie-the-Pooh with my three-year-old now, too 🙂
Pegeen says
I picked up Hatchet by Paulsen over the weekend for a possible book for a 12 yo boy. I would not recommend it. The premise of the story follows from the fact that the boy’s parents have just divorced due to the infidelity of the mother. The boy knows of the infidelity, but his father does not. This secret knowledge torments him and he mentions it many times. Additionally, the plane pilot has a heart attack and dies. This is portrayed very vividly.
As a mother of eight (the youngest being 12) I would encourage moms to pre-read the books you hand your children even if you remember reading them as a child. You are responsible for your children’s education and formation.
Maria says
We are reading ‘My Side of the Mountain’ for our Homeschool Middle School Book Club this month! And it does work well as a read-a-long for younger kids. All of my daughters are really enjoying it (ages 13, 8, and 5). My 15 year old son read it several times around age 11 and remembers it fondly. The author also wrote a little cook book, ‘Acorn Pancakes, Dandelion Salad and 38 Other Wild Recipes’ which is a nice companion.