My Side of the Mountain boxed set (My Side of the Mountain Gift Set) [Box set] [Paperback]

Jean Craighead George (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Every kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going--all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel as his companions and his wits as his tool for survival. In a spellbinding, touching, funny account, Sam learns to live off the land, and grows up a little in the process. Blizzards, hunters, loneliness, and fear all battle to drive Sam back to city life. But his desire for freedom, independence, and adventure are stronger. No reader will be immune to the compulsion to go right out and start whittling fishhooks and befriending raccoons.

Jean Craighead George, author of many popular books for children, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves, created another prizewinner with My Side of the Mountain: a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Hans Christian Anderson Award Honor Book. Her rustic natural drawings lend authenticity and interest to the already remarkable story. This gift set includes George's captivating sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0147744253
• ISBN-13: 978-0147744258
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #683,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jean Craighead George was born in a family of naturalists. Her father, mother, brothers, aunts and uncles were students of nature. On weekends they camped in the woods near their Washington, D.C. home, climbed trees to study owls, gathered edible plants and made fish hooks from twigs. Her first pet was a turkey vulture. In third grade she began writing and hasn't stopped yet. She has written over 100 books.Her book, Julie of the Wolves won the prestigious Newbery Medal, the American Library Association's award for the most distinguished contribution to literature for children, l973. My Side of the Mountain, the story of a boy and a falcon surviving on a mountain together, was a 1960 Newbery Honor Book. She has also received 20 other awards.She attended Penn State University graduating with a degree in Science and Literature. In the 1940s she was a reporter for The Washington Post and a member of the White House Press Corps. After her children were born she returned to her love of nature and brought owls, robins, mink, sea gulls, tarantulas - 173 wild animals into their home and backyard. These became characters in her books and, although always free to go, they would stay with the family until the sun changed their behavior and they migrated or went off to seek partners of their own kind.When her children, Twig, Craig and Luke, were old enough to carry their own backpacks, they all went to the animals. They climbed mountains, canoed rivers, hiked deserts. Her children learned about nature and Jean came home and to write books. Craig and Luke are now environmental scientists and Twig writes children's books, too.One summer Jean learned that the wolves were friendly, lived in a well-run society and communicated with each other in wolf talk -- sound, sight, posture, scent and coloration. Excited to learn more, she took Luke and went to the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory in Barrow, Alaska, where scientists were studying this remarkable animal. She even talked to the wolves in their own language. With that Julie of the Wolves was born. A little girl walking on the vast lonesome tundra outside Barrow, and a magnificent alpha male wolf, leader of a pack in Denali National Park were the inspiration for the characters in the book. Years later, after many requests from her readers, she wrote the sequels, Julie and Julie's Wolf Pack.She is still traveling and coming home to write. In the last decade she has added two beautiful new dimensions to her words beautiful full-color picture book art by Wendell Minor and others and - music. Jean is collaborating with award-winning composer, Chris Kubie to bring the sounds of nature to her words.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jean Craighead George strikes a chord with everyone...., August 26, 2000

By 

Jake Stitch (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Side of the Mountain boxed set (My Side of the Mountain Gift Set) (Paperback)

In 1959, Jean Craighead George invited us all to visit the Catskill Mountians. She introduced us to a boy who lived there with a weasel, racoon, falcon, and an assortment of other friends. His name was Sam Gribley, and his year there would change his life.

That is the plot of the modern classic "My Side of the Mountain". Sam's coming-of-age is contained within the pages of that novel. The reader will feel like he/she is Sam when they read it because of all of the vivid descriptions. I wasn't me when I was reading it. I was on Sam's mountain, with his falcon, living his life. I didn't want it to end--and pleased to discover the sequel, "On the Far Side of the Mountain".

While the book isn't as classic as "My Side" is, (and a bit disappointing because of much change) it's good in its own way. Female fans of the author (Jean Craighead George) will enjoy this very much because of the spunky new herione, Sam's sister Alice, who has come to live with him on the mountain--or has she? The plot thickens when she disappears (just a day after Frightful is confascated by the confasation officer!) While the book can bug you at some times, finish it. The last three chapters make up for any and all of that with a powerfully heart-wrenching ending, which will strongly move you. I even cried after it, even though I know what happened--I'll leave that a mystery--was for the best.

Jean Craighead George has done it again. These two books are genuine treasures. This gift set is a must-have, and any nature lover would love to be given it. I'm as sure of it as Sam Gribley's falcon is Frightful. It also may be enjoyable to compare Sam to Julie (from "Julie of the Wolves") and Liza K (from "The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo"), both also authored by Jean. Any way you look at it--I don't see one reason why this isn't a good buy. You won't ever forget Sam, Frightful, The Baron Weasel, Jessie Coon James, Bando, Zella, Crystal, Miss Turner, Mrs. Strawberry, or Alice. I know I'll return to their mountain again soon.

ALSO RECCOMENDED: "Frightful's Mountain" "The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo" "Julie of the Wolves" "Hatchet" (by Gary Paulsen)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I remember reading this book in my youth, May 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: My Side of the Mountain boxed set (My Side of the Mountain Gift Set) (Paperback)

I read this book back when I was 10. I simply loved the book. In fact, all my brothers read it too, and they liked it just as much as I. I highly recommend this book, and I can hardly wait until I have a son around that age to give this book as a gift.

The book challenges your imagination and increases your desire to go outside and explore. In today's world where everything seems to involve television or computers, this book is the perfect solution to change that.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An adventure I will never forget!, November 22, 1998

By 

Kelly (Southwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Side of the Mountain boxed set (My Side of the Mountain Gift Set) (Paperback)

I am 29 years old now. It has been a long time since I was in the fifth grade. It surprises me that I still remember vividly My Side of the Mountain. What a great book. A young lad from New York City decides to run away, but not just anywhere. He heads for the Catskill Mountains. Here he lives off the land and makes his house in a burned out Redwood tree. Everyday is adventure and freedom. Every day is lived in the beautiful mountains with its scenic beauty. The boy befriends an eagle, eats wild berries, fishes the streams and creeks, and matures in the process. This book is a must for every child who has a sense of adventure, who appreciates the outdoors, and who admires wildlife. I might add that I am now a firefighter and my sense of adventure still lives. If you can't escape your city life, then live your adventure through My Side of the Mountain.