Jan 2021 - WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS by Wilson Rawls

[Andrew, moderator]

This topic is for discussion of our January 2021 group read, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.

To all who voted: thank you!
To everyone: I hope you'll participate and read this selection for our book club.
For those who do: share your thoughts as you read, please!
Spoilers are allowed; add a considerate warning if your comment includes any so members have the option to skip.

A few notes on this book:
* It came in at #31 on the final Great American Read list.
* It has a 4.08 average Goodreads rating.
* It was published in 1961.
* A film adaptation was released in 1974.
* Another film adaptation was released in 2003, by Disney.

[Heather L]

Just finished reading it for the first time. Sob! 😭

[Bridget]

Heather L wrote: "Just finished reading it for the first time. Sob! 😭"

Oh my, looks like I'm moving this to the top of my list.

[Heather L]

Bridget, it was really good. The adventures of a boy and his dogs kept me turning the pages, and one scene with Old Dan had me laughing out loud. To say I was weepy the last two chapters isn’t a spoiler, either, since the narrator himself sets us up for something sad in the first chapter. I’ll be honest, I would not have liked this as much if I had had to read it when my sister did in middle school (so glad we had different English teachers!). I fell in love with raccoons when my 4th grade class read Rascal, so definitely would have hated this one.

[Bridget]

Heather L wrote: "Bridget, it was really good. The adventures of a boy and his dogs kept me turning the pages, and one scene with Old Dan had me laughing out loud. To say I was weepy the last two chapters isn’t a sp..."

This was a sad story, I think it had a "home-sick" feel to it, with the narrator wishing he could return to that time. I kind of wish he had. I agree that I wouldn't have like it in middle school. I was more into "Black Beauty" and anything horsey.