Jean Craighead George

This story will appeal to any child who thinks it would be fun to try to survive on their own in the wild. Of course an adult can pick it apart as being far too idealistic--sort of like The Swiss Family Robinson, but that doesn't spoil the enjoyment of imagining how you could survive in the wild. 

Sam Gribley leaves New York City and spends a year in the Catskill Mountains. One of the things he does is tame a falcon.