Where the Red Fern Grows

First off, sorry this is so long. It may have turned out to be more like a book report, but I really want to highlight some faith promoting moments in this wonderful book.

If you haven't heard about the ending of this book, where have you been? It's a classic! Anyway, if you don't want to know the ending, don't read, because I talk about it.

Before Nicole falls asleep I read to her, well, while she's falling asleep I read to her. Nicole is so good, she just lies in her bed while I read to her, and since picture books are usually interesting because of the pictures, I decided to read her books that I would like to hear for the time being; the first book being Where the Red Fern Grows.

So this book has impressed my while reading it. First, Billy is so determined to get his dogs he works for 2 years doing whatever he can to earn money. The determination is amazing! I also loved how greatful Billy was to God and how much he relied on God to help him get his dogs. From earning the money to the trip by himself to pick up the dogs from the post. Billy was always quick to recognize the power and help God gave him in getting his dogs, training the dogs, and keeping his dogs safe.

On the first live coon hunt Billy takes his dogs on Billy comes up against a very big problem, literally. Billy not only needs to teach his dogs to hunt a live coon and work through the coon tricks, but Billy also needs to prove to his dogs that as long as they do their part in treeing a coon, Billy will handle the rest in cutting down the tree. When the coon runs up the biggest sycamore in the Ozarks, Billy knows he can't let his dogs down. After all his hard work, and when he can work no more, Billy turns to God for help. A small miracle occurs. A miracle that would have been overlooked by anyone with lesser faith is so greatly appriciated by this young boy. After seconds of Billy asking God for help because he has done all he can and he can do no more, a mysterious breeze comes and the tree falls. This little miracle is so special to Billy because he physically could not do anymore, and when God needed to take over He did. The faith of a child immediately put Billy on his knees in thanks to his Father in Heaven.

Another amazing part to me in this novel is when the dog Little Ann is in life danger. After a cold storm comes through the Ozarks, Billy takes his dogs hunting. While chasing a coon across the river Old Dan makes the jump, but Little Ann's hind slips on the ice and falls into the trough of the river. This quick stream of freezing water not only nearly freezes poor Little Ann, but also works at pulling her under to her death. Billy, not knowing what to do, and seeing his dog die, prays for help from God to save his poor little dog. Before praying Billy had found a stick and pushed his lantern out so he could see his poor Little Ann. With the lantern handle up before the prayer, it was the falling of the handle that sparked the ever so simple solution to save his dog. That tiny thing, the lantern handle falling just as the prayer was complete was a miracle to Billy. He immediately recognized the hand of God and went to work. In order to save his dog he would have to strip down and walk into the freezing river as far as he could, then take the stick that he pushed the lantern out with and use it to grab Little Ann by the collar and pull her out of the freezing, quick flowing trough of the river. The answer was so simple, and yet Billy knew that it was God who gave him the information he needed in order to perform the miracle. Again, a miracle that would have been overlooked by someone with less faith was held so close to Billy's heart.

Even at the end of the novel when Billy goes back to his dog's grave for the last time, he recognizes the power of God. When he sees the Red Fern between the grave he remembers the old Ozark legend. In this legend it says that only an angel can plant the seed to a red fern. This final act releaves the pain in Billy's heart for the death of his dogs. God's final act for Billy helps him come to peace with the move of his family and the death of his dogs.

I don't know of any other main stream books that highlight the power of God like this book does. Many teachers, at least when I was in school, read this book to their students. Some classes read this book as a requirement. This Newberry (I believe it is newberry) Award book is forever in the hearts of adults and children. The power of love, devotion, and faith in this book are what will keep it on my shelf for my Nicole to read for herself when she is older. Perhaps we will read it again together.