Remembering Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

This Remembrance Contains Spoilers. You Have Been Warned.

I really have no idea when I first read Where the Red Fern Grows. I know it was when I was too young to really understand what the hell was going on or process it properly. I have, however, read it a few times since that first time, but not since I was in Junior High, at least, I think. My memories on this one are at the same time bright and fuzzy.

I remember that the dogs are Big Dan and Little Ann. I know that they're red coon-hounds. I've always envisioned them as, like, Irish Setter-y colored Labs. I really had no clue what the distinction of "hound" meant until I was older, so the Lab imagery was what stuck in my head.

My sharpest memory from Where the Red Fern Grows is that there's some kind of inter-farm competition between the main character and his neighbor as to whose dogs are best. The neighbor's dog's name is Blue and, during this competition, the owner ends up falling on his axe and dying instantly. So, ya know, good memories of this book.

I kind of remember there's this big racoon hunting competition in which Big Dan and Little Ann end up winning some sort of prize. I'm pretty sure it was some money and a little trophy cup with their names on it.

And lastly I remember the deaths of Big Dan and Little Ann. Because yes, this is one of those where the dogs die at the end. I vaguely remember Dan died first and Ann just kind of wasted away afterward. I remember no specifics of Dan's death. It was probably heart-wrenching and I probably cried.

I feel like I was definitely too young to have read Where the Red Fern Grows when I did. I had little comprehension of what was going on, as I mention in my intro. I know that the death of Blue's owner shocked me, but I was more intrigued by the description of the dead body than anything else surrounding it. Also, as I'm sure you noticed, I do not remember any of the names of any of the humans in this book. They were clearly not the focus and not anything my brain latched onto.

The plot of Where the Red Fern Grows is also completely gone from my mind. I'm pretty sure it was just: Boy saves up money to get dogs. Boy gets dogs. Boy has to raise dogs. Dogs turn out to be awesome. Dogs hunt raccoons. Dogs end up dying because that's what dogs do. Boy has to deal with dogs dying.

After I Read the Blurb

Okay so, apparently the kid's name is Billy. Such a generic name, no wonder I forgot it. Oh, and it's Old Dan, not Big Dan. Honestly, the blurb was super generic and did not knock anything loose from my brain-pan

Where the Red Fern Grows was among my favorite books for a short time when I was younger. I fairly quickly transitioned away from reading Historical Fiction and into the Fantasy genre once I knew it existed. I do remember picking up Where the Red Fern Grows a few times, but I'm pretty sure it didn't last long on my shelf past High School.

I'm also not surprised Where the Red Fern Grows has a couple teaching guides out. It's a mostly inoffensive Coming of Age tale.