1. What Kind of Day Does the Chapter Open With?

Chapter I

1. What kind of day does the chapter open with?

2. What was going on in the alley?

3. Which animal was boldest?

4. What did the man do to get the attention he wanted?

5. Where did the lone fighter belong? Why?

6. Who is Buddie?

7. How did the man show his gratitude?

8. What happened when dark came?

9. What does the man whisper as his new friend leaves?

10. Why does the man think something drastic must have happened in the hound's life?

11. What feeling came over the man?

12. What memories did the man have?

13. Why did the man leave the gate open? 14. What was the dark atmosphere in the house perfect for?

15. What gleamed from the mantel?

16. What was in the cups? Chapter II

1. What kind of puppy love is the author talking about?

2. How many dogs does the boy want?

3. What kind of dogs does Billy want?

4. Why do Papa and Mama say Billy can't get what he wants?

5. Where does Billy and his family live?

6. What kind of trees were around the cabin?

7. What river ran near the area?

8. What tracks fascinated Billy the most?

9. What was Billy from the time he could walk?

10. What happened to Billy with his puppy disease that convinced his mother to take action?

11. What would Papa buy with seventy-five dollars?

12. What gift did Papa bring?

13. What was the first thing Billy caught? 14. How did the farm animals react?

15. How did Mama react?

16. What did Samie end up doing?

17. When was Billy asked to hunt down in the canebrakes in back of the fields?

18. After trying and not getting hounds again, what plan did Billy have?

19. What did Billy stay up all night listening to?

20. What does Mama correctly guess about Billy?

21. What does Papa think will put the muscles on Billy?

22. How do you think Billy should go about getting two dogs? Explain. Chapter III

1. What did Billy find that changed his life?

2. How much would hunting dogs cost?

3. As the sun set in the forest, what did Billy notice?

4. What new plan did Billy come up with to get the pups?

5. What can did Billy use as a bank?

6. Where did Billy hide the can with the twenty-three cents?

7. What did Billy sell?

8. When Billy had earned twenty-seven dollars and forty-six cents, how old was he?

9. When Billy lay back on the hay, what did he think of?

10. When Billy dumped out the money, what did Grandpa say?

11. What look finally came back to his Grandfather's face?

12. What questions did Grandpa ask before he cried?

13. What is Grandpa going to do? 14. Why does Grandpa suggest they not mention this to Papa?

15. What does Grandpa give Billy?

16. What did Billy do with the candy? Chapter IV

1. What did Grandpa give Billy? Why?

2. Where would the dogs be sent?

3. What question does Billy ask at supper? How does the family react?

4. What did Billy not want to wait a week for?

5. How far would it be for Billy to walk to town?

6. How did Billy feel about the town? Why?

7. What did Billy see for the first time in his life?

8. What did Billy buy? Why?

9. On his way to the depot, what did Billy observe?

10. Why did the old lady laugh? Chapter V

1. When Billy looked in the window of the depot, what helped build his courage?

2. How had Billy planned to carry the dogs home? How did the station master help?

3. What did Billy do when the puppies were in his arms?

4. When people saw Billy with the dogs, what did they do?

5. When the boy pulled the dog's ear, what happened?

6. How did the marshal become Billy's friend?

7. What did Billy and the pups have for supper?

8. Describe the two dogs.

9. From the cave, what scream did Billy hear?

10. What did the dogs do to face the danger?

Chapter VI

1. What did Billy decide to tell his parents?

2. How did Billy come up with the names Dan and Ann for his dogs?

3. What is Billy thinking about an unseen power?

4. How did Billy feel about his home?

5. How did the family react to Billy coming home?

6. What does father say about town?

7. Where did the pups sleep?

8. What does Billy make the next day?

9. What does Billy talk to mother about?

10. What is your opinion of the book so far? Explain. Chapter VII

1. What did Billy need? Why?

2. What does Grandpa teach Billy?

3. How did Grandpa learn the trick?

4. Why did mother get angry at Billy?

5. What advice did Papa have about the traps?

6. At the trap, what happened with the pups?

7. Why did Mama cry?

8. How did Papa kill the coon?

9. What does Papa ask Billy to do with the other traps? Why?

10. How did Billy train the dogs?

11. How did Billy learn even more about coon hunting?

Chapter VIII

1. What does Papa tell Billy about the chores? Why?

2. What must Billy tell his parents before hunting? Why?

3. What made Billy feel big?

4. What made Billy feel unsure about hunting?

5. When the family went out on the porch, what surprise did they get?

6. What kind of night was it?

7. When the dogs bawled to say they were on the trail of a coon, what did Billy do?

8. When Dan and Ann came to Billy for help, what did he do?

9. Who finally found the trail of the coon?

10. What was unique about the sycamore the dogs trapped the coon in?

11. What had Billy named the tree?

12. How did Billy solve the problem?

13. When Papa found Billy, what did he say? 14. Why does Billy refuse to go home?

15. How will Papa help with the situation?

16. Why did the sister want to look at Billy's eyes?

17. What ideas do you have for Billy? What would have you done? Explain. Chapter IX

1. What advice does Grandpa give Billy?

2. What is Mama having for supper?

3. What does Grandpa have Billy get from the canebrakes?

4. What is Grandpa's plan?

5. What does Grandpa do with grease from a hub cap?

6. What does Dan do when it's time to go home?

7. Why doesn't Grandpa think the tree chopping is all bad?

