Unlike most kids who run away from home and then quickly run back, Sam spends a full year living alone in the mountains. What is it about Sam that allows him to actually run away from home so successfully? More specifically, discuss what character traits Sam possesses that most kids his age do not.

Over the course of the book, Sam grows closer to nature through his bonds with animals, such as with Frightful, Jessie C. James, and The Baron. Discuss and give examples of the ways Sam learns to communicate with these animals and others alike.

Sam’s journey into the mountains illuminates the differences between city and country. What are some of the biggest differences that Sam notices between living in the city and living in the mountains?