Where the Red Fern Grows

This might be the book to which I compare all others. What a great story Mr. Rawls rewrote in 1958. Yes, rewrote. Wilson Rawls grew up on a farm in the Ozark Mountains, since there was no school around, his mother taught he and his sisters. When he was 10 years old he decided he wanted to become a write after reading, The Call of The Wild. When his family moved to West Virginia he was finally able to attend school, only until Junior High though because he had to leave during the Great Depression when his family moved to California.

When Rawls was a teenager, he began writing. Since he did not have a formal education though, his manuscript was full of spelling and grammar mistakes. After completing the book, he was so ashamed he burned it.

In 1958 Rawls married and told his wife about his book. She encouraged him to write it again and he was able to in just 3 weeks. His wife helped him to improve upon his spelling and grammar and the book was published in 1960.

Where the Red Fern Grows is the story of 12 year old Billy Coleman. Billy grew up in the Ozarks with his parents and sisters. Billy’s dream was to own two Coonhounds. Billy’s family could not afford to buy two dogs, so Billy had to raise the money on his own. It took him two years to raise the money, but he eventually did. The mail truck wouldn’t deliver the puppies, so one night Billy snuck out and walked miles and miles to the nearest town to pick up his puppies. He was thrilled to see his puppies for the first time and started his journey back home. On the way home he had a frightening experience with a mountain lion and decided upon names for his new puppies, Old Dan and Little Ann.

Once he arrived home, Billy spent day and night training his dogs to hunt raccoons. Old Dan and Little Ann were so loyal to Billy and he promised them that if they chased a coon up a tree he would do what he needed to get it down. On their first night of hunting they caught the scent of a coon and chased it up the biggest Sycamore in the woods. Billy was distraught by the size of the Sycamore, but knew his promise, so he commenced to cut down the tree. But it was no easy job…

The story is full of adventures with Billy and the dogs, the nasty Prichard boys, a coon hunt in the midst of a blizzard, a vicious mountain lion, joy, sadness and in the end, a Red Fern. Where the Red Fern Grows is for anyone who understands friendship, loyalty and love.

I give this book 5 out of 5 bookworms hands down! It’s a must read!

(Background information on Wilson Rawls adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Rawls)