Red Fern Grows

In the story Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls, a boy experiences a maturity transformation during difficult times. Billy Colman, a young boy living in Oklahoma, undergoes challenges through which his character and behavior mature. Throughout the book, Billy and his relationship with his two dogs impact his life and responsibility. Billy matures as he learns to accept suffering and to make sacrifices. Billy matures through the sacrifice of working hard to earn the dogs. Billy had always wanted two little pups of his own, especially dogs trained to hunt. He finds an advertisement for two puppies for sale and decides to work hard and save money to afford them. Billy is perseverant and diligent as he works hard selling fruit, bait, and rabbit skins. For two years he was challenged to not give up on his goal of earning the two dogs. When he finally can afford the puppies, he feels proud of his accomplishment and realizes the importance of perseverance. …show more content…
Billy and his two hunting dogs, Old Dan and Little Anne, enjoy hunting coons. Billy makes a bet with the Pritchard boys to catch the “ghost coon”, a coon no other hunter had been able to catch. After Billy’s dogs catch the coon, the Pritchard’s hound, Old Blue, starts fighting with Old Dan and Little Anne. Rubin Pritchard attempts to stop the fight, however trips over his own ax and dies. Rubin’s death impacted Billy and his view on life. Billy learns to never take life for granted because in reality, tragedies and death happen at the most unexpected