book report on where the red fern grows

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Where the Red Fern Grows

Wilson rawls.

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After rescuing a hound from a dogfight on the streets of his town, Billy Colman , a man in his 50s, recalls the joy and heartache that the “wonderful disease of puppy love” brought him as a boy.

At 10 years old, Billy becomes obsessed with obtaining a pair of purebred redbone coonhounds and becoming the best raccoon hunter in the Oklahoma Ozarks. Billy begs his parents to buy him the hounds, but Mama and Papa can’t afford them. Over the course of two years, Billy scrounges and saves by selling bait to local fishermen and berries to his beloved Grandpa , who runs a small general store. Eventually, Billy saves the money he needs and enlists his grandfather’s help in ordering the dogs from a kennel in Kentucky. The kennel will only ship the dogs as far as Tahlequah, a town 20 miles from Billy’s home. Rather than wait for a ride into town, Billy decides to run away from home in the middle of the night and walk to Tahlequah himself to pick up the dogs.

In town, Billy finds himself the subject of stares and taunts from the local children, who mock his “hillbilly” appearance. Billy travels to the depot to retrieve the puppies, where a kindly stationmaster helps him open up their crate and make holes in a gunny sack so that Billy can carry them home. On the way out of town, Billy is again accosted by a cruel gang of children , but a kind marshal shoos the kids away. Billy returns home through the mountains with his pups. When they stop for the night, Billy hears the cries of a mountain lion. As his pups howl at the cat’s cries, Billy adds his voice to theirs—with his dogs beside him, he feels fearless. Back at home, Billy apologizes to his parents for running away without their permission and for ordering a pair of dogs without telling them. However, Mama, Papa, and Billy’s little sisters are delighted by the dogs, whom Billy has named Old Dan and Little Ann . As Billy’s parents help him build a doghouse and make collars for the dogs, Billy reveals to his Mama that two years ago he prayed that God would give him the patience to save up for his dogs—Mama declares that God must have heard Billy’s prayer.

With his grandpa’s help and advice, Billy traps a raccoon whose hide he uses to start training the dogs. Billy works with his dogs every night and develops a close relationship with them. Though the dogs can’t speak, Billy knows they understand him. On opening day of hunting season, Billy takes his dogs out on the hunt, promising them that all they have to do is “tree” a raccoon, or chase it up into a tree, and he will do the rest. The hunt is joyful and fun, and Billy finds himself crying tears of joy as he follows his bawling, barking dogs through the mountains in pursuit of their first raccoon. Dan eventually trees his first raccoon in the tallest sycamore in the valley. Billy has no way of climbing the tree and knows that the only option is to chop it down. Though he’s daunted by the task ahead of him, Billy knows he must keep his promise to his dogs. Using his ax, Billy slowly chops away at the tree over the course of several days, taking only scant breaks to return home for food and rest. Billy’s father and grandfather encourage him to quit, but Billy reminds them of his promise. Billy comes close to felling the tree, but he can work no more when his hands begin to break out in terrible blisters. Billy prays to God to help him finish the job—suddenly, a strong breeze comes and knocks the tree over, allowing Dan and Ann to catch the raccoon.

Billy and his dogs have many exciting adventures throughout hunting season—but several times, they get into terrible danger. One night Dan becomes stuck in a muskrat den, and Ann and Billy must work together to dig him out. Another night, while hunting in the snowy woods, Ann becomes trapped on an ice floe in the river. Billy manages to save her just in the nick of time by hooking his lantern’s handle onto a piece of long cane and fishing her out. The most difficult incident Billy and his dogs face unfolds when a pair of brothers from a family of “bootleggers [and] thieves,” Rubin and Rainie Pritchard , bet Billy that his dogs can’t tree the infamous “ghost coon”—a raccoon who roams the woods near their family’s homestead. At Grandpa’s encouragement, Billy takes the bet and meets the Pritchard boys in the woods near their home. After a long night, Ann and Dan tree the infamous raccoon—but Billy develops such respect for the creature that he refuses to make his dogs kill it. Enraged, Rubin begins beating Billy for being “chicken-livered.” As Rubin and Billy fight, Dan and Ann get into a fight with Rubin and Rainie’s blue tick hound. When Rubin notices and picks up Billy’s ax to rush at Billy’s hounds with it, he trips, burying the ax in his stomach. Billy pulls the ax from the dying Rubin’s belly as the traumatized Rainie runs for home.

Billy tells his parents what has happened, and the next day, a search party goes out to retrieve Rubin’s corpse. Grandpa calls Billy to the store the next day to talk to him about the incident and to apologize for involving Billy in the bet. Grandpa then tells Billy that a large hunting competition is taking place nearby in just a few days—he reveals that he’s entered Billy, Ann, and Dan in the contest. Several days later, Billy, Grandpa, and Papa load up Grandpa’s buggy and head off to the competition, determined to bring home the grand prize: a large and handsome golden cup. When the group stops for the night, Billy becomes concerned after hearing two different owls’ hoots—an omen of bad luck.

