My Side Of The Mountain/On The Far Side Of The Mountain (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
I missed some of the best parts when I read this to Kaitlyn over the past year, because she would read ahead and then wanted me to skip the parts she had read. I missed the finding of the falcon, the Halloween party, and the very end! I found myself very nervous when I neared the end and realized I didn't actually know how it would end, or how I wanted it to end (just like Sam was conflicted). The ending was actually really clever. "She [mom] looked at the mountain and the meadow and the gorge, and I felt her feet squeeze into the earth and take root."I think my favorite part is the 2 pages of the "forum" in Sam's mind, right after he meets Matt Spell who sees right through Sam's lies even though he's frozen to the bone. He knows Matt is speaking in his mind because he keeps using the word "untoward." And Frightful chimes into the conversation even though she's sleeping right in front of him.The verb for Barometer the nuthatch is "yanked," which I can't quite picture.p. 41 ate may applesp.146 he feeds limbs to deerp. 144 "That's one thing about using the products of the forest. They are usually weatherproof. This is important when the weather is as near to you as your skin and as much a part of your life as eating."p. 159 "I had the feeling Jessie was hoping I had departed for good, and that he could have my den." Equipped with the desire “to do something” and a few wilderness staples, Sam Gribley sets out to live off the land in the Catskill Mountains. Utilizing survival methods he read about at the library, Sam is able to make a variety of tools for fishing, hunting, and cooking. Along the way he makes some memorable friends, including a wily weasel and thieving raccoon. A few of his more dangerous encounters include scaling a cliff to steal a baby falcon, avoiding angry hunters, and stumbling upon a potential outlaw. Despite his initial desire to be alone, Sam begins to understand the importance of companionship. The story is told through the eye of Sam who often enhances events by narrating entries from his journal. The engrossing details make this book a great introduction to wilderness survival stories. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
What do You think about My Side Of The Mountain/On The Far Side Of The Mountain (2000)?
Probably my favorite book when I was a kid. One of the few that I've read more than once.
—agaylayoung
this used to be my favorite book when I was a child
—Patricia
