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dezdamona's review against another edition
5.0
It is an amazing book. I really liked it. It has a very touching subject and plot. You will love this book when you start to read.
stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
5.0
The first book that made me cry. I remember it vividly.
dnandrews797's review against another edition
3.0
This book was amazing but caused me emotional damage. Super glad I didn’t read this as a middle schooler because my mom would probably have had to come and get me from school. I loved the engaging episodic storytelling of Billy’s adventures with Little Ann and Old Dan in the Ozarks and the wonderful atmosphere and sense of youth created. What kept me from rating the book higher were two particular instances I couldn’t move past:
1. The cutting down of the giant sycamore to get at a raccoon. In terms of perspective, I feel like letting the raccoon and disappointing the dogs to preserve a tree that’s been growing for possibly hundreds of years would have been the right thing to do. Its this kind of thinking that’s ruining the planet today. Reading about this boy singlemindedly whacking away at something so ancient and majestic for the sake of killing one raccoon hurt me almost as much as the ending. Speaking of which…
2. I could deal with the dogs dying. Fine. I cried like a small child when it happened, but I could have dealt with their deaths if not for the fact that Billy’s parents basically said “well maybe it was all God’s plan for the dogs to die after they stopped being useful to us so we can all go live in the city. That was their purpose after all.” That felt extremely human-centered and arrogant as if all living creatures exist for their pleasure or to die for it (in the case of the raccoons).
Other than this it was a lovely little read that I blew through in an afternoon. I would recommend it to anyone.
1. The cutting down of the giant sycamore to get at a raccoon. In terms of perspective, I feel like letting the raccoon and disappointing the dogs to preserve a tree that’s been growing for possibly hundreds of years would have been the right thing to do. Its this kind of thinking that’s ruining the planet today. Reading about this boy singlemindedly whacking away at something so ancient and majestic for the sake of killing one raccoon hurt me almost as much as the ending. Speaking of which…
2. I could deal with the dogs dying. Fine. I cried like a small child when it happened, but I could have dealt with their deaths if not for the fact that Billy’s parents basically said “well maybe it was all God’s plan for the dogs to die after they stopped being useful to us so we can all go live in the city. That was their purpose after all.” That felt extremely human-centered and arrogant as if all living creatures exist for their pleasure or to die for it (in the case of the raccoons).
Other than this it was a lovely little read that I blew through in an afternoon. I would recommend it to anyone.
lucylaws14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
kiank's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
4.25
jp1920's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Not great, emotionally devastating though. If you didn’t cry at this book, don’t talk to me
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
5.0
A real treat in sentimentality, innocence, and earthiness. It's like Wendell Berry for the Juvenile Soul. It had been two decades since I last read this and it still fed (and engaged) me in the same way. Where the Red Fern Grows serves as a great guard against an age of rampant cynicism starving for something transcendent to care about.
allicatca's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this book on CD and didn’t love the reader’s voice. Sometimes I found the story boring. At least twice I was shocked and horrified by descriptions of violence and gore.
Still, this book was amazing. The overarching lesson that LOVE is what the world needs is so beautiful. My heart was touched by the love Billy had for his dogs and his family. And those dogs sure loved Billy. And hunting, of course.
I read about the author and was even more impressed with the writing.
Still, this book was amazing. The overarching lesson that LOVE is what the world needs is so beautiful. My heart was touched by the love Billy had for his dogs and his family. And those dogs sure loved Billy. And hunting, of course.
I read about the author and was even more impressed with the writing.
krover's review against another edition
2.0
So sad and traumatizing. I read this as a child and I cannot ever pick it up again.