Where the Red Fern Grows

By: Wilson Rawls

Narrated by: Anthony Heald

A beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man’s best friend.

Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.

Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan’s brawn, Little Ann’s brains, and Billy’s sheer will seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past.

Praise for Where the Red Fern Grows

A Top 100 Children’s Novel, School Library Journal's A Fuse #8 Production
A Must-Read for Kids 9 to 14, NPR
Winner of Multiple State Awards
Over 7 million copies in print!

“Very touching.” —The New York Times Book Review

“One of the great classics of children’s literature . . . Any child who doesn’t get to read this beloved and powerfully emotional book has missed out on an important piece of childhood for the last 40-plus years.” —Common Sense Media

“An exciting tale of love and adventure you’ll never forget.” —School Library Journal

“A book of unadorned naturalness.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Written with so much feeling and sentiment that adults as well as children are drawn [in] with a passion.” —Arizona Daily Star

“It’s a story about a young boy and his two hunting dogs and . . . I can’t even go on without getting a little misty.” —The Huffington Post

“We tear up just thinking about it.” —Time on the film adaptation

Critic reviews

Praise for Where the Red Fern Grows

A Top 100 Children’s Novel, School Library Journal
A Must-Read for Kids 9 to 14, NPR
A Great American Read's Selection (PBS)
Winner of Multiple State Awards
Over 14 million copies in print!

“One of the great classics of children’s literature . . . Any child who doesn’t get to read this beloved and powerfully emotional book has missed out on an important piece of childhood for the last 40-plus years.” —Common Sense Media

“A rewarding book . . . [with] careful, precise observation, all of it rightly phrased....Very touching.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A book of unadorned naturalness.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An exciting tale of love and adventure you’ll never forget.” —School Library Journal
“Written with so much feeling and sentiment that adults as well as children are drawn [in] with a passion.” —Arizona Daily Star

“It’s a story about a young boy and his two hunting dogs and . . . I can’t even go on without getting a little misty.” —The Huffington Post

“We tear up just thinking about it.” —Time on the film adaptation

Mixed Feelings

The main character in this book is endearing and this book speaks to my childhood memories of spending time in nature and to a love of animals. Yet, I am only 1/3 of the way through the book and I do not want to continue because of the hunting and the dogged relentless chopping down of a huge and beloved tree in the pursuit of killing of a wild animal. This book is of a bygone era that is both touching and painful. The painful parts are too much for my sensibilities as my love of nature and of animals takes precedence since in our modern world nature and wild animals are under constant attack.

Where the Red Fern Grows

The book was very sweet. A well written book about a boy and his dogs. Anthony Heald did a great job of narrating.

Sad as F

Saddest story ever. kind of gory for kids younger than 7. lots of superstitious talk and god talk.

A wonderful read at any age

I read this book when I was a young teenager in the early 80's. I vividly remember being unable to continue reading because I couldn't see the book through my tear-filled eyes. This touching and perfectly-written story is just as wonderful, and tearful, in adult years. This story will appeal to both dog-lovers and historical fiction lovers. We see through a little window into Ozark life in the early 1900's. And Anthony Heald again is brilliant in his reading of the story. A definite advantage to this audiobook is being able to continue listening even as tears stream down one's face!

A book which will bring out all emotions.

My children and I listened to the story over four days we have really busy lives. They could not wait to continue.