The narrative unfolds in the 1950s, nestled in the Catskill Mountains of eastern New York State. Sam Gribley arrives in search of his great-grandfather's farm and discovers the old homestead surrounded by towering trees, lush meadows, cascading waterfalls, and "clear athletic streams" teeming with trout. He establishes his home within an ancient hemlock tree and experiences the changing seasons alongside deer, raccoons, a hunting falcon, weasels, skunks, bats, and countless birds.

Sam's treehouse is situated in a secluded area, with the closest small town, Delhi, being several miles away. The mountains feel isolated during the cold and snowy winter months. However, in the fall, hunters venture into the region seeking deer, and in the summer, the woods are bustling with campers, hikers, and fishermen.

Due to the remote location and Sam's desire to live as close to nature as possible, his daily life mirrors that of the mid-eighteenth century. Besides forty dollars, a penknife, a ball of cord, an ax, flint, and steel that he brought with him, Sam only has access to items found in nature.

Sam faces significant dangers and challenges, especially during the cold Catskill winters. He is frightened by snow and ice storms that block the entrance to his tree home, and he also risks suffocation due to poor ventilation from his homemade fireplace.

My Side of the Mountain is an adventure tale centered on self-reliance and survival. Sam Gribley, a young boy from New York, yearns to live independently on his great-grandfather's land in the Catskill Mountains. He spends an entire year hiding in the woods, subsisting on wild food, constructing a shelter inside a tree, tanning deerskin for clothing, enduring harsh snow and ice storms, and avoiding detection by outsiders. This compelling story includes detailed instructions for various survival techniques such as starting a fire without matches, making salt, boiling water using a leaf, and preserving food.

My Side of the Mountain also explores the deep bond between a boy and the animals around him. Throughout the year, Sam meticulously trains a baby falcon to hunt and discovers that wild raccoons and weasels offer valuable companionship and protection. He learns the dangers of feeding wild animals, realizes that nuthatch birds can serve as reliable barometers, and uncovers why birds' feet do not freeze during winter.

Narrated from Sam's first-person perspective, My Side of the Mountain celebrates the human ability to coexist harmoniously with nature. Some parts of the novel are presented as diary entries. The language is straightforward, genuine, and reflective of a young teenager's voice. Certain sections are introspective and philosophical, while others include notes on daily activities, diagrams, sketches, and even recipes. The characters are believable, and the ending is unexpected.

While not packed with action, the novel maintains a brisk pace due to its intriguing details. It offers meticulous observations of the natural environment. The realistic, informative, and well-researched descriptions make much of the book serve as a practical "handbook" for those aspiring to live in the wilderness.

My Side of the Mountain was written in the 1950s, a time when women's roles were closely associated with preparing meals for their families. It is understandable, then, that Sam's mother is primarily concerned with ensuring Sam has enough food. However, considering the era's typical view of a close-knit family, readers might be surprised that Mrs. Gribley does not immediately search for her son or seem overly worried about his safety. The book seems to depict women negatively by suggesting that Mrs. Gribley's main motivation for finding her son is the fear that people would think she had "not done her duty."

The novel also implies that newspaper reporters and public officials, such as the fire warden, are not to be trusted, and that it might be acceptable to protect a bandit from the police. Additionally, the story hints that technology poses a threat ("Who knows when we're all going to be blown to bits and need to know how to smoke venison?") and concludes that every "normal red-blooded American boy wants to live in a treehouse and trap his own food."

My Side of the Mountain was adapted into a film by Bob Radnitz Productions and Paramount Pictures. The movie diverges from the book in several notable ways. Rather than having Sam try to "get back to nature" using traditional methods, the film portrays him experimenting with algae production. He even examines the algae with a microscope he carries in his backpack. Additionally, the film presents Bando as a wandering musician who spends a month with Sam, teaching him various practical skills. There is no indication that Sam suspects his guest might be an escaped bandit.

The film places significant focus on training Frightful and includes stunning footage of the falcon in flight. Unlike the book, the movie shows Frightful being killed by a careless hunter.

In the movie, Sam becomes trapped by a snow wall and is saved by Bando. After this near-death experience, Sam decides it's time to return home, saying, "I've learned all I can." This contrasts with the novel, where Sam escapes by simply poking his head through the soft snow and standing up, and where his solitary adventure is interrupted by his family's decision to move to the woods.

My Side of the Mountain shares thematic elements with several of George's other books. The Summer of the Falcon (1962) involves falcon training and explores the relationship between teenagers and their parents. Both Julie of the Wolves and The Talking Earth (1983) focus on the adventures of solitary youths who learn to survive in the wild, much like Sam. Cry of the Crow (1980), set in the Everglades, tells the story of a young girl and her pet crow. Spring Comes to the Ocean is an ecological tale showing the impact of spring on ocean life, and the series The Thirteen Moons (1967-1969) illustrates how each month of the lunar year affects specific animals.

George, Jean Craighead. Journey Inward. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1982. This autobiographical work outlines the circumstances that influenced George's writing and highlights her profound appreciation for nature.

Melvin, Helen. "Jean Craighead George: Biographical Note." In Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books, 1966-1975, edited by Lee Kingman. Boston: Horn Book, 1975. A close friend offers biographical insights about George.