Where the Red Fern Grows

I was a lonely child despite having friends and siblings. I was (still am) an awkward kid who only felt at ease with a book, a cat or two (or twelve), and a dog (or four). But the dogs of my childhood were not mine. They belonged to my siblings and parents, so I was beset with dog envy.

Family turmoil delayed my turn as a dog owner until I was a young adult. Through all those years of waiting and wishing, this book reminded me that the experience of owning and loving dogs is mostly wonderful, sometimes painful, and… show more.

This book is a classic.  It has heart, action, comedy and an awesome Grandpa who is always there with some wise wisdom.  Billy Coleman is a country kid growing up on a farm.  He decides he wants to get two Coonhounds and…well, I don’t want to spoil the tale.

I first read this book at age 12 and have read it once a year since then. If you grew up out in the country, like I did, with wide open skies, a big heart, and a little bit of mischief, this book is for you.  

My 6th-grade teacher read this book to our class, and years later, I shared it with my daughters; each time, I was overwhelmed with sadness. What I admired most about this book was Billy’s determination to help his struggling family and his vision of raising two hunting dogs to hunt raccoons (as there was money in selling coon pelts).

Billy and his dogs (Old Dan and Little Ann) wander the Ozarks hunting coons. Soon, his team wins a Championship Jackpot and becomes a local legend. However, the Ozarks are full of mystery and danger, and while they track the wiliest… show more.

What I liked about this book is that it showed the lighter side of humanity.

Even though the family depicted in the story was dirt poor, their home was full of love, faith, and dignity. Another thing I liked about this book was the insight it shared on how children were often raised not too long ago, with the freedom to go where they wanted and do what they wanted, that took a whole lot of courage on the parent’s part to allow that.

I read this book when I was in third grade, just slightly older than the age I was when I wrote my own book, and it has always held a place in my heart.

I do think it’s necessary to remind people, particularly with this book, that often when reading about animals, there can be sadness with the joy. So consider this a content warning: To this day, I have never cried harder after reading a book. But it was worth it.

You may have been slightly traumatized by this book (or the movie it inspired) as a kid in grade school, but don’t let that stop you from revisiting this autobiographical tale of a young boy and his loyal coonhounds.

Set in eastern Oklahoma in the foothills of the Ozarks, the book follows young Billy as he works odd jobs and saves toward his dream of owning a pair of dogs who can accompany him on raccoon hunts.

When he finally obtains Old Dan and Little Ann, the dogs touch his life in unexpected ways, becoming loyal and loving companions as… show more.

I made the mistake of reading Where the Red Fern Grows in class during “quiet time” and had to crouch under a table so that nobody could see me cry. I cried so hard that my teacher eventually sent me out to the drinking fountain to pull myself together. I knew nothing about the Ozarks or the complexities of raccoon hunting, but I identified greatly with Billy, a boy who wanted puppies so much that he saved every dime for two years to pay for them. To this day I look for red ferns, which, according to the story, can… show more.

Although I was admittedly not keen on the scenes of violence inflicted on raccoons during this book, the tale does have many endearing and meaningful parts. Among them is the depth of loyalty not just between the boy and his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, but between the dogs themselves. Particularly compelling was the loyalty displayed by Little Ann toward Old Dan. The latter was stubborn and headstrong, often chasing into the woods in pursuit of the hunt without forethought. But no matter how many scratches and scars Old Dan suffered during the chase, Little Ann was always there… show more.

Unlike my other recommendations, this story is about a boy and two dogs, so it is not only about the boy's love for the dogs but about the dogs’ love for each other. It’s also a story about childhood, about freedom and wilderness, about courage and determination and loyalty, about love and heartbreak. It’s a devastating, beautiful tribute to childhood, to adolescence, to family and to love.