All Characters
Characters: Sam Gribley
Sam Gribley, a perceptive and resolute teenager, is the central figure in My Side of the Mountain. Raised in a large family of eleven in New York City, he cherishes his solitude and autonomy. His mother, who formerly worked as a dietician at a children's hospital, and his father, a former sailor now employed at the docks, support Sam's venture into self-sufficient living.
In the wilderness, Sam's closest companions are Frightful, a trained peregrine...
(Read more)Bando
During his year in the wild, Sam mostly avoids human contact but does form a few significant friendships. Another is Bando, a college English professor who gets lost while hiking in the mountains. Bando spends ten days with Sam in the summer and returns for Christmas; he crafts willow whistles and fires clay pots for blueberry jam.
Frightful
In the wilderness, Sam's closest companions are Frightful, a trained peregrine falcon; Jesse Coon James, a raccoon; and Baron Weasel. These animals become his friends, offering protection and companionship.
Expert Q&A
What are three steps in Frightful's training from My Side of the Mountain?
In "My Side of the Mountain," Sam trains Frightful, his falcon, through several steps. Initially, he familiarizes her with human interaction by talking to and touching her, making her easier to train. In a more structured phase, he uses a leash and meat to teach her to respond to his whistle. Finally, he trains her to hunt by letting her attack a lure, reinforcing her ability to catch prey and await a reward.
Tom Sidler
During his year in the wild, Sam mostly avoids human contact but does form a few significant friendships. Sam also befriends a boy who works at the drugstore, known to Sam as "Mr. Jacket." By the year's end, this boy, whose real name is Tom Sidler, becomes a frequent weekend visitor to the woods.
Miss Turner
During his year in the wild, Sam mostly avoids human contact but does form a few significant friendships. One is Miss Turner, a librarian who helps him find the old farmstead and even gives him a haircut with her library scissors.
Matt Spell
Other characters include Matt Spell, a young reporter from a New York newspaper who writes an article about Sam.
Mrs. Thomas Fielder
Other characters include ninety-seven-year-old Mrs. Thomas Fielder, who insists Sam pick strawberries for her.
Bill
Other characters include Bill, a kindly old man who teaches Sam to start a fire with flint and steel.
Aaron
Other characters include Aaron, a hiker from New York who visits the Catskills during Passover.
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