Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows

By: Wilson Rawls

Realistic fiction

Billy is a very determined ten year old boy who wants nothing more than two good coonhounds. He lives in the Ozark Mountains of Northeastern Oklahoma, and has what he calls "puppy love". Billy is willing to do anything in the world just to get his hands on two dogs that he could teach to hunt down coon competitively. So when he gets his hands on a sportsman's catalog that advertised two hounds for only $25 each, he saw that as a golden opportunity to fulfill his dream. However, Billy's family could not spare him any money but that did not stop him. Billy worked hard, selling fruit and bait to fishermen and gathering fruit which he sold to his grandfather until he finally had enough money for the hounds. He then gave the money to his grandfather to order the dogs for him but the dogs were all the way in town. Billy lived out in the middle of nowhere, far away from any towns or residents so his family would not bring him there simply because they could not afford to. Billy knew what he had to do. He waited till night, then snuck out of his house and traveled towards town. Once he finally arrived he picked up his dogs and headed home. However, in the mountains on the way back Billy and his two dogs encountered a mountain lion. The bigger hound stood up and started howling at the beast and Billy built up a fire he had going while they were resting. The plan worked and that's when Billy decided to name his dogs Old Dan and Little Ann. These names he thought fit well because Old Dan proved he was very brave, and Little Ann was obviously very smart. Once Billy arrived home he was anxious to start training his outstanding new hounds. With the help of his grandfather's tips and useful knowledge Billy raised two very successful coonhounds. Old Dan was always very brave and determined while Little Ann was at his side keeping him in check when a coon out-thought him. The two made an incredible team. So when the Pritchard boys, the meanest kids in the area, came by Billy's grand pop's store, they picked on Billy's dogs and bet him that their dogs could find the Legendary Ghost Coon before Billy's dogs could. Billy's grand pop was so angry he accepted the bet for him. So they all set out to capture the Legendary Ghost Coon. The chase started off slow but once the dogs finally caught sent of the coon the race was on. But after the coon climbed a specific tree, it would disappear every time. Just as everyone was eager to give up, Little Ann caught sent of the legendary coon once again. However, once the coon was treed, Billy realized how magnificent the coon was and didn't want to kill it. Just then one of the Pritchard boy's tackled Billy to the ground as his dog went for the coon. But that's when Old Dan