At the competition, Billy, Papa, and Grandpa settle in amongst the other hunters who have pitched their tents over an acre of land. Though Billy is nervous to be in the presence of such seasoned hunters, he enters Little Ann in a dog show and finds himself surprised, touched, and overwhelmed when she takes home best in show. For several days, Billy and his dogs rest and prepare while they watch the other hunters go through eliminations. When it’s Billy’s night to hunt, a judge accompanies him, Papa, Grandpa, and the dogs downriver. Dan and Ann easily tree and kill three raccoons. The judge is impressed by their remarkable teamwork and announces that Billy and his dogs will move on to the finals the next night. That evening, Dan and Ann tree their first raccoon with ease. As Billy and Papa skin the animal, they notice a storm approaching. Papa worries that the storm will make the hunt difficult, but Billy suggests that a storm will stir the raccoons from their hiding spots. As sleet and snow begin to fall, Billy and his team press onward—but when the storm worsens and the group loses sight of the dogs, the judge suggests returning home. Billy, however, refuses to give up. He prays that God will make Old Dan’s voice heard—soon, Old Dan bawls, and Billy tracks him to a nearby gully. Upon arriving at the tree, however, Billy realizes Grandpa is not with the rest of the group. Billy and the others double back and find Grandpa in a field—he has fallen and twisted his ankle, but he is alive.

Billy fells the hollow tree where his dogs have forced three raccoons into hiding. Dan and Ann catch two, but the third one gets away. Billy knows they need the third raccoon to win. Dan and Ann seem to intuit it, too, and they run off into the storm in search of the last raccoon. As the storm settles and daylight approaches, a search party arrives at the gully and helps get Grandpa back to camp. One member of the party reports seeing Billy’s frost-covered dogs circling a tree nearby. Billy makes his way to the tree and helps his dogs capture the raccoon. The whole group returns to camp, where the head judge announces Billy the winner of the hunt and awards him a golden cup and a jackpot of $300. A doctor brings Grandpa to a nearby town to fix up his ankle while Billy, Papa, Dan, and Ann head home to a warm reception from Mama and the girls. Upon seeing the money Billy has won, Mama happily announces that God has answered her prayers. That night, she and Papa feed the dogs two heaping plates of food and pray beside their doghouse while Billy, perplexed, watches from his bedroom window.

Billy takes advantage of the final days of hunting season and continues taking his dogs out each night to hunt. One night, they scent an animal that isn’t a raccoon. Billy thinks it’s a bobcat and allows his dogs to pursue it through the woods and tree it—but as Billy approaches the tree to scare the animal down, he realizes that his dogs have treed a fearsome mountain lion. A horrible, bloody fight ensues—Dan and Ann rip and tear into the mountain lion’s flesh as Billy tries to hack the cat to death with his ax. The cat fights back, wounding Dan and Ann terribly before at last succumbing to its wounds and dying. As Billy inspects his wounded dogs, he realizes that though Little Ann’s wounds are mostly superficial, Dan has sustained a terrible, deep wound to his belly. On the walk home, Dan’s entrails begin spilling from his gut. Back at the house, Mama tries to patch Old Dan up, but it’s no use—his wounds are too severe, and by the time daylight breaks, he is dead.

Although Billy tries to focus on the fact that he still has Ann, it soon becomes clear that something is terribly wrong. Ann refuses to eat and keeps trying to hide in bushes and brambles at the far end of the property—Billy and Papa realize she has lost the will to live. One night, Ann crawls to Old Dan’s grave on a nearby hillside to die herself. Billy asks Mama why God would have taken his dogs from him and caused him so much pain. Mama admits that she and Papa have long been praying that they’d be able to save enough money to move back to town and make sure that Billy and his sisters can get an education—now that they have the money from the competition, their prayers have been answered, but Mama feared having to leave Billy and his dogs behind with Grandpa. Now that the dogs have died, Mama says, their family won’t be split up. Mama urges Billy to see that God has answered her prayers. Billy, however, is unable to feel anything but pain as he buries Little Ann beside her brother.

Several months later, Billy is helping his parents pack up their belongings in their wagon so that they can move back to town. Before leaving, Billy returns to his dogs’ graves and sees that a magnificent red fern has sprouted between them. Recalling a local legend which tells of a red fern planted by angels which sanctifies the ground where pure souls have died, Billy calls his family over to look at the fern. Mama and Papa declare that the fern must be “God’s way of helping Billy understand why his dogs died.” Billy says he understands at last and feels better about their deaths. The older Billy finishes his tale by stating that though he’s never returned to the Ozarks, he knows that if he ever gets to, he will find the red fern continuing to bloom upon the hillside where Dan and Ann were laid to rest so many years ago.

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Where the Red Fern Grows

Wilson rawls.

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

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I heard the "Bam, bam, bam" of a woodpecker high in the top of a box elder snag. The cry of a kingfisher and the scream of a bluejay blended perfectly with the drumlike beat. A barking red squirrel, glued to the side of a hackberry tree, kept time to the music with the beat of his tail.

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Where the Red Fern Grows

Introduction.

