My Side of the Mountain

Content Ratings

No Romance

There is no romantic content; Sam's world is entirely focused on his relationship with the wilderness and its animals.

Light Themes

The novel's themes are gentle and empowering, centered on self-reliance, curiosity about the natural world, and the quiet fulfillment of living independently; emotional challenges are minimal.

No Violence

There is no violence; animals are hunted for food as a natural part of Sam's survival, but hunting is portrayed practically rather than graphically.

Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Sam Gribley runs away from his overcrowded New York City family to live alone in the Catskill Mountains, where he hollows out a tree for shelter, trains a peregrine falcon, and teaches himself to live off the land through an entire year. The novel is a detailed and affectionate guide to wilderness living told through Sam's journal entries, balanced by warm humor and a genuine love of nature. A classic survival-and-adventure story brimming with practical ingenuity.