Age rating and parents' guide:My Side of the Mountain
by Jean Craighead George
Ages 9–14
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George is best for children aged 9–14. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language.
Tired of his crowded New York City apartment, young Sam Gribley runs away to the Catskill Mountains to live off the land on his family's old homestead. Hollowing out a massive hemlock tree for shelter, he learns to forage, make fire, and train a young peregrine falcon named Frightful to hunt alongside him. Invites readers to look more closely at the natural world.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- None
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Emotionally light
Great for kids who like
- Animals
- Nature & outdoors
Reading mood
- Thoughtful
Good to talk about
- Family
- Engineering & making
Books like My Side of the Mountain
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
Ages 9–14
Anne of Green Gables
by L.M. Montgomery
When elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan boy to help on their Prince Edward Island farm, they are surprised by the arrival of Anne Shirley—a spirited, red-headed girl with a fiery temper and boundless imagination.
Ages 9–14
Pax
by Sara Pennypacker
Peter and his pet fox, Pax, have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But when war breaks out, Peter's father enlists and forces him to return Pax to the wild. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 9–14
Fish in a Tree
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ally has managed to hide her inability to read by acting out and causing distractions at every new school she attends. Feeling hopeless and convinced she is simply not smart, her outlook begins to shift when a perceptive new teacher, Mr. Daniels, recognizes her struggles as dyslexia. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 9–13
The Village by the Sea
by Anita Desai
In a small fishing village in India, young siblings Lila and Hari face severe hardship. With their mother seriously ill and their father struggling with alcoholism, the children must shoulder the burden of keeping the family together. Hari eventually leaves for Bombay in search of work, while Lila manages life at home. It is a poignant, grounded story of resilience, sibling bonds, and hope amidst economic struggle, giving young readers a vivid look at rural life and modern change.
Ages 9–13
Asha & the Spirit Bird
by Jasbinder Bilan
Living in the foothills of the Himalayas, Asha worries when money stops arriving from her father in the city. When a ruthless moneylender threatens to take their family home, Asha sets off on a dangerous trek across the mountains to find him, accompanied by her best friend Jeevan. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.