book review on where the red fern grows

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Book Review

Where the red fern grows.

• Wilson Rawls
• Adventure , Coming-of-Age

Readability Age Range

• Yearling Books, a division of Random House
• Over the last 50 years, this story has won many regional awards.

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine .

Plot Summary

The story opens with Billy Colman, a grown man, coming upon a vicious dog fight between a Redbone Coonhound and neighborhood street dogs. Billy scares the other dogs away and takes the hound home to help it recover. When the dog is on its feet again and noticeably restless, Billy realizes that the dog has a home somewhere and that he must set it free so it can find its way back. As the dog trots off, it turns and appears thankful to Billy for his kindness. The experience releases a flood of memories from Billy’s boyhood past.

Ten-year-old Billy lives on a farm in the Ozark Mountains with his parents and three younger sisters. He desperately wants two good coonhounds, but his family is poor and cannot afford them. One day Billy finds an advertisement offering a pair of Redbone Coonhounds in Kentucky for $25 each. Billy decides to work to earn the money. For two years, he works hard, selling food, supplies and bait to fishermen, and manages to save $50. His grandfather contacts the dog kennel and discovers that the two puppies will now cost only $40. Billy gives the money to his grandfather, who orders the dogs. The puppies are sent to the town depot.

Billy sneaks out of his home one night to walk to town to pick up his new pups. With the extra money he has saved, he buys presents for his family. While in town, other children pick a fight with him, but Billy stands up for himself and is helped by the town’s kind marshal.

On his way home, Billy and his two puppies seek shelter in a cave. As Billy builds a fire, they hear a mountain lion screaming from far away, and the pups run to the entrance to howl into the darkness. Billy decides to name his dogs Old Dan and Little Ann. Old Dan has the brawn and the bravery, while Little Ann is intelligent.

With his grandfather’s help, Billy traps a raccoon and uses the skin to teach his new pups how to track a raccoon. Both dogs prove to be natural hunters. They are fiercely loyal to each other and to Billy. As the hunting season begins, Billy makes a promise to his dogs: If they get a raccoon up a tree, he will do the rest. The dogs chase their first raccoon into one of the largest trees in the woods, and Billy, not wanting to disappoint his dogs, undertakes the job of cutting down the tree, a Herculean task that takes him a few days of chopping. When he is most of the way through the tree, Billy feels he can’t continue, and he prays for the strength to finish the job. A wind starts to blow, and the tree comes crashing down. The eager dogs take the raccoon down.

Billy and his dogs hunt every night, and the team soon grows to be among the best hunters in the area. Two local boys named Rubin and Rainie Pritchard dare Billy into a raccoon-hunting bet. Billy wants to ignore the dare, but the Pritchard boys only taunt Billy and his grandfather. Billy’s grandfather grows frustrated with the Pritchards and says that Billy and his dogs will take the bet. After several days of tracking the elusive raccoon, Little Ann finally chases it down. The animal’s tricks have earned Billy’s respect, and he doesn’t want to kill the coon. Rubin and Rainie become angry with Billy and allow their dog, a blue tick hound, to pick a fight with Old Dan. Billy’s dogs stand their ground against the blue tick hound, and he slinks away. Furious, Rubin Pritchard picks up Billy’s ax to go after Old Dan. Billy trips the Pritchard boy, and he falls onto the blade and dies. Billy feels awful about the incident, and he is unable to hunt for many days. He is haunted by nightmares of the tragedy.

Time passes, and Billy’s grandfather shows him an advertisement for an upcoming coon-hunting contest. Grandpa has been counting the coonskins that Billy has brought into the store, and he is confidant that Old Dan and Little Dan can win the championship and the $300 prize money. Excited for the opportunity, Billy and his dogs, along with his grandfather and father, pack up their gear and travel to the contest. Before the main hunting event, Little Ann wins first place in a hunting dog “beauty” contest.

The hunt begins and Billy’s dogs gradually make it to the final round. A terrible storm lashes the mountain on the last day of the hunt, and Billy’s team gets separated. His grandpa breaks his ankle, and Billy begins to despair, believing his beloved dogs are dead. The next morning, several other hunters from the contest track down Billy and his team. The dogs have been nearly frozen to death from the ice storm, and Billy helps them recover by warming them next to a fire. Billy is declared the winner of the championship and is given a gold cup as well as the $300 prize money.

