this book is the best and saddest book i have ever read! i cried and cried when old dan and little anne died. but i don't think that this book should be 9+ because of how it describes one little boy's death. it talks about soooooooooo much blood.
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Where the Red Fern Grows
(2005, Fiction - Animals, Written by Wilson Rawls)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Tearjerker about country boy and his hound dogs.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Where the Red Fern Grows
Parents need to know that this book is, in part, about the joys of hunting raccoons. If you don't want your kids reading about hunting, killing, and skinning animals, this isn't for you. It's also one of the great classics of children's literature, and 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+ years.
Read our full review by Matt Berman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about respect. How do Billy and his father respect raccoons? How does Papa's treatment of Billy change?
Our Members Say
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Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
sad but really really really good ;-)
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
So sad and very good
This is a very good book. It's sad and it really is a tearjerker. This book keeps you interested and always wanting to find out what happens next. Where the Red Fern Grows is a classic, sad, and moving tale for everyone, but the violence and the sadness may scare a child. One child in the book falls on an axe, and Billy's Mom does hit him with a switch. Also, there's a lot of hunting involved. Know your child well, because this book is very sad and it can make a younger child upset. But, this is a very good book and I think it's a must-read.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
I Honestly Have No Idea How You Can't Love This Book!
This and LASSIE COME-HOME are the two greatest dog books of all-time, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't just love this book. Violence is the only issue in the book. There are some intense coon chases, a bloody fight with a bobcat, and the saddest ending of all time, which may affect some younger readers. I believe there is also one "d**n".
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!
This book is a heartwarming and emotional book that shows how much the love between a boy and his dogs really is and how much they are willing to doe for each other. AND BE PREPARED TO CRIE!!! For it's a real tearjerker.
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!
This book is a heartwarming and emotional book that shows how much the love between a boy and his dogs really is and how much they are willing to doe for each other. AND BE PREPARED TO CRIE!!! For it's a real tear jerker.
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