Where the Red Fern Grows By Wilson Rawls

Where the Red Fern Grows The novel, Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls is a classic book that has been a favorite of young people for many years! If you love dogs and adventure, you are sure to enjoy this book. Be prepared to shed a few tears though, especially if you are tender hearted. This book won the Newberry Honor Award!

What is a red fern? Is there such a plant? Yes, there is such a plant! The following slides will show you some actual photographs of red ferns. The beautiful, red foliage really stands out against the green of the other plants around it.

What about Redbone Coonhounds? Yes, Redbone Coonhounds also exist in real life. Although this is a fictional book, many elements in it are based on real life. This really makes the story sound like it is a true story.

A Redbone Coonhound Redbone hounds are used to hunt raccoons, or “coons,” so they are also known as coonhounds.

Raccoon Raccoons, or “coons,” live in forests by rivers, streams, and lakes. They are nocturnal (active at night) and they are omnivores (eat vegetation and meat). They are very intelligent and their paws are very sensitive and nimble.

NOTES ON THE AUTHOR AND THE BOOK Wilson Rawls was born in Oklahoma. He was taught by his mother (no formal education). Rawls always wrote stories, but burned them because he didn’t think they were any good. He was encouraged by his wife and rewrote this novel in 1961. The novel is based on his childhood. The book was made into a movie in 1974. The movie had a sequel, but the book did not.

THEMES Hard work, determination, and self-denial can bring success (Proverbs 16:3). Rewards are dearer if they are earned (Proverbs 13:4). If people could learn to love each other, they wouldn’t be so selfish (Mark 12:31). A person is only as good as his or her word. (1 John 2:5). There is a great design or plan to life; things happen to people for a reason (Jeremiah 29:11).

Grand Teton National Park SETTING The book begins in Chapter 1 when Billy is an older man, living in Idaho, just west of the Grand Teton mountains. The time is probably in the 1970’s. He finds a stray dog that reminds him of the two dogs that he had when he was young. Grand Teton National Park

SETTING Then, in Chapter 2 the story moves to the land of Billy’s childhood about fifty years earlier (sometime in the 1920’s or ‘30’s). Billy recounts his childhood in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains on the banks of the Illinois River (Cherokee County, Oklahoma). Tahlequah, Oklahoma

CHARACTERS  Billy- the teenager who develops a close relationship with his two hound dogs  Papa- Billy’s father who is beginning to treat him like a man  Mama- Billy’s mother who tries to help him with his problems and worries about him a lot  Grandpa- Billy’s grandfather who is Billy’s good friend and advisor  Little Ann- Billy’s female hound, the smaller and smarter dog  Old Dan- Billy’s male hound, who is bigger and stronger

Some Items from the Time Gunny sack: a burlap bag used for carrying produce (such as potatoes, apples, or coffee). The material is very rough and scratchy.

Some Items from the Time Flour sack: a white cotton bag used for carrying flour The material was lighter and softer than burlap. People did not throw things away if they were still useful, so every kitchen probably had a few empty flour sacks on hand.

Some Items from the Time KC Baking Powder Can: a common household necessity for making biscuits and cakes Baking powder was usually found in every kitchen. KC was a popular brand, and when empty, could make a useful container.

Some Items from the Time Depot: a depot is also known as a train depot or station. Trains would stop here and load or unload cargo, and passengers would get on and get off.

Some Items from the Time General Store: a small country store that carried a large variety of goods; it filled the wants and needs of the day. It was an old-fashioned one-stop shop.

Some Items from the Time Horehound: a favorite old-fashioned candy made with 100 % natural horehound herb tea. These hard candies were not only good to eat, but also great for soothing a scratchy, dry sore throat. At one time, these could be purchased in every general store.

Some Items from the Time Double bit axe: A common axe used in the early 1900’s for cutting down trees and clearing land. It had a heavy head, and usually one side was saved for jobs that would dull the blade (such as cutting roots through dirt, so the other side would stay very sharp).

1974 2003 There are two movie versions of the story…

The author did not write a sequel to the book The author did not write a sequel to the book. However, a movie sequel was made. The sequel of the movie is about Billy, who is all grown up and returning home from WWII. He finds out that Grandpa, who is growing older, has bought him a gift of two Redbone Hounds. Will history repeat itself?

Enjoy the book! You will notice many things in the book that are not in the movies. Movie-makers have to budget their money and their time, and some things are just impossible to film! That’s why books are generally better than the movies made from them – they have more details!