Scan barcode
A review by mudder17
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
4.0
4 stars. The main reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that there are some things that didn't quite age that well, particularly the attitudes about womenfolk as they called it. Still, it was a product of the times, so I'm willing to let it pass, especially because the rest of the story was so good. But I was also not completely on board with the cutting down of a ginormous sycamore tree for the sake of hunting a coon (I know it was more about the agreement the kid had with his dogs and I do respect that), and the treatment of the cat as more of a stray than a family pet annoyed me. Full disclosure: we're a cat family and although we love dogs, our home is more suitable for cats and they are a part of our family.
That said, the fact that this book had me hooked from beginning to end despite my not being a dog person says a lot about how well written this book was. Ultimately, this book is about the amazing bond between a boy and his two dogs that was possibly forged before he even laid eyes on them. Yes, it's also about his relationship with his family and God, but it's focused mainly on the understanding that is formed between boy and dogs as they learn to hunt together and care for one another. Although there were some things I liked about the ending, I am a bit annoyed by the father's explanation at the very end regarding what happened with the dogs. Sigh. But overall, this was way more engrossing than I was expecting and I'm glad I finally read it!
That said, the fact that this book had me hooked from beginning to end despite my not being a dog person says a lot about how well written this book was. Ultimately, this book is about the amazing bond between a boy and his two dogs that was possibly forged before he even laid eyes on them. Yes, it's also about his relationship with his family and God, but it's focused mainly on the understanding that is formed between boy and dogs as they learn to hunt together and care for one another. Although there were some things I liked about the ending, I am a bit annoyed by the father's explanation at the very end regarding what happened with the dogs. Sigh. But overall, this was way more engrossing than I was expecting and I'm glad I finally read it!