For an introvert like me, I enjoy participating in solitary and reserved activities such as hunting, reading storybooks, fishing and using computers. Although I enjoy spending time with close friends, I enjoy spending time alone and participating in activities that one can perform alone. I do not find much interest in participating in the group’s activities. This explains why I found myself interested in the book “Where The Red Fern Grows” by author Wilson Rawls. I like stories about dogs, friendship, family, and life on a farm.
This book is about a ten-year-old boy named Billy who lived on a farm in the heavily forested Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression with his Mother, Father, Grandfather, and three sisters. The story has three interesting conflicts that make it so entertaining. The first conflict arises when Billy wanted to have two pups, but has no money to buy them. In tight times, Billy's parents do not want to spend on frills, and not keen to take chances on something risky like coon-hunting dogs. In the last conflict, Mama wants to move to the city so that her children can get good education, but they do not have enough money. However, when the dogs win the coon hunting competition, Mama’s wish comes true and they are able to move to the city. The last conflict is the treeing of the mountain lion. The lion leaps at Billy. The conflict ends with Old Dan killing the lion, saving Billy's life. However, Old Dandies later that night from wounds, which makes Little Ann gets depressed because of the loss of Old Dan and starves herself to death.
The things I like the most and best about this story are when Billy was able to save enough money to get his two Redbone Coonhounds. I also liked it when the coonhounds won the competition and earned enough money to help his family. The things that I like the least in this book are his grandfather getting injured during the competition, the mountain lion killing Old Dan, and Little Ann starving herself to death.
In conclusion, this book is about Billy, friendship with his dogs, his family, relationships, and death. If I could change the ending of this story I would not let the dogs die, and I would make the story to where they all move to the city and live happily ever after. I feel proud about the story because it reflects my personal character trait as an introvert. The main character in the story Billy seems to be an introvert who enjoys hunting using his dogs. I feel like I was the one who was acting and that is why I find it quite interesting.
References
Rahls, Wilson. Where the Red Fern Grows. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1997.
