A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate rce, suffering, and a promise of a new start to his life.

"Have you ever noticed animal tracks in the mud or the snow? Do you know what animal left those tracks? Did you pause to consider where that animal was going, what it was doing, or where it lived? A tree with claw scratches, a tuft of fur, a paw print, or a dropped feather may be all you have to go by. In this book, become a detective of mammal tracks and signs by searching for clues in the scene. See if you can figure out what animal left the tracks...