Frightful's Mountain (Paperback)

by Jean Craighead George (Author) "Frightful had not been quite two weeks old when she first saw Sam Gribley..." (more)
Key Phrases: one tree among millions, little eyas, one hemlock, Leon Longbridge, Joe Cassini, Jon Wood (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Fans of Jean Craighead George's My Side of the Mountain (a Newbery Honor Book) and On the Far Side of the Mountain will be delighted to return to upstate New York's Catskill Mountains for the conclusion of her trilogy, which appears 40 years after the first title's publication in 1959. Written because a young fan asked, "What happened to Frightful?" this volume tells how Sam Gribley's peregrine falcon--that's Frightful--has to make her own way in the world after Sam is forced to release her. Although told in the third person, the story is developed entirely from the bird's point of view. George's narrative follows the falcon through a series of dangerous adventures (involving DDT, electricity lines, and unscrupulous bird traders, to name a few) as she learns to depend on her own instincts. The environmental message is slightly heavy-handed, but it's wrapped in an enjoyable story from a much loved and astoundingly prolific author. You don't need to have read the earlier books to make sense of this one, though it may help. (Ages 9 and older) --Richard Farr --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly
Like the conclusion of George's Julie of the Wolves trilogy (Julie's Wolf Pack), this third book in the cycle that began with My Side of the Mountain is told almost exclusively from the point of view of the wildlife. As the novel opens, Frightful, Sam Gribley's peregrine falcon, is being held captive by poachers. The falcon thinks only of returning to Sam, in a riff that recurs throughout the novel ("She was... searching for the one mountain, the one tree, and Sam"). Once Alice, Sam's sister, frees the falcon, much of the tension in the novel relates to whether or not Frightful can make it on her own. George builds the suspense in a third-person narration that most often takes the falcon's perspective, as Frightful hesitates between returning to Sam (who can no longer harbor her) and following the instincts of her breed as a male attempts to court her. The writing is not as fluid here; the pacing bogs down in occasional asides that fill in subplots or conservation issues (e.g., the spring return of Lady, one of Frightful's "adopted" falcon fledglings, occasions a prolonged discussion of DDT). However, details of peregrine migration, mating and nesting rituals are seamlessly woven into the plot, in which Frightful is threatened both by construction workers and the infamous poachers. Nature lovers will not be disappointed. Age 9-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141312351
• ISBN-13: 978-0141312354
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,255 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a book I could not put down!!!, October 16, 1999

By	Mandy L. ([e-mail]) (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frightful's Mountain (Hardcover)

If you have read "My side of the Mountain" or "On the Far Side of the Mountaain" then you will throughly enjoy this book. If you have read the previous books than you may be wondering, "What ever happened to Frightful?" Well this book tells it all. Frightful is a peregrine falcon that was hand raised by Sam Gribley. After being set free by Sam becuase he couldn't keep an endangered speices, Frightful had many adventures. This book tells how it would be if you saw the world through Frightful's eyes. I would highly recomend it to anyone who has read the other books or not. You don't need to read the previous books for this captivating story to make sense!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frightful's Mountain: A Great Book, February 16, 2003

By	R Lin (Cerritos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Frightful's Mountain is about a peregrine falcon that is seraching for her previous owner. She must find out the one tree and the one mountain where he lives. She meets everything from dogs to poachers to other peregine falcons that come in her way. She finally gets back to him, but is then set free to live the life of a wild peregrine.
The reason I liked this book is because of its style. It was very much like the first book of the trilogy, except that it was from the falcon's point of view. I love adventure stories, so it is not a surprise that I believe this is exceptional literature, but this one puts you in the situation and sucks you into the text. I coundn't stop reading!
One other reason I believed this was one of the greatest books of all time is because it was so detailed. Descriptions lurked around every corner. I could almost see what was going on when I was reading! It was also very emotional and i wanted to get a tissue amnd cry into it. It was very impactful.
My favorite part was when Sam, Frightful's master, was trying to save two of her chicks that were stolen by poachers. His dog had crawled under the cabin's foundation and was met by a skunk's spray. The smell seeped through the floorboards and the poachers ran out of the building. Sam snuck in through the back door and collected the eyases in his hands. One of the poachers had run back in to get his gun and saw Sam. The conservation officers had come in just in time and had him at gunpoint.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Touching Story, October 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Frightful's Mountain (Hardcover)

Jean Craighead George really put a lot of effort into this book. It seems so realistic, I had to read the Author's Note to know most of the characters were fictional. It is a heartwarming story about Frightful, the peregene falcon that Sam trains. Sam is a very simple person who is very fond of animals like I am. This book is worth reading-most definetly.