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Jean Craighead George

My Side of the Mountain

Jean Craighead GeorgeFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1959

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Book Brief

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Jean Craighead George

My Side of the Mountain

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1959
Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Catskills, New York • 1950s

Publication Year

1959

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

8-12 years

Lexile Level

810L

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Super Short Summary

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George follows Sam Gribley, a boy who leaves his crowded New York apartment to live off the land in the Catskill Mountains. Narrated through Sam's journal, the book details his challenges and triumphs in nature, including building a tree house, training a falcon named Frightful, befriending animals, and learning self-sufficiency.

Adventurous

Serene

Contemplative

Inspirational

Nostalgic

Reviews & Readership

4.4

86,095 ratings

77%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain is praised for its engaging portrayal of wilderness survival and coming-of-age themes. Readers appreciate the vivid descriptions and resourceful protagonist. However, some find the plot slow-moving and the depiction of survival somewhat idealized. Overall, it’s valued for its immersive, nature-centric story.

Who should read this

Who Should Read My Side of the Mountain?

Readers who enjoy My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George typically relish nature, adventure, and self-sufficiency. Fans of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen or Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell will appreciate its themes of wilderness survival and coming-of-age. Suitable for middle-grade to young adult readers, it captivates outdoor enthusiasts and independents alike.

4.4

86,095 ratings

77%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Catskills, New York • 1950s

Publication Year

1959

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

8-12 years

Lexile Level

810L

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