Every Monday, I'll post about the pages we are reading for the week. The post will always include some advice about reading the book, some videos you might want to watch or articles you might want to read related to the book, ideas about how you can bring the book to life, and questions to think about and respond to. Post your ideas about the book using the "comment" form.
I googled "Catskill Mountains in May," and I found this beautiful picture that helped me imagine what the land might have looked like when Sam first arrived to the Gribley Farm. I can imagine him bent over this creek trying to catch a crayfish!
WELCOME TO THE CATSKILLS: Sam Gribley travels from our hometown to the Catskill Mountains. The Catskill Mountains are close by, and there is so much to learn about them! Visit this link to learn about what animals probably shared the mountain with Sam. Visit this site to learn about some of the edible plants found on the Catskills. The Catskill Mountains have a rich and diverse history. They were even involved in the Revolutionary War. Visit this site to learn all about the history of the Catskills. If you visit the Catskills Archives, they have an awesome slide show of pictures and paintings of life in the Catskills. It really shows you how life has changed in the Catskills over time!
This video transports you to the Catskill Mountains and shows you some of the most beautiful areas in the mountains today.
WALKING TOUR: Take a walking tour around your block, backyard, front stoop or neighborhood. Bring someone knowledgeable or a guidebook to plants with you. What do you find that's edible? Could you survive on what you find? If Sam stumbled upon this area, what meal would he make?
Questions to Ponder/Answer:
1. Sam's way of thinking and acting changed dramatically from his first nights on the mountain to how he is thinking and acting at the end of this section. How did Sam's way of thinking and acting change? What does that tell you about Sam?
2. What do you think about the fact that all the adults in Sam's life seem alright with him running far away from New York City to live in the woods by himself?
3. How would you describe Sam? What kind of person is he? What big theories are you already growing about Sam and this story?
In order for our book club to be the most successful and exciting, our blog needs to be a place where we can have a conversation. Read other people's comments. Write back to people. Use their name so they know you are talking about them. Ask people questions you have about the book. Suggest answers to questions people post. Check back often and add your ideas!
I think the book is about finding your way because Sam is finding his way. I think that's what the mountain is about and the book and Sam is finding his way on his side of the mountain.
ReplyDeleteFrom,
Bria
Bria,
ReplyDeleteI think you've got a great theory going so far! What makes you think the book is about finding your way? Is there a specific part from the book that makes you think that?
From,
Katie
I would describe Sam as a person who will take his own risks to do something right for his family or for a different reason because his risk is that he is trying to live in the woods just so he can live on his families farm in the Catskill Mountains. One thing I noticed is that right after Sam stayed with Bill for a little while he started to slant off of his goal of staying in the woods, because then he started traveling on the side of the rode and also going to the library. But staying at Bill's house helped him know how to make a fire in the wilderness.
ReplyDeleteFrom,
Ellis
Ellis,
ReplyDeleteYou are thinking so deeply about Sam and the kind of person he is already. Why do you think it is so important for Sam to live off of his family's land in the Catskill Mountains when he could have gone anywhere to live?
He certainly is a kid who takes a lot of risks. I can't imagine ever going to live in the woods without knowing for certain how to make a fire. At the same time, I feel like he did a lot of research before he went into the woods. He knew about what herbs to eat and what traps to make to catch animals. Sam is definitely a COMPLICATED character!
From,
Katie
I agree, and I think it is important for Sam to live off of his family's land because he thought that his father wouldn't believe him when he said he was running away and thats where he said he was going so his dad could find him.
ReplyDeleteFrom,
Ellis
Ellis,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you added on to that idea. It seems like you're getting at something even bigger. Maybe Sam was trying to prove the adults in his family wrong. Everyone said the Gribleys couldn't live off the land and that kids couldn't live off the land alone. We'll have to see if this big theory stays true as we keep reading or if we'll need to revise it!
From,
Katie
I also agree with Ellis and Bria because Sam is so resourceful he knows how to survive. I had a theory that as long as Sam had resources, he could survive
ReplyDeleteAdding on to Bria, I think that the message of the book so far, is that as long as you try to find your way, you will. Adding on to Ellis, I also think that Sam takes risks, like staying with Bill or capturing frightful, butif he hadn't taken the risks, he probably wouldn't have survived. I agree that Sam was determined to prove his family wrong, but as time passes I can see, if only sometimes, he misses his family. I know I would.
- Leela
Absolutly. I agree with everything said so far. I have a theory why sam could escape,but nobody else could. all other people where independent, but sam
ReplyDeletewasn't.
-max
Leela,
ReplyDeleteI love how you added on to Ellis's theory a little. Maybe it's more complicated than Sam just wanting to prove his family wrong and show them that he can do it. He also misses his family in these intense ways at time. Do you think that's what made him search out Bill and Frightful? I love how you reminded us that characters are never as simple as we originally think!
-Katie
Max,
ReplyDeleteYou're growing a really interesting theory about why Sam could escape. Can you say more about it? What do you mean that all other people were independent, but Sam wasn't?
-Katie
I agree with everyone, and I think the book is written to show Sam as a mentor and inspire people to do what he did, and I think the author did it very well; I want to live off the elements too, even though I know I wouldn't be able to. It's interesting what writers can do with their writing.
ReplyDelete~Ida
Ida,
ReplyDeleteYou raise such an interesting point when you talk about how writers can really inspire you to action. What did Jeanne Craighead George do to inspire you to want to be like Sam? Were there specific words, quotes or passages that made you want to live off the elements too?
-Katie
what I meant with that was that sam's father,grandfather,great grandfather,etc...,all were determined to be independent,but sam had the dignity to get help from other people.(The librarian,Bill,and more recently,bando)
ReplyDelete-max
Max,
ReplyDeleteI love how you went back and added on to your original thought! You're raising a really interesting idea when you say that Sam had the dignity to get help from others. He's smart enough to know when he needs help and humble enough to ask for it!
-Katie
Readers--Remember that you can ask each other questions as well! If you read a post someone puts up, you can write a question to them the same way I have been doing to each of you! Then, why they visit the site again, they can read your question and respond to it.
ReplyDeleteI love all the rich insights you are sharing from the book. They are helping me to see the book in a new way!
-Katie
Sam's situation changed a lot! He went from a cold kid in the woods to a kid eating rabbit,fruit and really anything eadible, in the forest! This makes me think that Sam is very self sufficient and brave. This is one heck of a book!
ReplyDeleteSam is the type of person that likes to live on his own. He became good at finding his own food. He took a female baby falcon and is going to train the falcon to help him. I like how he went from City guy into a woods guy and am interested in seeing how he learns more about living in the woods and the falcon. I think Sam still is a city kid at heart but we sill see in the book.
ReplyDeleteJason
Jason,
ReplyDeleteSam is definitely the kind of person who likes to live on his own. He doesn't seem to miss other people or his family very often. I love the idea that Sam might still be a city kid at heart! What makes you think that? Let's see if we can collect more information to prove or disprove that idea as we continue reading!
-Katie