Weeks later, Billy is hunting with his dogs on the trail of what they think is a coon. But the animal turns out to be a mountain lion. Old Dan and Little Ann get into a vicious fight with the creature. The lion tears at the dogs, especially Old Dan, who gives his life to save Billy from the attacking lion. Billy fights his way to his feet and finally kills the lion with his ax. Soon after, Little Ann also dies, as she no longer has the desire to live without her companion. Billy grieves the loss of his beloved hounds and dutifully buries them on a hillside near the family’s farm.

The following year, Billy’s family prepares to move into town, where the children can get a good education. As they are leaving, Billy visits his dogs’ gravesite to say a final goodbye. He is surprised to see a tall red fern growing between the graves, and he remembers an old Indian story about how red ferns are supposedly planted by angels. Once planted, the ferns live forever. Billy feels a new peace about the death of his dogs, and he leaves to join his family.

Christian Beliefs

God exists and seems to answer prayers. Billy often prays, believing that God is on his side and wants to protect his dogs. His faith is shaken when his dogs die. Christian virtues such as faithfulness, patience and courage are portrayed in a very positive light.

Other Belief Systems

There is a reference to Indian legends with a mystic view of nature.

Authority Roles

Billy greatly respects his parents, though he is disappointed by economic circumstances. Billy has an especially close relationship with his grandfather, who he says knows him better than anyone else.

Profanity & Violence

There are hints of anger and muttered curses, though no explicit words are used. There is one usage of b–ch , the correct word for a female dog.

Several instances of graphic animal violence on hunts and in fights, and one gruesome fight between dogs and a mountain lion are portrayed. Bullies pick fights with Billy. A boy dies when he falls on an ax.

Sexual Content

Discussion topics.

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

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Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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Where the red fern grows.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 21 Reviews
• Kids Say 72 Reviews

Parents Say

Based on 21 parent reviews

Parent Reviews

This title has:

• Great messages

Report this review

I want to have dogs-2 ... and i would name them dan and ann.

• Great role models

Cry and Scream and Laugh

• Educational value

Paints vivid images

Amazing shows lots of integrity, awesome shows a lot of great traits that you would want a regular kid to have, a wonderfully emotional adventure, extreme tear-jerker and guaranteed to leave you in tears.

• Too much swearing
• Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

What to Read Next

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Charlie's Raven

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Children's books about animals, books about friendship, related topics.

• Cats, Dogs, and Mice
• Great Boy Role Models
• Wild Animals

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

That Book Broad

Let's get lit., review: where the red fern grows by wilson rawls.

THIS BOOK DESTROYED ME 😭

This story explores the depths of the bonds humans can have with their pets, and how deep that love, loyalty, and understanding can go despite being different species.

Wilson Rawls has created a rich, emotional tale – and a very well formed story, at that – set in the Missouri Ozarks about a resourceful boy named Billy and his two hunting hounds, Old Dan and Little Ann 🐕🐕

Billy relies on his dogs, and they rely on him. They have each other’s backs out in the danger of the wild. They communicate without speaking, practically read each other’s minds. Theirs is a symbiotic relationship, equally beneficial to and sacrificial of both.

While lots of people had this as required reading in middle school, it somehow slipped under my radar, so when I saw an old copy at my parents’ house last year, I grabbed it for a rainy day.

Well, the only thing raining was my eyes. Wow, a book has not made me sob like that since the last Harry Potter. But the sadness isn’t without purpose. It’s a beautiful story.

I can see why this is required reading at schools, because this is a book everyone should read.

Rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐/5

It’s strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man’s mind for so many years. Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something you’ve seen, or something you’ve heard, or the sight of an old familiar face. —Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows

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One thought on “ review: where the red fern grows by wilson rawls ”.

This story was actually what made me decide as a child that I wanted to get into hounds.

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Where the Red Fern Grows

Wilson rawls.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Wilson Rawls's Where the Red Fern Grows . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Where the Red Fern Grows: Introduction

Where the red fern grows: plot summary, where the red fern grows: detailed summary & analysis, where the red fern grows: themes, where the red fern grows: quotes, where the red fern grows: characters, where the red fern grows: symbols, where the red fern grows: theme wheel, brief biography of wilson rawls.

