The My Side of the Mountain series, Book 1 Jean Craighead George Scholastic Fiction, MG Adventure Themes: Avians, Classics, Wilderness Tales ****
Description
Like many boys (and some girls), Sam Gribley dreamed of running away from home to live in the woods, like something out of an old story.
Unlike most, he actually set his mind to do it. The Gribley family owns a plot of land in the Catskill Mountains, though the place was abandoned
generations ago: it's here that Sam means to live his dream. He sets out with a head full of book-learned survival knowledge and a pocketful of
supplies... but the wilderness isn't a library book, and the old Gribley property is nothing like Third Avenue. Can a boy raised in New York City
survive in the forest, or will he turn back at the first sign of hardship, as everyone seems to expect?
Review
First published in 1959, My Side of the Mountain is a classic tale of wilderness survival and the beauty of nature. Sam's adventures
are, to a certain degree, wish fulfillment, emphasizing the bounty of the forest and the many delightful surprises of life beyond civilization,
with minimal true danger or hardship. He makes a home inside an ancient tree, "befriends" a few animal neighbors such as the Baron Weasel and a
scrawny raccoon, and even trains a wild falcon chick, Frightful, a loyal companion every child (or former child) would love to have. For all the
wonders of living out his fantasy, though, the civilized world always lurks at the edge of Sam's experience: a boy just can't up and disappear
into trackless wilds in modern times. Dealing with this persistent pull figures into the climax of the story. Without spoilers, the ending isn't
quite what I might have hoped, though it works okay within the tone and context of the book. It's a decent tale all in all, with many delightful
details and some memorable moments.
The My Side of the Mountain series, Book 2 Jean Craighead George Scholastic Fiction, MG Adventure Themes: Avians, Classics, Thieves, Wilderness Tales ****
Description
Two years ago, young Sam Gribley ran away from his New York City apartment to live in the wilderness. One year ago, his family came to live with
him... but only his sister Alice remained, as his father and mother learned why their ancestors had abandoned the family farm. Alice challenges Sam
with new ideas and projects, from a tree house home to a sawmill, but she's better company than he expected. Between her and his faithful falcon
Frightful, not to mention visitors like the English professor Bando and his wife, he's happy with his life on the mountain, and never
lonely.
Then the wildlife officer arrives, and gives him terrible news.
Peregrines are an endangered species, and owning one without a falconer's license is technically a felony. The man agrees to let him off with a
warning, but insists on taking the bird. Without his beloved companion, he falls into a funk - but his sister concocts a game to distract him when she
disappears. In following Alice from his familiar terrain, tracking her by woodcraft and clues she's left behind, Sam tries to forget about
Frightful... until he discovers that that "officer" may not have been who he claimed, and his sister may be in far more danger than she
understands.
Review
This is a worthy sequel to George's classic My Side of the Mountain, with the same love of the Adirondack wilderness shining on every page
and the same use of ink illustrations. Sam builds on experience and woodcraft gained in his first adventure, moving slowly (if somewhat reluctantly)
away from the boyish fantasy of living alone in a tree to a somewhat more sophisticated and civilized experience - a necessary growth, as he realizes
that utter loneliness is as unpleasant as it is impossible in modern times. In doing so, he tries to strike a balance between comfort (and
companionship) and a connection with nature. Alice gives him motivation to change, not just in her many projects but in literally pulling him from his
comfort zone in her cross-country trek... though, for all her woodcraft, she comes across as somewhat immature. Sam thought he'd learned all he needed
to know about himself and the wilderness in the first book, but this volume teaches him more. It also touches on issues of conservation, endangered
species protection, and the illegal animal trade. If the first volume was about Sam proving that he could survive, this is the story of Sam truly growing
up and learning to see the larger world. It almost earned an extra half-star, though some of the later bits feel a little forced. It's still quite
enjoyable, and holds up rather well.
The My Side of the Mountain series, Book 3 Jean Craighead George Scholastic Fiction, MG Adventure Themes: Anthropomorphism, Avians, Classics ****
Description
When she was ten days old, Frightful the peregrine falcon was taken from her nest by a boy and raised as companion and hunter. He meant well,
and loved her as dearly as she loves him, but Sam didn't understand what he'd done: not only was it illegal, but Frightful imprinted on humans,
and her highly endangered species can't risk the loss of a breeding female. Reluctantly, Sam let her go... but Frightful can't forget her human
or her home in the hemlock tree, even as her instincts wake with the freedom of open skies and the call of of her own kind. Can she relearn her
place in the wilderness, or is she, like so many raptors in a human-tainted world, doomed to failure and death?
Review
The third in George's My Side of the Mountain series (formerly a trilogy) strikes a different tone, putting the reader alongside - but not
inside the mind of - Frightful the falcon. By not putting human thoughts into her head, the author preserves a degree of mystery and wildness in the
nonhuman star. Frightful struggles to adapt to her Sam-less existence, often caught in a tug-of-war between memory and instinct. Along the way, she
intersects the lives of numerous humans, some old acquaintances and some new allies (or enemies), as well as other animals and falcons. The story
sometimes meanders between adventures, even as it discusses the plight of raptors, the many threats facing wildlife, and the frustration of conservation
efforts thwarted and fouled by bureaucratic red tape. Not all the birds have happy endings, here, and not all problems have easy solutions. Along
the way, we see enough of Sam and Alice to watch their final phase of growth, as they, too, shed their fledgling feathers and take flight in their
own lives. I came close to clipping the tale for some soft spots and wandering, but ultimately granted it a full four stars. Like all of George's
books in this trilogy, it's a love letter to the marvels of nature and a wake-up call to the humans on whom the wilderness now depends for survival.
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