Where the Red Fern Grows

By Wilson Rawls – Release Date: May 3, 1996

A determined young boy finds the true meaning of friendship and responsibility in the award winning author’s, mind grabbing, first of the series novel.

The main protagonist is a young boy at the age of ten years old, Billy Coleman. As he is in search of a good pair of raccoon hunting dogs, he learns and understands the true meaning hard-work and dedication. Even when in possession of his newfound hunting dogs, he learns the concept of responsibility and friendship as the story tells of their adventures as raccoon hunters. The setting is the Ozark mountains in the state of Oklahoma in the years of the 1930’s. Once “Billy” saves enough money to buy himself a pair of Redwood Coonhounds, he begins his journey, training his dogs to be the best hunting dogs in the state. Once Billy’s dogs were properly trained, Wilson Rawls, the author, takes a different approach in setting the structure of the book as she skips around three years into the future with a periodic time lapse, only showing key points in the main character’s story. As the character’s story progresses, Rawls uses stunning imagery to describe the setting and surroundings of the state-wide raccoon hunting tournament. In the heat of the competition the author throws us a mind-blowing twist as a storm crashes Billy’s chances of winning. However, even with the storm in play, he comes out with the victory. In a sad but beautiful conclusion, Billy’s dogs strike a fight with a mountain lion where one of the dogs dies of injury, and the other of a heartbreak as she loses her will to live without her beloved friend. In the midst of all the sadness, Billy goes to visit his dog’s graves when he finds a single red fern growing in between the two of them just as an urban legend told.

I thoroughly believe “Where the Red Fern Grows” is an amazing piece of American Literature. The story is set in the 1930’s, in the heat of the Great Depression in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. The novel is beautifully presented with so many amazing moments as the book twists and turns your mind into an oblivion of emotions. The concept and story of the novel is American as it tells the tale of a young boy in search of a newfound goal. He works and grinds towards this goal in which he accomplishes. He then sets more and more goals throughout the book, crushing each one because of his relentless, hard-work and determination. My ideal of the American Dream is just that, a story of accomplishing personal goals while making a better life for you and your family. In this novel he does this and much more. In attempting to figure out which text I have read in class that relates to my story, I’d have to say I couldn’t find one. I enjoy this book so much because in my eyes I see it as totally unique. I believe the novel is so unlike the texts we’ve read because of the fact that this book set in the past and so many people can most likely relate to it whereas the things we’ve read in class are more science fiction, post-apocalyptic readings. “Where the Red Fern Grows” connects to the current events we are facing such as COVID-19. In today’s trying times we’re forced to stay at home and be away from the world. In the 1930’s in the Ozark Mountains I’d say that’s away from the world in so many ways.

A beautiful piece of American Literature as it puts the audiences emotions on an emotional journey. It tells the story of a growing responsibility and friendship between a boy and his two dogs in the path towards success and greatness.