Woodrow Wilson Rawls, the author of Where the Red Fern Grows , was born in Oklahoma, in the United States of America. He was the son of Minzy O. Rawls and Winnie Hatfield Rawls. Wilson’s mother, Winnie, belonged to a tribe named Cherokee. The authorities gave Winnie the Cherokee land, because of her ancestry, where Wilson spent his childhood.

Where the Red Fern Grows Summary

Billy Colman is the narrator and the protagonist of the story. One day he is on his way home from work. He comes across some dogs fighting on the way. A single hound is encircled by several other dogs. However, the hound is resilient and he defends himself well. This reminds Billy of his childhood when an old dog like this had forfeited its life for him. He feels for the dog and saves him from other hounds. He also feels that the dog is starving. When he looks at his collar he sees his name “Buddie”. This allows Billy to go down his memory lane to his childhood and remember the love he experienced for his own dog.

Chapter III

Billy assists his father in his fieldwork. In his free time, he gathers the left-overs of the fishermen. He finds different things like blades and empty cans. One day he finds a magazine. Through it, he comes to know about two hunting hounds which are for sale in Kentucky. The seller demands $25 for each but Billy thinks that he can earn $50 with sheer hard work and he decides to earn it. He asks for divine help in getting the hounds he desires.

Chapter VII

As Billy gets the dogs, he wants to train them for the hunt. He seeks grandfather’s advice on how to trap a coon and grandfather informs him of an old trick he used as a boy. He instructs him to trap a coon with a simple brace and bit, and use a bright piece of tin as a bait. Billy does as his grandfather advises. The next day, he is certain he will catch some coons but there aren’t any. A week passes and still, there are no coons. Billy feels distressed but Papa calms him down and tells him it may be his scent on the traps that are preventing the coons. He tells him to wait. After some days, when he examines the traps, he notices a tricked coon.

Chapter VIII

After some time, they follow the coon in the river but he crosses the river. They again lost their trail. Billy feels disappointed and tells them to forget it and hunt somewhere else. At that time, Little Ann follows the coon in the brush. The male dog follows her. Billy realizes that they have treed — getting the coon into a tree so he cannot escape — a coon. Billy arrives at the spot and notices that it is a giant sycamore tree. He tells his pups he cannot chop it to get the coon but they are adamant and keep barking at the tree.

They reach home and enjoy their scrumptious meal. Mama feels worried about Billy but Papa calms her down. Grandfather informs Billy that the price of coonskins has upped dramatically because of the coats made of coonskins. Billy sleeps soundly that night. The next day, Little Ann is waiting for Billy to go. When he reaches there, he comes to know that both of them had spent the night by the big tree together. He is delighted with his pups.

Billy gives us a description of the pups. Old Dane is resilient, hostile and caring. He always defends Little Ann. Little Ann is shrewd. She aids Mama in catching young chickens. She assists Old Dan in difficult situations as well. They hunt together. One day, she alerts Billy to save Old Dan as he is in a muskrat’s den following a coon. Billy helps Old Dan get out, covered in mud. After cleaning him, Billy frees him again. Eventually, they catch the coon.

Chapter XII

Chapter xiii.

In the meanwhile, the Pritchards’ dog comes there. Old Dan and the blue hound snarl at each other. Billy tells Rubin to keep his hound away. He denies and tells him that he should keep his dog away. Billy demands his money back as he has won the bet. Rubin declines and tells him that the challenge was to finish the coon. He also threatens him to not tell anything to his Grandpa. The dogs start fighting. Little Ann joins the fight. 

Chapter XIV

Chapter xvi, chapter xvii, chapter xviii.

A man shoots and the coon jumps out. The pups kill it and they return to the camp. No one is there except Grandpa. He is in his tent waiting for them. Billy gets the champion cup and the cash prize worth $300. He is over the moon and gives the money to his father. Billy’s grandfather reaches Dr. Latham to cure his ankle. Billy and his father steer the buggy home. They take care of Grandpa’s store. Finally, they head towards home. Billy feels proud of the cup.

Chapter XIX

They head towards home. The male dog groans, when Billy finds him he cannot stand the sight. Old Dan’s intestines are out and are caught in a bush. He frees him and carries him on his back. His mother takes care of Old Dan. Billy shares the story and everyone is sad. Old Dan cannot cope with the wounds and he breathes his last. Papa tells Billy that he need not to worry as he still has the female dog. That night he couldn’t sleep. When he goes outside, he finds the female dog lying next to the male dog. Billy runs towards the fields and cries until he could cry no more. He passes the night in the fields and returns home in the morning.

He decides to bury Old Dan and makes a box for his burial. He refuses Papa’s help in burying Old Dan. He is buried on the brink of the mountainside, where flowers grow in spring days. He admires his loyalty. After a couple of days, Billy’s mother tells him to look for the female dog. He discovers her under a bush. She is too weak to move. Billy tries some water but in vain. She opines that life is meaningless without Old Dan. Billy puts her on the stairs outside. She escapes and moves towards the male dog’s grave. She dies there next to her partner in the hunt. Billy feels miserable and cries. His parents calm him and tell him to leave.

