Where the Red Fern Grows

I loved this book and I will continue to love this book with all my heart. This book is indeed a timeless classic. The writing is not at all complex and it flows very fluently, unlike Old Yeller which is written in a weird way of wording that does fit the way words were spoken back then. The story is plotted very well. I felt very connected to the characters during the entire book, and, at the beginning, I really wanted Billy to get the dogs because I really know how bad he wanted them. I like how the author describes the boy’s wanting of dogs as if it is an ever growing disease or injury for the boy. This book is just simply so good. Despite the ending, that made me cry ugly tears, I give it 5 stars! I wish I could give it 6 stars actually! And, honestly, I liked it much better than Old Yeller, which surprised me.

I first read this book in 5th grade and it gutted me. To this day I don’t think I’ve ever read a more heartbreakingly beautiful book. I UGLY cried for 5 days straight. I reread it as a young adult, thinking it would be a nostalgic read but not as emotional..I was wrong. I bought a copy for my kids to read but at 44 I am still not ready for a 3rd read. Will forever be my favorite book.

This is a Great read! I love this book and so do all my Kids! A must read if you haven’t already!

Where the Red Fern Grows is a timeless coming-of-age story that hits hard no matter your age. Though aimed at younger readers, this novel holds a powerfully emotional narrative that captures the heart of anyone willing to dive into its pages. It follows Billy, a determined young boy growing up in the Ozarks, and the deep bond he forms with his two beloved coonhounds, Old Dan and Little Ann. What makes this book shine is its honest portrayal of hard work, loyalty, and loss. Billy earns his dogs through perseverance, raises them with love, and trains them into champion hunting dogs. His growth as a character—his independence, compassion, and quiet strength—is inspiring, especially as he faces the responsibilities of adulthood far earlier than most. And yet, his family—especially his grandfather—remains a grounding, loving force throughout his journey. But be warned: this book does not spare your emotions. Against all hope, you may try to convince yourself that not all endings are tragic—but Rawls doesn’t flinch from portraying the harsh truths of life. The ending is deeply heartbreaking, and it's not something you'll easily forget. Few books make you weep in public, but this is one of them. The grief is raw, the love is real, and the final image of the red fern is as poetic as it is symbolic. Even the so-called antagonists—such as the rival boys or even the tragic death of one—are handled with complexity and empathy, allowing readers to feel compassion even for the flawed characters. This nuance adds depth to what could have been a simple tale about a boy and his dogs and instead makes it a story of resilience, sacrifice, and deep emotional growth. Where the Red Fern Grows is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant story that explores childhood, devotion, and the pain of growing up. It's a must-read classic that lingers with you long after the final page—and yes, it may just break your heart, but it’s worth every tear.

Definitely a great classic, I was assigned to read this book in the sixth grade. And it is still a favorite. I actually bought this for my son he was mad to have to read a “ primitive” book 😂. But since I made him start it was nice to go by his room a few days later and see him laying in his bed reading instead of the phone or video game system. And now he is telling me the story as he reads, “they’re going to get that raccoon.” I wonder if he will cry when he get to the climatic point of the story…

My grandson is 8 and is just starting to read chapter books. Might be a little advanced for him but I will hope he reads it in the future.

Love this book. It is a classic.

Beautiful story of a boy and his dogs. I remember reading this in my childhood and was just as good reading again.

The story line is of the maturing of a boy to a young man in the wilds of the USA, by wanting and then training dogs to hunt coons (of Davy Crockett hat fame). I am not giving any more away. Read it.