Historical Context of Where the Red Fern Grows

Other books related to where the red fern grows.

• Full Title: Where the Red Fern Grows
• When Written: Late 1950s
• When Published: 1961
• Literary Period: Contemporary Children’s Literature
• Genre: Fiction; Children’s Novel
• Setting: The Oklahoma Ozarks
• Climax: Billy and his beloved hounds Old Dan and Little Ann encounter a terrifying mountain lion while hunting raccoons one night, and a fatal fight ensues.
• Antagonist: Rubin Pritchard
• Point of View: First-Person Retrospective

Extra Credit for Where the Red Fern Grows

Memorialized. At the public library in Idaho Falls, there is a statue of Billy Colman, Old Dan, and Little Ann which readers young and old can visit. Cast in copper by artist Marilyn Hoff Hansen, the statue stands in the town where Wilson Rawls wrote Where the Red Fern Grows and honors the massive impact the book has had on readers since its publication in 1961. The official title of the work is “Dreams Can Come True”—a name that reflects the book’s themes of patience, prayer, faith, and, above all, trust in one’s animal companions.

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A Journey of Words

Book review: where the red fern grows, where the red fern grows by wilson rawls, my rating: 4 / 5 genre: children’s classic.

I remember liking this book more when I read it as a child/pre-teen than I did this time. I seem to recall being emotionally invested and thinking it was poignant (I probably didn’t use that word in my mind as a kid though). As an adult, I feel emotionally manipulated. Let’s start with the overall story first, though, and leave the ending for later.

I read this at the same time as my 12-year-old daughter, who was reading it for school. We agreed that the book starts off pretty slow—Billy pining for a couple of hounds and then working toward getting them. I’m all for the lesson about going after what you want instead of expecting it to be given to you, but it could have been a little more interesting. The story gets going once he gets into the coon hunting, and it certainly taught me about a way of life I would never have otherwise known about. Running alongside Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann as they tree those coons, with the dangers that come along with that, is exciting and immersive.

I was prepared for a tragic ending but did not remember it being so gruesome. On top of that, the way Billy reacts to the loss hit me a little close to home, after the recent loss of my mom and the way my daughter has handled it. I was truly concerned for her to keep reading it (she was behind me at this point), but she apparently handled it better than I did. I also think she liked the book overall more than I did, reminding me of my own different opinion as a kid. Me, though, I felt like there was no reason for the extremity of the tragedy and aftermath other than trying to make people cry. If you’re wondering whether your child should read it or not, I’d recommend reading it first to make sure you think it’s not a bit too much for them.

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Where the Red Fern Grows Hardcover – May 3, 2016

• Book 1 of 1 Where the Red Fern Grows
• Print length 304 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 7
• Lexile measure 700L
• Dimensions 5.75 x 1.06 x 8.56 inches
• Publisher Delacorte Press
• Publication date May 3, 2016
• ISBN-10 0399551239
• ISBN-13 978-0399551239
• See all details

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

About the author, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved..

