Where the Red Fern Grows

During a 1961 moment, Billy rescues a redbone coonhound from neighborhood dogs and brings it home to nurse it back to health. The act rekindles memories of the loyal dogs he owned in his Ozarks youth. This rescue sets the emotional anchor for the rest of the story.

Young Billy longs for a pair of redbone coonhounds to join his adventures in the woods. He imagines the bond he could share with two dogs by his side. This longing drives his early dreams of hunting and companionship in the Ozarks.

Over two years, Billy works odd jobs to save fifty dollars and walks twenty miles to Tahlequah to claim his two dogs. The journey marks his determination and the start of a life on the hunt. His arrival in Tahlequah sets the stage for Old Dan and Little Ann to become his partners.

Guided by his grandfather, Billy begins training the dogs to hunt and follow commands. The pair bond quickly, and their skills prove to be extraordinary as they learn the woods. The training grounds become the cradle of a legendary hunting team in the Ozarks.

On the first night of hunting season, Billy watches as Old Dan and Little Ann tree a massive raccoon high in a sycamore. He believes the tree is too mighty to fell, and the effort lasts two exhausting days as they cut away at the trunk. A sudden wind eventually topples the tree, giving them a hard-won breakthrough.

Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann gain local fame as the best hunting team in the region. Neighbors and rivals alike speak their names with awe. Their growing legend fuels Billy's confidence and sense of responsibility throughout the Ozarks.

They pursue the legendary ghost coon, a quarry no hunter has outwitted. Billy wrestles with the thrill of victory and the mercy in his heart, choosing not to kill the ghost coon. This decision sparks a frightening confrontation with Rubin and Rainie Pritchard.

During the confrontation, Rubin is fatally injured by his own axe as Old Dan and Little Ann intervene to shield Billy. The dogs' loyalty deepens Billy's sense of responsibility and the consequences of mercy. The incident haunts him as the community's reaction to sparing the hunt grows.

The grandfather enters Billy in a championship raccoon hunt held during a brutal cold spell. The field thins as many hunters withdraw against the bitter weather. Billy endures the harsh conditions and advances to the final round with his dogs.

On the last night, Old Dan and Little Ann tree three raccoons in one tree, and a blizzard forces Billy to shelter. Dawn comes, and they are found still circling the tree; Billy walks away with the championship trophy and a $300 prize. This victory crowns their reputation and cements his bond with the dogs.

A violent mountain lion attack tests the trio: Billy fights to protect his dogs, who fend off the predator. Old Dan dies from his injuries and Little Ann dies of heartbreak soon after. The loss leaves Billy traumatized but his resolve to remember them remains.

Back home, Billy's father gently explains the hard choices that kept the dogs with their grandfather and allowed Billy to pursue education for his sisters. The talk offers a somber perspective on fate and family duties. It frames the tragedy within a larger balance of love and necessity.

On a final visit to the Ozarks, Billy finds Old Dan and Little Ann's graves marked by a new growth—a giant red fern between them. He recalls a legend that the fern was planted by angels and that a higher power guided the bond he shared with his dogs. The moment leaves him with faith and memory that endure beyond the mountains.

Though he never returns to the mountains, the memory lingers and he continues to dream of visiting the graves and seeing the red fern bloom again. The story closes with the belief that the dogs' companionship had a divine significance in his life. The red fern becomes a lasting symbol of faith, love, and memory.