My Side of the Mountain

My Side of the Mountain is a 1959 adventure novel by Jean Craighead George. It is the first in a five-book series, though George’s sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain, was not published until 1990. As discussed in the Author’s Preface, My Side of the Mountain is inspired largely by George’s own experiences as a child. Growing up, George loved nature and attempted to run away from home to live in the outdoors. George’s parents encouraged her pursuit of independence and freedom, but like many kids George was back home in 40 minutes. The fulfillment of George’s adventure as a child manifests itself in the story of Sam Gribley, a young boy who succeeds in his determined search for independence and self-sufficiency.

Plot Summary

My Side of the Mountain is a fictional story of Sam Gribley’s survivalist adventure into the Catskill Mountains. It is narrated from Sam’s first-person point of view and relies on journal entries, notes, and drawings that Sam makes throughout his adventure. The story begins in the middle, with Sam trying to survive his first winter snowstorm. Forced to stay inside his tree house home during the storm, Sam tells the reader about the events and circumstances that led him to this moment.