Author: Wilson Rawls
Publisher: Yearling
Buy Now: Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Bookshop.org(supports indie bookstores)

Even knowing what was coming, this book still broke me. Some books lose their magic when you revisit them as an adult — this one doesn’t. If anything, it hits harder.

Where the Red Fern Grows is my dad’s favorite book, and picking it back up after all these years felt like stepping into one of his stories. We had several coonhounds growing up — Walkers (Misty and Briar) and a black and tan named Bear. Dad even turned my Irish terrier, Dublin, into a coon dog. I wasn’t thrilled about it at the time — it meant he became an outside dog — but it’s part of those memories now.

I didn’t always like going out hunting with my dad as a kid, but looking back, I’m glad I had those nights. The baying of the dogs out in the dark, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the sweep of the flashlight cutting through the trees — those moments sit heavy with memory now. This book brought all of that back, every sound and shadow.

Wilson Rawls writes with a kind of straightforward honesty that gets under your skin. There’s no pretense, no wasted words, just a simple story about a boy and his dogs that sneaks up on you and breaks your heart wide open. Billy’s devotion to Old Dan and Little Ann is as pure and unshakable as anything you’ll find in literature, and that’s why the ending still devastates me, even knowing it’s coming.

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Final Thoughts

Where the Red Fern Grows isn’t just a children’s book — it’s a timeless story about love, loyalty, and the cost of growing up. It’s raw, tender, and devastating in the best possible way. If you haven’t read it since you were a kid, pick it up again. It’s a different book when you’re older — one that lingers long after you turn the last page.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

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