My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George/1960 honor

I recently read My Side of the Mountain for the first time, and absolutely loved it! I was impressed by Sam's attitude towards achieving things: he wanted to live independently, so he just went and did it. If he wasn't sure how to do something, he experimented until he got it right, or he read up on how to do it and he figured it out from there. That's the kind of attitude you just don't see in people nowadays, especially kids who are the same age as Sam.

In the introduction the author talks about how most people at one point or another want to run away and live off the land, but something stops us. I think she's right; I can remember wanting to do the same thing when I was little, in fact I still want to do it. As soon as I finished this book I went and found my copy of the SAS Survival Handbook and started reading! I'll never live off the land like Sam does, but I can still teach myself a thing or two.

I read this book when I was in middle school. I remember thinking how amazing it was that he was able to live on that mountain all by himself. I remember reading about what he ate and then considering finding some where I lived and trying it. Never did, though.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to pick up a backpack and head out -- anywhere -- on my own. Well, maybe with my dog.

I haven't read this one yet...I'll start watching for it at the Goodwill now for sure...Thanks for the post! :-)