Where the Red Fern Grows

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Author(s)

Wilson Rawls

Publisher

Delacorte Press

Genre(s)

General Fiction

Age Range

10+

Release Date

May 03, 1996

ISBN

0385323301

Buy This Book

For fans of Old Yeller and Shiloh, Where the Red Fern Grows is a beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man’s best friend.

Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.
Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan’s brawn, Little Ann’s brains, and Billy’s sheer will seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past.

Praise for Where the Red Fern Grows

A Top 100 Children’s Novel, School Library Journal's A Fuse #8 Production
A Must-Read for Kids 9 to 14, NPR
Winner of Multiple State Awards
Over 7 million copies in print!

User reviews

19 reviews

5 stars

53%

4 stars

37%

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Overall rating

4.3

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4.3(19)

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Great

June 25, 2012 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

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4.0

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I was hesitant to read this book, even after my mom recommended it to me. I knew the ending was not going to be happy and animals dying is not a great read for me. But this story is so much more than it's ending. It's everything in between and what it means to love something unconditionally.
Such a great book. Even after all these years, I still remember it like it was yesterday.

Emily Savant Top 50 Reviewer 271 reviews

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The cutest book about a boy and his dogs.

September 30, 2009 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

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4.0

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4.0

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Reader reviewed by AB

Where the Red Fern Grows was about a boy who always wanted hunting dogs.
He enventually gets the dogs he wanted for so long. He trains them to hunt racoons.
His life with his dogs are full of adventure and excitment.
It made someone I knew cry at the end.
This book can make you cry if you have a dog you love.
Best book I ever read about a boy and his dogs amed Little Ann and Old Dan.

Guest

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One of my favorites

July 31, 2009 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Nikki

This book was read to me by my fifth grade teacher. I thought it was great. It's not normally something I'd read on my own, but I liked it. It was a great book. It managed to make me cry a little bit, but I'm pretty sensitive, so a lot of thingsdo that. I think it's a book I might read again. Maybe sometime in the future. It's something I'd suggest to a friend.

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Where the Red Fern Grows!

June 17, 2009 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

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4.0

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4.0

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Reader reviewed by Julie

This book was a great read. It was really realistic and you could really relate to the characters. Even though this book was set in a different time, you could still see the struggles everyone had to go through. This book was a sad read, but I loved it. It deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

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Love this Book!!

April 18, 2009 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Shelby

I absolutely love this book. It's about a boy named Billy who really wants a dog bad. He just does just about anything to get a dog. I think this book is good for teaching young kids to respect animals. Theres nothing I can say that I didn't like about this book. It's one of those books that you would want to read again and again. In the end it's really sad how the two dogs die. The reason why they call this book where the Red Fern Grows is because the dogs are buried right near where the red fern is growing. This book made me cried because it was just so sad how those dogs died. It broke Billy's heart. I just thought it was so sweet how he loved those dogs. If i could i would give this book a 10, because it's just that good.

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So Sad!! *tear*

April 07, 2009 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Jessica

Where the Red Fern Grows was a very sweet book, but sad. I was sitting in my room alone reading it and when I read past the part when the dog dies, I started getting teary-eyed and all the sudden, started crying. I don't know why. I'm not one to usually cry when I read books, but it made me feel like I was actually there and that was my dog. I would recommend this book. So sweet, but so saaaad!!!

Guest

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Old Time Favorite

November 17, 2008 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

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4.0

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4.0

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Reader reviewed by Meeshee

An old kid favorite. I remember reading Where The Red Fern Grows as a young sixth grader. The book captivated my mind and desperatly held my attention. It opened my heart to a new way of reading by allowing me to experience the sad tales of others. I loved this book and highly recommend it to book lovers of all ages.

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How can you not love this book?

September 08, 2008 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Dominique

This is a great book for anyone, especially dog lovers. You'll be crying by the end.

I had to read it for the Battle of the Books in 5th grade, and I was afraid of the small print (I love books too, it just scares me). But once I got into the book, I could not put it back down.

Guest

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His love for his dogs... almost as strong as the dogs love for each other.

March 02, 2008 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Laura

Billy lives on a farm in the Ozarks. He wants two coonhounds very badly; however his papa cannot afford any. Billy works hard and eventually has enough money to buy two coonhounds. Billy trains his dogs to become highly-skilled raccoon hunters. The two dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, are determined hunters and never let Billy down.I was once again, so engrossed that I read it in one night, ignoring the fact that I had to work the next day. It is a beautiful story, a timeless one. A childhood favorite. I am amazed that it didn't win a Newberry Honor medal, or some other kind of award. This is one of the books that helped instill a loving of reading at an early age. A GEM, don't miss it. A story about a young boy on the brink of manhood and his love for his pups....whom he worked so hard for.

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A Nice Dog Story for Once

December 14, 2006 (Updated: July 18, 2026)

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5.0

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Katrina

This is my most favorite book of all time. Period. I've never thought an animal story would keep me crying all night.

This story is mainly based on a boy who is in love with his two dogs. Both of his dogs have been with him for a majority of his life and they form a bond that's so unbreakable that nothing could ever break them apart. Until a tragic ending results in death, tears, and love. This book is undeniably a masterpiece and will continue to be one for many generations.

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