In the story, Billy Coleman toils hard to accumulate enough money to purchase a pair of red-bone hunting dogs. Along the way, his grandfather offers guidance and teachings on maturing. However, it’s worth noting that the plot does contain some moderate profanity and graphic violence.
ATOS Book Level:
4.9
Interest Level:
Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points:
11.0
Word Count:
75528
Fiction/Nonfiction
Fiction
Topic – Subtopic:
Animals-Dogs; Life Experiences-Growing Up; Places-Countryside/Rural; Recommended Reading-California Recommended Lit., English, 6-8; What Kids Are Reading, 2022-Grade 6: Top 20 Fiction/Nonfiction Books;
Quiz Answers
Information
Answer
where the coon hid
gate post
location of the big sycamore tree
bottoms
curious cat
Sammy
grandpa entered the hounds in one
contest
rescued Billy from the fight with the town children
marshal
attacked Billy and the dogs
mountain lion
The Pritchard’s hound
Old blue
Fell on the axe and died
Ruben
Grew on a sacred spot
red fern
Billy carried the puppies home in one
gunny sack
strong and aggressive
Old Dan
was amazed at Billy’s dogs
judge
Where grandpa worked
store
cup Billy gave to his youngster sister
gold cup
dollar cost of the hounds
forty dollars
dollar amount Billy spent on gifts for the family
ten dollars
gave Billy three steel traps
papa
fad for coon skin ones raised the price of skins
coats
was afflicted with “puppy love”
Billy
mama’s Indian heritage
Cherokee
Rubin and Rainie’s last name
Pritchard
the dollar cost of the hounds
two dollars
the dollar amount of Grandpa’s bet with the Pritchard boys
bet
cup Little Ann won at the beauty contest
silver cup
Sound Billy made to the hounds
whoop
Billy didn’t want to kill it
ghost coon
Grandpa made one with the Pritchard boys
New England
number of Billy’s sisters
three
Author
Rawls
River near the bottoms
Illinois River
Billy’s other desire
gun
Billy used a K.C. ________________powder can for a bank
baking powder
Billy saw his for the first time on his trip to town
reflection
sent away for the dogs
grandpa
thought about and talked to frequently by Billy
papa
weather during the last night of the coon hunting contest
sleet
smart but gun-shy
Little Ann
Town Billy walked to for the dogs
Tahlequah
Mountain setting of the novel
Ozark Mountains
was excited on the hunt for the ghost coon
Rainie
dollar amount Billy saved
fifty dollars
nickname for a raccoon
Mr. Ringtail
where the coonskin coat fad was
bobcat
mama made one for Billy’s first coon skin
cap
Questions
Answer
Where does Billy live?
Oklahoma
Billy’s mother descends from what Native American tribe?
Cherokee
What is the inspiration for the dog’s names?
a tree carving
what kind of can did Billy save his money in?
A K.C. Baking Powder can
how much money did Billy save?
$50
where does Billy go to pick up his hounds?
Tahlequah
what does the marshal give to Billy?
Ghost coon
at the beginning of the novel, what is Billy doing?
Strawberry soda pop
where does Billy sell his coonskins?
at his grandfather’s store
how many sisters does Billy have?
3
who teaches Billy how to trap raccoons and how to make a scarecrow?
Grandfather
which of the Pritchard boys is the oldest?
Ruben
To win the bet with the Pritchard boys, what do Billy’s hounds have to catch?
Dried flowers
what kind of hounds are old Dan and Little Ann?
redbone
which of the hounds is smarter?
Little Ann
into what does Little Ann fall?
a freezing stream
what does Billy put on the Pritchard boy’s grave?
dried flowers
who enters Billy’s hounds in the contest?
Grandfather
what kind of contest does Little Ann win all by herself?