Book excerpt: Discover the loneliness that comes with a solitary and independent life. The quizzes and activity pages make this resource accessible for all students. Students choose their own animal to become their faithful companion, much like Frightful is to Sam. Elaborate on Sam's realization that he is low in vitamin C by researching other vitamins and explaining what they provide to the human body. Test comprehension with multiple choice questions that ask about how Sam spends Christmas on the mountain. Predict how long it will be before Sam sees his father again. Identify the different relationships Sam makes with both animals and other people during his time in the Catskill Mountains. Aligned to your State Standards, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: My Side of the Mountain follows one boy's journey into the wilderness and the most unlikely realization he finds there. Sam Gribley is an adolescent boy who lives in a small New York City apartment with eight brothers and sisters. He hates feeling trapped and dreams of living in the wide open space that only the wilderness can provide. He decides then to run away to his grandfather's abandoned farm in the Catskill Mountains. On the way, Sam recounts how he survives a snowstorm and befriends a falcon and weasel. He learns many skills from people he meets on his journey that will help him to survive his independent lifestyle. However, Sam finds his solitude more lonesome than he thought, and soon yearns for human interaction. This coming-of-age story follows the mental and physical growth of a young boy as he discovers who he really is.