Where the Red Fern Grows #3

Dear Group Members,

                Once again I had to stop myself from reading on. I feel like the next section is better than the last. Please read and or respond to my questions and comments.

                In Where the Red Fern Grows one part that really shocked me was when a boy died! So a kid named Rainie made a bet with Billy saying that his dogs could never catch the ghost coon. The ghost coon is a coon that always disappears whenever a hound tracks him to The Tree. The Tree is a tree that the ghost coon goes in and is never seen until he comes out when no one is watching. Then Rubin says that Ann isn’t as smart as he says she is. So Billy’s grandpa said yes and Billy went to the forest by their house. “Rubin and Rainie showed up just at dark” (Rawls 116). They were pretty confident about winning the bet. But in the end he caught the ghost coon and he couldn’t bring himself to kill him. He wanted his two dollars for winning the bet. Rubin said that he didn’t kill him so he doesn’t get the money. All Billy promised was to treed him up a tree and treed him he did. Then Rubin and Rainie’s hound somehow got loose and was there right when Billy said he wanted his money. Rubin said that he was going to kill it instead. Billy was going to leave but he noticed that Old Dan was growling at the hound. Billy asked for the money so he could go. Rubin got mad and started for Billy. Then Billy reminded him that his grandpa would have him thrown in jail if he jumped Billy. Rubin got even angrier and grabbed Billy and threw him on the floor! Billy was afraid so he tried to get away only to be pinned on the floor by Rubin. All Billy could hear was Old Dan and the other dog. Then Rainie yelled “’Rubin, they’re killing Old Blue” (Rawls 128). Rubin was so furious that he grabbed the axe and started running toward the dogs. Billy was so scared he prayed something would stop him because he couldn’t get there in time. Just like that a Rubin stepped on a stick and it hit him in the *berries. Billy ran to his dogs and pulled Old Dan off but he couldn’t get Little Ann. She was struggling to stay on. He finally got her off. Old Blue was alive but barely. Then he started running. He looked back and saw Rubin doubled over. He found some wire and tied his dogs to a fence. He ran over to see the axe in Rubin’s stomach! Rubin was asking him to take it out so he did. Rainie just stood there eye’s as wide as saucers and his mouth open so wide it nearly touched the floor. Billy saw the life drain from his eyes. He started running, grabbed his dogs and ran home like the devil was after him (Outsiders Reference). I was so shocked I literally put down the book and left it there for a good 15 minutes. What happened so that the axe was in his stomach? Why didn’t Rubin handle the situation rationally?

                There was one part that got me very excited it was when Billy joined a Championship Coon Hunt! “’Boy, if that isn’t something. A championship coon hunt’” (Rawls 137). So he went to the championship and was so happy. When they got there they made food ate it and talked. His grandpa asked him who he wanted to enter for the best looking dog portion. Billy said that he’d think it over in the morning. So when he woke up he went over to his dogs and decided with Little Ann because she had no scars from fighting coons. He didn’t know how to get her ready so he looked in his grandpa’s bag and saw a comb. So he took out the comb and a stick of butter and went to work. The comb got out the knots and the butter made her shinny. He took her to place in the middle of the camp grounds and put her and a table to be judged. She ended up winning. Billy then moved on to the hunting portion and the section ended. Why did Billy use butter? Do you think he’s  going to win?

                Thank you for taking the time to read my comments, questions, and review of the book.

Sincerely,

Bella Browne