The Short story -: When leaving work in Idaho's Snake River Valley, Billy Colman sees a pack of dogs attacking a stray coonhound. He chases the pack away and takes the stray home with him so he can nurse it back to health. Once it has recovered, Billy sets it free knowing that it will return home. The experience reminds Billy of his childhood growing up in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. He wants a dog, and his parents offer to get him a puppy from a neighbour’s litter. He is very specific, however, and tells them he wants two coonhounds, but his parents tell him that they don't have enough money. One day, he comes across a magazine advertisement for a dog house in Kentucky which breeds Redbone Coonhounds and sells them for $25 each. Determined to get dogs, he goes to work performing odd jobs such as selling vegetables to local fishermen and manages to save the $50 he needs with the help of his grandfather. However, since it takes two years to do so, his grandfather writes ahead to see if the dog house will honour the ad. They do so, and the price has dropped so the two puppies will only cost $40. Since the mail buggy does not deliver any living being, Billy's dogs are to be delivered to the freight depot in Tahlequah. His family is poor and does not have transportation, so he finds his own way to get to the depot and chooses to go straight through the hills. He picks up and leaves with his puppies, which are a male and a female. He also decides to buy something nice for each member of his family with his extra $10 before heading back home; he buys a pair of overalls for his father, some dress cloth for his mother and a bag of candy for his sisters. On the way back home, he spends the night in Robber's Cave on Sparrow Hawk Mountain. There he builds a fire and plays with the puppies. While trying to sleep, he hears a noise that he realizes is the cry of a mountain lion. In the morning, he continues on. He comes to a sycamore tree and sees the names Dan and Ann carved inside a heart in the bark and decides to name the puppies Old Dan and Little Ann. To train Old Dan and Little Ann, Billy traps a raccoon with the help of his grandfather and uses its pelt to teach them to hunt. During their training, their personalities become apparent: Old Dan is brave and strong, while Little Ann is very intelligent. Both are very loyal to each other and to Billy. On the first night of hunting season, Billy takes Old Dan and Little Ann out for their first hunt. He promises them that if they tree a raccoon, he will do the rest. They tree one in a large sycamore, which Billy had previously nicknamed "The Big Tree". As he tries to call them off, they look at him sadly and he cuts the tree down, which takes him two days and costs him blistered hands. In the end, when he's about to give up his effort, Billy offers a short prayer for strength to continue. A strong wind starts to blow and the tree falls. Old Dan and Little Ann take the raccoon down. Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann go hunting almost every night. As months go by, he brings more fur to his grandfather's store than any other hunter, and the stories of his dogs spread throughout the Ozarks. One day, he and his grandfather make a bet with Rubin and Rainie Pritchard, that his dogs can catch the very known “ghost coon". Rubin and Rainie set out with him to see if Old Dan and Little Ann can do so. It leads them on a long, complicated chase, and Rubin and Rainie want to give up. But Billy is determined. Finally, when they have it treed, Billy refuses to kill it. Rubin then orders his dog, Old Blue, to attack Old Dan, who is smaller; and Rubin start to beat Billy to stop him from interfering. Little Ann then helps Old Dan, and together they are killing Old Blue; Rubin runs to attack them with an axe, but he trips on it and kills himself. A few weeks later, Billy's grandfather enters him into a championship raccoon hunt, putting him against experienced hunters and the finest dogs in all the country. Before it starts, he enters Little Ann into a contest for the best-looking dog, where she wins and is given the silver cup. On the fourth night of the hunt, Old Dan and Little Ann tree three raccoons, making it to the final round. The sixth night, they tree one before a blizzard hits. Billy, his father, grandfather, and the judge lose sight of the dogs. When they finally find them, Billy's grandfather sprains his ankle .They build a fire, and when Billy's father chops down a tree, three raccoons jump out. Old Dan and Little Ann take two of them down, and chase the third one to another tree. In the morning, the hunters find them covered with ice circling the bottom of a tree. The last raccoon wins them the championship and the gold cup. The hunters also present them with $300 of jackpot money. Billy's mother and sisters are overjoyed with the prizes. He keeps up his hunting. One night, however, Old Dan and Little Ann tree a mountain lion, and it attacks. Billy is horrified, and with his axe he enters the fight, hoping to save his dogs, but they end up having to save him. Eventually, they defeat the mountain lion, but Old Dan is badly wounded, and Billy soon finds his intestines in a bush. He dies late that night. Billy is heartbroken, and Little Ann loses the will to live, stops eating, and dies of grief a few days later on Old Dan's grave. Billy's father tries to tell him that it is all for the best, because with the money they received from winning the championship hunt, they can move to town. He goes to visit Old Dan and Little Ann's graves and finds a giant red fern between them…..

Kleiner Spoiler aber ich muss es loswerden, das Ende des Buches war für much emotional damage ×1000. Aber ansonsten eine schöne Geschichte über die liebe eines Jungen zu seinen Hunden.

they are both Xmas presents so have not been opened yet

A classic youth novel! Will make a great gift!