At home, his parents convince him to move to town for a better lifestyle and more opportunities. Billy does not like the idea of quitting the countryside. His mother consoles him telling him that God’s way of doing things is better for all of us. Billy couldn’t sleep that night gazing at the empty doghouse. In the morning, he buries her next to the male dog. He inscribes their names on a stone as well and feels satisfied.

Where the Red Fern Grows Characters Analysis

Through characters writers express their opinions about a particular subject. They are tools for their writers to share their ideas. They provide an outlet to their writers. Some writers choose human beings as their characters while others pick animals as well. In this novel, Wilson Rawls picks human beings as well as animals as his mouthpieces. The whole story revolves around the protagonist, Billy Colman, and his pups, Old Dan and Little Ann. They will be explored as under;

Billy Colman

Billy is the leading character as well as the narrator of the story. He is an old man and he shares his childhood experiences with his readers. Through the course of the story we, as readers, come to know about several traits in his personality. Wilson Rawls openly portrays his character and there is nothing hidden in the portrayal of his character.

Secondly, Billy is attached to his family and his pups. He loves them from the core of his heart. He cares for his parents and shares everything with his sisters. He also does house chores with his mother when she needs him. He buys gifts for his parents and sisters when he returns from the city. 

Old Dan and Little Ann

Themes in where the red fern grows, determination.

It is Billy’s determination that keeps him motivated to chop the huge sycamore tree in which the pups have treed the coon. His pups also show strong will power. When he goes home to take rest, Old Dan is determined to stay there to ensure the coon does not escape. They trail a coon on the championship night, even in a strong rainstorm, to prove Billy victorious. All three main characters, Billy and his pups show strong will power to support and help each other.

Loyalty is Love

Coming of age.

He experiences good as well as bad situations which prove fruitful in his coming of age. He earns and saves money, with determination, to get the pups. He leads his pups in the hunt and becomes their master at a very young age. Secondly, he becomes a famous figure in the Ozarks due to his hunting adventures with his beloved dogs. He takes decisions on his own and tries to back it up with strong will power. He becomes the protector of his pups and saves their lives often.

Where the Red Fern Grows Literary Analysis

Billy, time and again, seeks help from God in his hunting endeavors which shows his religious background. Her mother also supports him and feels happy that her son is near to God. God, too, helps him in the most precarious situations throughout his endeavors. He believes in miracles and miracles happen to him time and again. There are many examples of the Divine intervention, in the story, which make him a firm believer in God.

The Red Fern is symbolic

More from wilson rawls.

Where the Red Fern Grows

68 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Before You Read

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-13

Chapters 14-15

Chapters 16-18

Chapters 19-20

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Wilson Rawls was born in 1913 in the Ozark Mountains in the Oklahoma/Arkansas region of the United States, where Rawls time spent roaming the hills with his dogs. His level of formal education left him unsure of his formal writing ability, and he disposed of his manuscripts. However, his wife encouraged him to start again, leading to the publication of Where the Red Fern Grows in 1961 and The Summer of the Monkeys 15 years later. Where the Red Fern Grows originally appeared as a three-part work of serialized fiction called The Hounds of Youth in The Saturday Evening Post .

Plot Summary

As the novel opens, Billy Colman comes upon a stray coonhound fighting with a pack of dogs. He rescues the stray and takes it home, setting it free as soon as it is well enough to return home. This situation evokes memories of Billy’s youth in the Ozarks of Oklahoma in the early 1930s, and the rest of the story is from his childhood perspective .

Young Billy wants a pair of coonhounds, but they are not affordable for his family. He comes across an advertisement for a kennel in Kentucky that’s selling coonhounds for $25. Billy begins working odd jobs, and with his grandfather’s assistance, saves $50 in two years. The kennel not only honors its ad, but the price has actually dropped to $40 for the pair. Since the mail service does not deliver live animals, Billy makes his way on foot through the hills to a freight depot and picks up a male and a female puppy. He uses his extra $10 to purchase gifts for his family.

On his journey home, Billy passes an evening at Robber’s Cave in the Sparrow Hawk Mountains. During the night, a mountain lion paces outside the cave, kept away by Billy’s fire. The following morning, Billy sees the names Dan and Ann carved into a heart on a tree and names his puppies Old Dan and Little Ann .

Billy begins training the dogs. As Billy spends time with the dogs, he realizes that Old Dan’s strong trait is bravery, while Little Ann’s is intelligence. They bond with each other and with Billy. When the hunting season opens, they “tree” a raccoon in a sycamore that Billy calls the “big tree.” Billy promised the dogs he would do the rest if they were to tree a raccoon. He spends two days trying to cut down the tree aided by a strong wind, and the dogs take the raccoon down.

