Where the Red Fern Grows

In the novel Where the Red Fern Grows, Billy is determined to have two 
dogs, so he saves the money to buy the dogs after two long years of 
saving. Once he has the pups, he is in desperate need of a coon hid so he 
works very hard to get that hid so he is able to train his pups for the "real 
deal".  When the first day of hinting comes, Billy makes his pups a 
promise. He toldthem that if they would simply "put a coon up a tree, he 
would do therest," well, they have fulfilled their end of the deal, now it's up to 
Billy to fulfill his.  


Have you ever made a promise that was too big to keep, however, just like Billy 
you know that keeping the promise is the right thing to do even though it will 
take hard work and determination to fulfill the promise? Tell about a time like 
this in your life.

Think about Brian's experiences in Hatchet and then in Brian's Winter. What do you think would be the most difficult part of the survival experience? For Brian, he stated in The River that it was hunger. Do you think this would have been the most challenging part or would something else have caused you to struggle more? Tell what would have caused you to struggle the most in the wilderness and describe it's impact on your life.