Reader's Corner: The Dramatic Story of a Hunter and His Dogs

     “I found her lying on her stomach, her hind legs stretched out straight, and her front feet folded back under her chest. She had laid her head on his grave. I saw the trail where she had dragged herself through the leaves. The way she lay there, I thought she was alive. I called her name. She made no movement. With the last ounce of strength in her body, she had dragged herself to the grave of Old Dan.” These heart-breaking lines are taken from Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows.

     Would you want to try reading a story that would certainly pinch your heart and bring your eyes to tears? Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows would be the best pick. This story brings you into a farm in the Ozark Mountains, showing you the life of a young, but bold and hardworking kid name Billy Colman. Billy had always wanted dogs, but his family had money troubles and could not afford. Unexpectedly, Billy sees an opportunity to get himself not only one but two dogs. Is this the beginning of a dream that he sought after or just a nightmare that is just waiting to unfold?

     My favorite part of the story is when Billy meets his dogs for the first time. I liked this part because of the author’s detailed and realistic description of the dogs. It helps me boost my imagination of how pleasing would it be to have dogs too!!! Like most of the stories I have read, there are morals that we can learn. One of the morals that the story made me realize was is that we must love and respect our siblings, even if there are times that arguments occur. It also sends a message to not let pride take control of us and lastly do not hurt others, physically and/or mentally.

     I recommend this book to kids ages 11 and above as well as those who can take on stories that have serious and heavy emotions involved. This book is a blend of serious, suspenseful, and dramatic scenes which would surely make your heart pound and melts.  On a lighter side, it gives the readers a glimpse of the lives of the people in farms and how do they survive. Lastly, through Billy and his dogs’ relationship, real love of human to animals was shown. At first glance, I thought the book looked dull and wearisome. However, once I started reading it, I was drawn into its thrilling and dramatic tale, which held love and companionship as its key source.

-by Jerry