When I left my office that beautiful spring day, I had no idea what was in store for me. To begin with, everything was too perfect for anything unusual to happen. It was one of those days when a man feels good, feels like speaking to his neighbor, is glad to live in a country like ours, and proud of his government. You know what I mean, one of those rare days when everything is right and nothing is wrong.   I was walking along whistling when I heard the dogfight. At first I paid no attention to it. After all it wasn’t anything to get excited about, just another dogfight in a residential section.   As the sound of the fight grew nearer, I could tell there were quite a few dogs mixed up in it. They boiled out of an alley, turned, and headed straight toward me. Not wanting to get bitten or run over, I moved over to the edge of the sidewalk.   I could see that all the dogs were fighting one. About twenty-five feet from me they caught him and down he went. I felt sorry for the unfortunate one. I knew if something wasn’t done quickly the sanitation department would have to pick up a dead dog.   I was trying to make up my mind to help when I got a surprise. Up out of that snarling, growling, slashing mass reared an old redbone hound. For a second I saw him. I caught my breath. I couldn’t believe what I had seen.   Twisting and slashing, he fought his way through the pack and backed up under the low branches of a hedge. Growling and snarling, they formed a halfmoon circle around him. A big bird dog, bolder than the others, darted in. The hedge shook as he tangled with the hound. He came out so fast he fell over backwards. I saw that his right ear was split wide open. It was too much for him and he took off down the street, squalling like a scalded cat.   A big ugly cur tried his luck. He didn’t get off so easy. He came out with his left shoulder laid open to the bone. He sat down on his rear and let the world know that he had been hurt.   By this time, my fighting blood was boiling. It’s hard for a man to stand and watch an old hound fight against such odds, especially if that man has memories in his heart like I had in mine. I had seen the time when an old hound like that had given his life so that I might live.   Taking off my coat, I waded in. My yelling and scolding didn’t have much effect, but the swinging coat did. The dogs scattered and left.   Down on my knees, I peered back under the hedge. The hound was still mad. He growled at me and showed his teeth. I knew it wasn’t his nature to fight a man.   In a soft voice, I started talking to him. “Come on, boy,” I said. “It’s all right. I’m your friend. Come on now.”   The fighting fire slowly left his eyes. He bowed his head and his long, red tail started thumping the ground. I kept coaxing. On his stomach, an inch at a time, he came to me and laid his head in my hand.   I almost cried at what I saw. His coat was dirty and mud-caked. His skin was stretched drum-tight over his bony frame. The knotty joints of his hips and shoulders stood out a good three inches from his body. I could tell he was starved.   I couldn’t figure it out. He didn’t belong in town. He was far out of place with the boxers, poodles, bird dogs, and other breeds of town dogs. He belonged in the country. He was a hunting hound.   I raised one of his paws. There I read the story. The pads were worn down slick as the rind on an apple. I knew he had come a long way, and no doubt had a long way to go. Around his neck was a crude collar. On closer inspection, I saw it had been made from a piece of check-line leather. Two holes had been punched in each end and the ends were laced together with bailing wire.   As I turned the collar with my finger, I saw something else. There, scratched deep in the tough leather, was the name “Buddie.” I guessed that the crude, scribbly letters had probably been written by a little boy.   It’s strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man’s mind for so many years. Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something you’ve seen, or something you’ve heard, or the sight of an old familiar face.   What I saw in the warm gray eyes of the friendly old hound brought back wonderful memories. To show my gratitude, I took hold of his collar and said, “Come on, boy, let’s go home and get something to eat.”   He seemed to understand that he had found a friend. He came willingly.   I gave him a bath and rubbed all the soreness from his muscles. He drank quarts of warm milk and ate all the meat I had in the house. I hurried down to the store and bought more. He ate until he was satisfied.   He slept all that night and most of the next day. Late in the afternoon he grew restless. I told him I understood, and as soon as it was dark, he could be on his way. I figured he had a much better chance if he left town at night.   That evening, a little after sundown, I opened the back gate. He walked out, stopped, turned around, and looked at me. He thanked me by wagging his tail.   With tears in my eyes, I said, “You’re more than welcome, old fellow. In fact, you could’ve stayed here as long as you wanted to.”   He whined and licked my hand.    

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Delacorte Press; Anniversary edition (May 3, 2016)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399551239
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399551239
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9+ years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 700L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.06 x 8.56 inches
• #30 in Children's 1900s American Historical Fiction
• #156 in Children's Dog Books (Books)
• #409 in Children's Classics

About the author

Wilson rawls.

Woodrow Wilson Rawls, (September 24, 1913 – December 16, 1984) was an American writer best known for his books Where the Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 87% 8% 3% 1% 1% 87%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 87% 8% 3% 1% 1% 8%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 87% 8% 3% 1% 1% 3%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 87% 8% 3% 1% 1% 1%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 87% 8% 3% 1% 1% 1%

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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the writing style simple yet evocative. They also describe the emotional themes as heartwarming and touching. Readers say the book is great for all ages and provides great life lessons. They describe the plot as great and true to its time and place. Opinions are mixed on the emotional ending, with some finding it laughable and heartbreaking, while others say it's very sad. Reader opinions are also mixed on engagement, with others finding it engaging and hard to read for young children.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the writing style simple yet evocative, descriptive, and read exactly as written. They also say the book has depth and detail, and presents a beautiful view of rural American life. Customers also say it leaves a lasting impression on their hearts.

