Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The book was very readable and easy to finish, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody- it's a moral disaster saved only by the focus on goal-setting. Billy is condescending towards Mama and his sisters, never faces any actual suffering until the end of the book, and brutally murders countless raccoons for no morally sensible reason other than because he's bored and needs some semblance of adventure in his life. The book is written in a way that makes it seem like Billy's just being a normal, inspiring little boy, but I just really hated that little shit .
Billy is the only boy in his house. Papa's always on the farm fields, and Billy never hangs out with his sisters (none of whom are ever named) or Mama. Billy wants two hound dogs to hunt with, so he saves up all the money for it by setting traps and hunting little animals himself. His grandpa helps him send in the money to purchase two dogs, Little Ann and Old Dan. Billy trains the dogs, hunts with them, etc etc. Billy tells bigheaded stories about his adventures to the men in Grandpa's shop, and Grandpa eventually puts Billy on to do a bet with 2 troublesome neighbor boys. That bet ends withone boy getting gutted on Billy's axe and literally dying. Grandpa later enters Billy in a coon hunting competition, and of course Billy wins not one but two trophies, because God forbid the author ever let Billy actually lose a day in his life. At the end, Old Dan dies from hunting injuries , then Little Ann dies from "heartbreak" . The family uses the money Billy won in the hunting competition to move into the city, and red ferns grow over the dogs' graves which ties back to a legend about red ferns that grow on graves.
Billy is a bigheaded, one-track-minded, selfish, ignorant brat spoiled by the plot. He was a good caretaker for his dogs, and I'm glad the three of them had fun hunting- but weren't there any less bloodthirsty hobbies he could have chosen from? He could have at least taken up fishing instead, something where he actually killed for sustenance. Instead, he kills raccoon after raccoon, cuts their hides off, then leaves their carcasses to rot in the woods. I'm glad thedogs died in the end so Billy could finally get a sense of reality.
The good thing about the book is it is nice to see the process of Billy getting an idea for a goal, deciding to pursue it, making a plan, sticking to that plan, then finishing it. Over and over again, Billy sets goals and works to achieve them: acquiring the dogs, killing raccoons, winning the competition, etc. I don't like Billy or his goals, but I do like the book's emphasis on goal-setting.
Billy is the only boy in his house. Papa's always on the farm fields, and Billy never hangs out with his sisters (none of whom are ever named) or Mama. Billy wants two hound dogs to hunt with, so he saves up all the money for it by setting traps and hunting little animals himself. His grandpa helps him send in the money to purchase two dogs, Little Ann and Old Dan. Billy trains the dogs, hunts with them, etc etc. Billy tells bigheaded stories about his adventures to the men in Grandpa's shop, and Grandpa eventually puts Billy on to do a bet with 2 troublesome neighbor boys. That bet ends with
Billy is a bigheaded, one-track-minded, selfish, ignorant brat spoiled by the plot. He was a good caretaker for his dogs, and I'm glad the three of them had fun hunting- but weren't there any less bloodthirsty hobbies he could have chosen from? He could have at least taken up fishing instead, something where he actually killed for sustenance. Instead, he kills raccoon after raccoon, cuts their hides off, then leaves their carcasses to rot in the woods. I'm glad the
The good thing about the book is it is nice to see the process of Billy getting an idea for a goal, deciding to pursue it, making a plan, sticking to that plan, then finishing it. Over and over again, Billy sets goals and works to achieve them: acquiring the dogs, killing raccoons, winning the competition, etc. I don't like Billy or his goals, but I do like the book's emphasis on goal-setting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Gore
Routinely, Billy and his dogs will hunt, kill, and skin raccoons. In the middle of the book, a neighbor boy falls on Billy's axe, gets impaled in the stomach, and bleeds to death . At the end of the book, Old Dan gets disemboweled from a hunting accident. Billy shoves the entrails back in the wound, then at home, Mama pulls them back out to wash them with soap and water(???). Old Dan obviously dies anyway. I had to put the book down and stare at a wall in shock for a while after reading that part.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Read this ages ago. Just read this with my son. Lots of tears, but just a wonderful book.
medium-paced
Where the Red Fern Grows is a classic novel that I read as a third grader. This is a classic, beautiful, heartbreaking, and emotional story about two puppies that fall into the hands of a young boy, Billy. The themes of love and loyalty that this book consists of are clear from the beginning. The determination that Billy has to own these dogs in the beginning goes to show what kind of a person Billy is. The loving relationship that Billy and his dogs had was portrayed in such precise detail that it made me feel heartbroken, like Billy, when the dogs died. Something that I have recognized is how powerful an author’s writing must be in order to make somebody cry. Wilson Rawls’ writing and use of language did a job well done of tugging at my heartstrings. I highly recommend this book to children, dog owners, and anybody who wants an emotional, feel-good read.
A simple but somehow very captivating/moving story. It could have done without the heavy religious undertones, however.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is one of those classic books that I've never had the chance to read, so of course I finally sat down to check it out. And before I go into the review, I first want to point out that I am not even close to the target audience for this book. I'm female, grew up in the suburbs and never owned a dog. I'm not suggesting that women can't enjoy this book, but I think it may not resonate with them as much as with men and young boys.
Despite not being the target audience, I did enjoy the book. It's easy to get caught up in the narrator's life and his struggles. Following him in his triumphs and tragedies. The strength of the novel lies in the bond formed between Billy and his two dogs, and that sort of bond can be felt no matter one's experiences.
The only problem I have with this book is its ending. Old Dan's death had the purpose of demonstrating the strong bond between boy and dog, and the love they shared. But Little Ann's death just seemed like overkill. There didn't seem much point to it other than to lay on the tragedy even thicker.
Still, it was a good read and I can see how it became a classic.
Despite not being the target audience, I did enjoy the book. It's easy to get caught up in the narrator's life and his struggles. Following him in his triumphs and tragedies. The strength of the novel lies in the bond formed between Billy and his two dogs, and that sort of bond can be felt no matter one's experiences.
The only problem I have with this book is its ending. Old Dan's death had the purpose of demonstrating the strong bond between boy and dog, and the love they shared. But Little Ann's death just seemed like overkill. There didn't seem much point to it other than to lay on the tragedy even thicker.
Still, it was a good read and I can see how it became a classic.