They go hunting nightly for months, and Billy becomes the most successful hunter in the area, saving his dogs several times. Billy and his grandfather bet the mean neighbor boys, Rubin and Rainie Pritchard, that Billy’s dogs can catch the legendary “ghost coon.” The Pritchards join the hunt. When the dogs manage to tree the raccoon, Billy will not kill it. Rubin’s dog gets into a fight with Dan and Ann, and Rubin goes after Billy’s dogs with an ax. He trips over a stick and falls on the ax, killing the boy. Rainie runs away without aiding his brother. Later, Billy feels guilty, and he takes flowers to Rubin’s grave.

After some time passes, Billy’s grandfather enters him in a championship raccoon hunt. Little Ann wins a best-looking dog contest before the main competition starts. Four days into the competition, Old Dan and Little Ann tree three raccoons and get into the final round. A blizzard starts on the sixth day, and Billy’s team cannot locate the dogs. When they manage to find them, Billy’s grandfather hurts his ankle. As they build a fire, Billy’s father cuts down a tree, and Billy’s hounds take down two of the three raccoons it contains. They chase the third one into a tree and win the championship and a $300 prize.

Billy continues hunting, and one night, the dogs tree a mountain lion. Billy attempts to protect the dogs with an ax, but they end up saving him. They kill the mountain lion, but Old Dan is badly injured and later dies. Little Ann is overwrought with sadness and dies a few days later at the grave of Old Dan. Billy visits the graves of his dogs and sees a red fern growing between them. Native American legend has it that only an angel can plant such a fern. Billy and his family see this as a sign that it is time to use the prize money to move out of the Ozarks and get the children a good education.

The story weaves a connectedness to nature with themes of prayer and faith, and Billy often cites divine intervention. Billy’s relationship with his dogs and their subsequent deaths (leading to a move from the Ozarks), symbolizes the end of Billy’s childhood.

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By Wilson Rawls

Summer of the Monkeys

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Where the Red Fern Grows Summary and Characters

By Med Kharbach, PhD | Published: May 6, 2024 | Updated: May 6, 2024

Today, we delve into the richly textured world of “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls. This novel, a touching narrative set in the rugged wilderness of the Ozarks, explores the poignant themes of friendship and perseverance through the eyes of a young boy and his two dogs.

The aim of this post is to give you a clear insight into the essence and structure of the novel without revealing too much of the plot. I’ll begin with a concise summary of the story, followed by an exploration of its key characters. To conclude, I’ll pose several thought-provoking questions that might be useful for book club discussions or personal contemplation.

Where the Red Fern Grows Summary

“Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls is a poignant and heartwarming tale that explores the depths of friendship and loyalty between a young boy and his two dogs in the Ozark mountains. The story is centered around Billy, a young boy who dreams fervently of owning his own hunting dogs. Through hard work and saving every penny he earns, Billy is finally able to purchase two redbone coonhound pups he names Old Dan and Little Ann.

With his two loyal dogs, Billy embarks on countless adventures through the rugged terrain, hunting raccoons and forming an unbreakable bond with his companions. Old Dan, strong and courageous, and Little Ann, intelligent and keen, make a remarkable hunting team. Their synergy and prowess make them the best in the area, earning them respect and admiration from the local community.

As the trio gains fame for their hunting skills, they encounter various challenges that test their strength, intelligence, and loyalty. The most harrowing of these is a fierce competition during a coon hunt, which proves their mettle and solidifies their status as the top hunters in the valley.

However, the story takes a tragic turn when, during one of their hunting adventures, Old Dan and Little Ann confront a mountain lion. In the brutal encounter, Old Dan is severely injured. Despite their victory over the mountain lion, Old Dan succumbs to his injuries, leaving Billy and Little Ann heartbroken. Devastated by the loss of her companion, Little Ann loses her will to live and soon dies as well, leaving Billy to grapple with the pain of losing his beloved pets.

Photo: Amazon

The novel concludes on a note of hope and remembrance. Billy, who is deeply affected by the deaths of his dogs, finds solace when he discovers a red fern growing between their graves. According to local legend, a red fern is a sign from the angels, marking something sacred. Comforted by this sign, Billy comes to terms with the loss of his friends and learns to look forward to the future with hope.

Throughout the story, the themes of perseverance, love, and resilience shine through, making “Where the Red Fern Grows” a timeless tale that touches the hearts of readers, exploring the special bond between a boy and his dogs and the enduring spirit of love and loyalty.

Related: Wonder Book Summary AND Characters

Where the Red Fern Grows Characters

In “ Where the Red Fern Grows ” by Wilson Rawls, the central characters are primarily Billy and his two dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann. Here’s a look at these key characters:

• Billy : The protagonist of the story, Billy is a young boy living in the Ozarks who dreams of owning his own hunting dogs. He is determined, hardworking, and deeply compassionate, traits that endear him to both his family and the reader. Billy’s journey through the narrative is one of growth, adventure, and eventually, profound loss.
• Old Dan : One of Billy’s two Redbone Coonhound dogs, Old Dan is portrayed as strong, brave, and somewhat headstrong. He is fiercely loyal to Billy and Little Ann, often leading the charge during their hunting escapades. His strength and courage make him an integral part of the trio’s success in hunting raccoons.
• Little Ann : The other of Billy’s dogs, Little Ann is described as intelligent, cunning, and very skillful in tracking raccoons. Though smaller and less physically imposing than Old Dan, her cleverness and strategic thinking balance Old Dan’s brawn, making her just as crucial to their hunting achievements.
• Billy’s Family : Billy’s family includes his mother, father, and younger sisters. His parents are supportive of his endeavors, though his mother worries about the dangers he faces. His father takes pride in Billy’s accomplishments with Old Dan and Little Ann, and his sisters share in the joy of his successes.
• Grandfather : Billy’s grandfather is a significant supporting character who helps him buy the dogs and provides continual encouragement and support. He is also instrumental in entering Billy into the coon-hunting competition that tests the limits of Billy and his dogs.