"Wonderful book but not those who get sad easy. This book is so well written that I cried over a book for the first time. Thanks, Wilson Rawls." Read more

"... Tenderly written and has stood the test of time." Read more

"...It reminds me of my relationship with my cats. The characters were so realistic I had to stop and tell myself that this was a fictional story...." Read more

"...which I wanted to read for some time already and which is literary nicely written , but also the book which gives a disturbing reading experience..." Read more

Customers find the emotional themes in the book heartwarming and touching. They also say the message of struggle, victory, and love is woven into the story. Customers also say that pride is a wonderful feeling.

"...Full of adventure, sadness, and love , this almost alive book will show everyone what caring means." Read more

"...I wish I’d read decades ago, but so glad I did now. Wonderfully emotional experience , and I need to go hug my dog." Read more

"...It is heartfelt and heartbreaking, have tissues handy. I actually bought a Lady in Red fern in memory of this book and how it affected me." Read more

"...Reading those two books is a heart-warming and touching experience , with the message of all the right values this book lacks...." Read more

Customers find the book great for all ages and the whole family.

"A wonderful book for all dog lovers. Appropriate for preteen and older readers . Will likely bring tears to your eyes." Read more

"...I am 9 years old. In my opinion, this is a great book for kids ages 9-13." Read more

"...Just a wonderful little book that is perfect for all ages .Jim LunsfordAuthor: Useless Eaters" Read more

" Great for elementary through middle school students ." Read more

Customers find the book has great life lessons, positive thoughts, and a powerful story. They also say it inspires them to read other books, and is highly recommended to tweens.

"This classic book allows you to learn about honest , hard working, and honest to goodness love...." Read more

" Best book ever for teaching , morals laughter And joy." Read more

"...The book answered all of my questions and left such a big impression on me. I hope you enjoy it! I would vote this book a 5/5." Read more

" Very engrossing "coming of age" story of a boy, his two dogs and their experiences as they encounter many of life's many challenges ...." Read more

Customers find the plot poignant, well-written, and emotional. They also say the book brings them wonderful joy and makes them feel young again. Readers mention the book gives a peek into a different era and has many twists and turns along the way.

"...The ending definitely made me cry and I didn’t want it to end!" Read more

"...However, the book seems true to its time and place , and in any historical fiction the world will be different from our own...." Read more

"A great book! Engaging and easy to follow, yet with many twists and turns along the way ...." Read more

"...the tragedies and triumphs, trials and tribulations, and the gut wrenching ending ." Read more

Customers are mixed about the emotional ending. Some mention that it made them laugh and cry, while others say that it was very sad at the ending.

"...Full of adventure, sadness , and love, this almost alive book will show everyone what caring means." Read more

"Best book ever for teaching, morals laughter And joy ." Read more

"...but I found him crying after reading the whole book, as the story has a sad ending !..." Read more

"...It is heartfelt and heartbreaking , have tissues handy. I actually bought a Lady in Red fern in memory of this book and how it affected me." Read more

Customers are mixed about the engagement of the book. Some mention that it moves along quickly, keeping the reader engaged and not boring. However, others say that it's boring at first, with a regrettable undercurrent to the story. They also say that the movie does not do the book justice and that it is hard to read for a young child.

"...literary nicely written, but also the book which gives a disturbing reading experience because it promotes wrong moral and ethical values and..." Read more

"...Read it in just under a week because it kept me entertained the whole time . The ending definitely made me cry and I didn’t want it to end!" Read more

"...a special bond between a boy and his dogs, there is a regrettable undercurrent to the story ...." Read more

"A great book! Engaging and easy to follow, yet with many twists and turns along the way...." Read more

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Where The Red Fern Grows Book

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In 1961, Adult Billy Colman rescues a  redbone hound  from neighborhood dogs and takes it home to recover. The incident reminds him of the faithful dogs he owned as a child in the  Ozark Mountains .

In 1911, ten-year-old Billy wants nothing more than a pair of redbone hounds for  coon hunting . After seeing a magazine ad for coon hounds, he spends the next two years working odd jobs to earn the $50 he needs to buy a pair of pups and walks 20 miles to  Tahlequah  to retrieve them. As he returns with the dogs, he sees the names "Dan + Ann" carved on a tree and names the pups Old Dan and Little Ann. With his grandfather's help, he trains the dogs to hunt.

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Uploaded by Wolfstan4755 on July 1, 2024

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