Book Club Questions

Here are some thought-provoking questions that can help guide an engaging and reflective conversation:

• Character Development : How does Billy’s character evolve throughout the story? What are some key moments that you think significantly shaped his growth?
• Themes of Determination and Perseverance : The book heavily focuses on themes of determination and perseverance. Can you identify a particular scene or incident that best illustrates these themes? How do these themes resonate with your own experiences?
• Role of the Setting : How does the setting in the Ozark mountains contribute to the overall mood and plot of the story? Would Billy’s experiences and the story’s impact be different if it were set in a different location?
• Symbolism of the Red Fern : Discuss the symbolism of the red fern that grows between the graves of Old Dan and Little Ann. What does the red fern symbolize to you, and why do you think the author chose this symbol to end the story?
• Relationships and Bonds : Consider the relationships portrayed in the book—not just between Billy and his dogs, but also between Billy and his family, and Billy and his community. How are these relationships portrayed, and what do they say about the human condition?
• Conflict and Resolution : The story includes several conflicts, both external and internal. Discuss how these conflicts drive the narrative and how they are resolved. Do you find the resolutions satisfying?
• Impact of Loss : Billy experiences profound loss in the story. How is his handling of grief and loss depicted? How does this reflect on the process of mourning and recovery?
• Lessons Learned : What do you think are the key lessons that Billy learns by the end of the book? Do these lessons align with any that you have learned in your own life?
• Literary Style : Wilson Rawls has a distinctive style of storytelling. How did the author’s writing style affect your reading experience? Were there any passages that stood out to you for their emotional depth or descriptive nature?
• Recommendations and Reflections : After reading “Where the Red Fern Grows,” would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? How does this book compare to other books you’ve read with similar themes or settings?

Related: The Giving Tree Summary and Characters

Final thoughts

To conclude, I hope this brief overview has piqued your interest in “Where the Red Fern Grows.” This novel is a heartfelt tale of adventure, loyalty, and resilience that resonates deeply with readers of all ages. If you haven’t yet experienced this classic, I highly recommend picking up a copy. It’s a story that not only entertains but also provides rich material for reflection on the bonds we form with those we love.

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Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.

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Where the Red Fern Grows

By wilson rawls, where the red fern grows study guide.

Wilson Rawls based Where the Red Ferns Grows largely on his own boyhood in Scraper, Oklahoma. With encouragement from his wife, Sophie, he wrote the book in three weeks. She edited his poor grammar, it was serialized in the "Saturday Evening Post," and Doubleday published the novel in 1961. By the late 1960s, after a marketing blunder of targeting the book to adults, it became a classic young adult book, a poignant and adventurous tale of a boy's deep love for his two hounds. The book was also adapted for film in 1974, and an original film sequel was released in 1992.

The book centers on raccoon, or "coon," hunting in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Coons steal food from farms and are considered great nuisances, so hunting them became a sport, and Rawls minutely details the hunting process. The dogs (or sometimes a single dog) trail the scent of a wily coon through the woods at night (raccoons are nocturnal). The coon uses a number of tricks to elude the hunters, namely using water to mask its scent. The dogs try to "tree" - chase into a tree - the coon. The human hunter chops down the tree (or shoots harmless bird shot from a rifle into the tree) to knock the coon out. The dogs then try to kill the coon. After, the hunter skins the coon and sells its hide for a good price.

Where the Red Fern Grows Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Where the Red Fern Grows is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

why did billy decide to go for the dogs himself

Grandpa actually informs Billy that he knows a man who happens to be riding out to the depot in Tahlequah; Billy can ride with him if he wants. Billy is overjoyed but cannot wait. He becomes so impatient that later that night, he decides to pack...

How did the "ghost coon" get his name?

The Pritchard boys named him the "ghost coon" for seemingly disappearing once he is treed; their blue tick hound has treed him many times only for him to vanish.

What literary device is used in “it hissed and growled as it tor it’s way through the channel.”?

Personification

Study Guide for Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows study guide contains a biography of Wilson Rawls, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Where the Red Fern Grows
• Where the Red Fern Grows Summary
• Character List
• Chapters I-V Summary and Analysis

Essays for Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Where the Red Fern Grows.

• Mirrors and Madness in Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea

Lesson Plan for Where the Red Fern Grows

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Where the Red Fern Grows
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Where the Red Fern Grows Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Where the Red Fern Grows

• Introduction

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Where the red fern grows.

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

Common Sense Media Review

By Matt Berman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Tearjerker about country boy and his hound dogs.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Wilson Rawls' classic coming-of-age novel Where the Red Fern Grows is the story of Billy, a boy in the Ozarks during the Great Depression. Billy gets a pair of coonhounds as puppies and raises them to be exceptional hunting dogs. Billy exhibits excellent values of loyalty, patience,…

Why Age 9+?

Billy's mother uses a switch to punish him. Billy is beaten by other children. T

An adult smokes a pipe; alcohol is taken on a trip, though drinking is not depic

"Damn" appears once, and "hell" is used a few times. The word "bitch" is used as

Any Positive Content?

Billy is honest, noble, and as faithful as his dogs, and he perseveres against d

If you work hard for something, you will value it more. Also, the bond between d

Readers will learn about the way hunting dogs are trained, and get a glimpse at

Violence & Scariness

Billy's mother uses a switch to punish him. Billy is beaten by other children. There are many instances of trapping, hunting, wounding, and killing animals -- some more graphic than others. Billy's younger sisters are upset when they see their dad club a raccoon to death. A boy is killed accidentally when he falls on an ax. Animals fight, and there are graphic descriptions of their injuries.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

An adult smokes a pipe; alcohol is taken on a trip, though drinking is not depicted.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

"Damn" appears once, and "hell" is used a few times. The word "bitch" is used as the correct name for a female dog.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Role Models

Billy is honest, noble, and as faithful as his dogs, and he perseveres against daunting obstacles. Billy also has great examples to look up to in his hardworking and caring father, and his kind and devoted grandpa.

Positive Messages

If you work hard for something, you will value it more. Also, the bond between dog and master is deep and profound.

Educational Value

Readers will learn about the way hunting dogs are trained, and get a glimpse at rural life in the Ozark Mountains in Oklahoma during the Great Depression.

Parents need to know that Wilson Rawls' classic coming-of-age novel Where the Red Fern Grows is the story of Billy, a boy in the Ozarks during the Great Depression. Billy gets a pair of coonhounds as puppies and raises them to be exceptional hunting dogs. Billy exhibits excellent values of loyalty, patience, and devotion to his pets. However, the book includes detailed descriptions of hunting, killing, and skinning animals, as well as a gory description of a boy falling on an ax. Some scenes are quite bloody, and others are emotionally painful. This book may be difficult to take for sensitive animal-loving readers. Where the Red Fern Grows was made into a film in 1974 , and again in 2003 .

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (21)
• Kids say (72)

Based on 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Billy is growing up poor in the Ozarks during the Great Depression of the 1930s. More than anything, he wants a pair of redbone coonhounds. As it is cost-prohibitive for his parents to buy them, Billy works and saves for two years to buy them himself, then walks barefoot through the woods to the nearest town to pick them up. He spends months training the pups to be the best hunting dogs in the hills. His dreams come true as he enjoys nights out hunting with his dogs, and their fame spreads far and wide. Billy and his dogs are so good that his grandfather enters them in a championship coon hunt in which Billy will compete against grown men.

Is It Any Good?

This is.an exciting novel, full of fast-paced, exciting hunting scenes, but it also has great emotional depth. Billy's family life is warm and supportive, and his connection to his pets is quite profound. Young readers will care about Billy and his hounds, and will eagerly follow them through every plot twist and adventure.

Where the Red fern Grows is also a romantic period piece that portrays a rural America where a boy could ramble through the countryside with his dogs all night long, in complete freedom. Based on the author's own boyhood, this boy-and-his-dog story is exciting, uplifting, and heartbreaking.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the way hunting is portrayed in Where the Red Fern Grows. Does the author make hunting seem exciting? If so, how?

Where the Red Fern Grows is a coming-of-age novel. What are some ways that you can tell Billy is growing up in the story? How does his dad's attitude toward him change?

What makes Billy's dogs special? Why do you thing stories about beloved animals are so popular?

Book Details

• Author : Wilson Rawls
• Genre : Animals
• Topics : Adventures , Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Great Boy Role Models , Wild Animals
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Delacorte Press
• Publication date : January 1, 1961
• Number of pages : 212
• Last updated : June 4, 2020

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows: Book Report Answers

• Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red…

CHAPTERS 1-V

The narrator had fond memories of his past, wonderful memories.   He earlier stated when he saw the dog-fight and looked at the “old hound fight against such odds”, “he remembered an old hound that gave his life so that he may live”.   Seeing the warm gray eyes brought many memories of his past and his feelings, like an old familiar face he sat in front of his fire and started thinking of them.

• Why does the author call puppy love a terrible disease?

He always felt like a young Daniel Boone and his first and only love was that to share his time with a ‘puppy’ just not any puppy, but two hounds.  Friends for life that you can play with, gnaw at your fingers, sleep and eat with.   It is easier if you can have a dog, whenever you want, but the wanting of a particular, dog that cost money and to have out of his reach, well, this was his disease.  A friend, a hunter far away in his dreams.

• How did Billy’s prowling at the campground help cure his dog-wanting disease?

His father bought his steel traps, which started his first exploration into hunting and catching wildlife.  This helped his dog-wanting disease as he tried to catch all of the animals in the barn, including the cat.  It kept him busy and he learned how to “trap” as a hunter and do chores in the campground.   He was finally ready to help his father with the farm and this helped him cure his wanting a hound.

But when he found the campground, he also found a sportsman’s magazine and this changed his life forever because it brought him hope of having a hound.   He read the article on “dogs for sale” so much he hears dogs and smells dogs.   He had a dream.

• How did Billy’s grandpa react when Billy shows him the money he has earned to buy the dogs?

Billy’s grandpa was dumbfounded.  He had no idea that Billy has continued to save for two years.  Billy worked at catching minnows or crawfish, selling vegetables, and picking berries for a long time.  Little by little he had enough for his dream.  I think his grandfather was proud of Billy.

• Why does Billy feel so out of place in Tahlequah?

Tahlequah was a big town to Billy.  It had 800 people and was a city to Billy.  It was nothing like he had ever seen or ever experienced.  He was a country boy and he walked into Tahlequah and it was like he was in a story.  It was also the first time he saw a reflection of himself. He had no experience with the city and everything that it taught him.

CHAPTERS VI-X

• Why is it so important that Billy gets the coon for his dogs?

The answer is to give the coons a fair chance and to allow his dogs to be real “coon hunters”.   Billy trapped his first coon and it was the first sign that his father said they would be good ‘coon-hunters’, but to do it with his dogs was the best way.   They learned a lot about hunting and Billy learned a lot about his dogs.   He was in preparation for hunting season.   He was following his dream of being a hunter with coon-hunting dogs.

• What shows you that Billy is totally responsibly for his dogs?

Billy cares for his dogs.   He takes his responsibility seriously for his dogs and will not give up on getting a coon, or sacrificing himself so that he can be there for his dogs.   It is his determination and responsibility to teach his dogs to hunt and to be there for them at all costs.

CHAPTERS  XI-XV

• Describe the relationship between Little Ann and Old Dan?

Little Ann and Old Dan were very close.  Where one was strong, the other was weak;  when one needed help, the other stayed to offer.  It was on the icy bank that Old Dan showed his devotion to Little Ann as she hung on for her life.  The sounds of help, longing, and sorrow from Old Dan showed Billy their relationship.  It was this night that he saw their bond.

• How are Rubin and Rainie different from Billy?

Rubin and Rainie were both mean-looking boys, one older and one about the same age as Billy.   They both had mean dispositions.  They were raised differently and this changed who they were and what they did.  They believed in betting and fighting and Billy did not.

• Why must Billy’s dogs free the ghost coon?

Billy made a bet with Rainie and Rubin with his dogs to free the ghost coon.  They did not believe that Billy had good dogs or they had any ability to catch the coon.

• What final gestures helps Billy resolve Rubin’s death?

Billy went over to Rubin when he was laying with an ax in him.  When Rubin asked him to take it out, he did/he tried.   It was the beginning of the dogs fighting that started this tragedy, but it was an accident and Billy did what he could to help Rubin.

• Describe the Championship Coon Hunt.

Billy’s grandpa entered Old Dan and Little Ann into the “Championship Coon Hunt”.  This wasn’t any hunt, this was a championship where only registered hounds could participate.   Billy’s grandpa had written letters, upon letters recording the coons Billy’s dog has caught and their catch was among the top.   Billy’s grandpa had paid the entry fee and was waiting for Billy to agree.  It was the ultimate championship for coon-hunters.

CHAPTERS XVI-XX

• Give examples that show that Billy’s hounds are truly intelligent creatures.

His hounds, were the first in 40 years of judging to catch the coon the way they did.  These little hounds raced along the river and chased this coon during the night and it was their dedication and Billy’s hunting.   The judges had never seen a hound walk on a sycamore limb like that and jump, they had tied the leading team.

• What does Billy mean when he says, “You were worth it old friend, and a thousand times over?

It was a saying of his deepest love, man’s best friend.   In his eyes, Old Dan was his best friend, someone who saved his life and had great courage to try.   Billy did everything he knew how to do, and yet Old Dan gave him a thousand more.

• What is the meaning of the title Where the Red Fern Grows ?

It is an Indian legend that shows that God has never left our side. It was heard that “an old Indian legend tells you about the death of a little Indian boy and girl in a blizzard.  They were lost and during the spring, when they were found, a beautiful red fern had grown up between their two bodies.  The story went on to say that only an angel could plant the seeds of a red fern and that they never died; where one grew, that spot was sacred.”

With the death of Old Dan and Little Ann, Billy was very hurt and when they moved to their new home and saw a red fern in the yard, it was a sign of an angel.  Billy never lost Old Dan and Little Ann, they would be always with him.   They were always meant to be together and together they gave Billy the best love of all, hope and friendship.  He also knew that God had a place for them and they would never be alone.

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