8. What trick does Grandpa think the coon used?

9. How might Billy make a little money?

10. What does Mama make Billy do before bed?

11. Why does Mama decide she wants Billy to get the coon?

12. Why did Billy apologize to Ann?

13. What began to sting Billy's hands? 14. What did Billy pray?

15. How did Billy get the tree down?

16. Why was old Dan not able to get the coon first?

17. What did Billy feel as he was walking home?

18. What does Mama say scared her to death?

19. What about the tree was Billy convinced of? Chapter X

1. Why did Mama end up wishing she didn't make the coon skin cap for Billy?

2. Why did Billy stretch his coon hides up on the side of the smoke house facing the road?

3. What was happening to the money Billy earned?

4. Why didn't Billy like taking his dogs to the store?

5. What did Grandpa get sharp about?

6. Why did Billy go to the store on Saturdays?

7. What did some of the hunters say about Ann?

8. What was strange about Dan?

9. What did Mama sometimes ask Little Ann to do? Why not Dan?

10. From in the river, what did Dan do?

11. What hole did Ann open up? Why?

12. What did Billy notice about the coon that they dug out?

13. What mess did Dan get himself into at the Cyclone Timber? 14. How did Billy solve the problem in the Cyclone Timber? Chapter XI

1. Why did Billy think the coons would be stirred up?

2. Why does Dad say to be careful?

3. Why had Billy been hoping the coon wouldn't make it to the water?

4. On this night, what sound was missing?

5. What happened to Ann?

6. How did Billy get his lantern out on the ice?

7. What prayer did Billy say?

8. What sound did Billy hear that made him think someone was coming to help?

9. How did the lantern help Billy rescue Ann?

10. How did the group warm up?

11. What was the second prayer that night that Billy told?

12. Why didn't Billy tell Mama about the accident?

13. Why did Billy leave the handle up on the lantern and put it in his room? 14. What does Billy think coon hunters should not get? Chapter XII

1. What did Grandpa not miss a chance at in the store?

2. Why couldn't Papa go to the mill?

3. Describe the Prichard family.

4. What was the youngest Prichard, Rainie, like?

5. What did Rubin order at the store? What did he say was the reason?

6. Why did Grandpa make the Prichard boys leave the store?

7. When Rubin first asked Billy wanted to bet about his dogs treeing the ghost coon, what did Billy say?

8. When getting out his billfold, what does Grandpa say?

9. Why did Billy decide not to tell his parents about the hunt?

10. How did Billy respond when the Prichards said his dogs looked too little?

11. How did Rubin get Rainie to shut up?

12. What way did the ghost coon swim that was opposite of most coons?

13. When would Billy give up hunting for the ghost coon? 14. Where had the coon been hiding?

15. What surprising thing did the coon do?

16. Who knocked Billy down?

17. Why did Billy feel good all over?

18. What do the Prichards say the coon does at the tree in the field? Chapter XIII

1. What was the oak and area around like?

2. What did Rubin say when he was given the two dollars?

3. Why does Billy say they better get home?

4. Where was the coon? How did it get there?

5. Why was Rubin mad?

6. What animal came?

7. Why don't the boys want to give Billy the two dollars?

8. What did Rubin do and say to Billy?

9. What happened to the Prichard's hound?

10. What happened to Rubin?

11. What was Billy not sorry for?

12. What can Grandpa do?

13. When Papa got home, what did Billy offer to do? Why? 14. When and where would the funeral be?

15. What did Mama become angry about?

16. How did Billy pay his respects? Chapter XIV

1. What did Ann try to get Dan to do?

2. What did Grandpa want to know about?

3. How is Grandpa feeling? Why?

4. What does Grandpa point to in the newspaper?

5. What dogs can be entered?

6. What could they come home with?

7. What did Grandpa give the dogs?

8. How should Billy prepare his dogs?

9. What did Grandpa give Billy?

10. What did Billy always enjoy?

11. What does Billy realize about Mama?

12. What promise does Billy make to his little sister?

13. Why had Old Dan been sulking? 14. What is the one thing wrong with Little Ann?

15. What object did Grandpa keep of Billy's?

16. Before leaving, what upsets Grandpa? Chapter XV

1. Where did the guys sleep that night?

2. Why wouldn't Dan start eating?

3. What made Billy feel very big?

4. What was the problem with hearing two screech owls?

5. How did they know when to leave the main road?

6. What was surprising about the camp?

7. What made Billy feel doubt?

8. What did Grandpa get all huffed up about?

9. What things did Billy use to groom Ann?

10. What happened when Mr. Kyle walked his dog?

11. Why did Billy get a silver cup?

12. How many sets of hounds are in the hunt?

13. How did the other hunters treat Billy? 14. Where does Billy want to hunt? Why?

15. Why did Billy go under the buggy? Chapter XVI

1. When does Billy say he will whoop to his dogs?

2. What did Grandpa lose?

3. What was the roar they heard?

4. When crossing the river, what happened to Grandpa?

5. While on the hunt before dawn, what did the judge say about Dan and Ann?

6. How does Billy think Ann caught the coon?

7. Why did Billy go to sleep in between his dogs?

8. Where does Billy want to hunt on the final night? Why?

9. What did Ann and Dan do to one another? Chapter XVII

1. After the first coon was caught, what happened with the weather?

2. Why did Billy ask Papa to shoot the gun?

3. Who got lost?

4. Who found him?

5. What did the judge say about Grandpa?

6. Why did Billy think they should go back to the gully where Old Dan was?

7. When does Grandpa tell Papa he can %get help?

8. While waiting, what does Grandpa want them to do?

9. What %does Papa do with the hollow tree?

10. What came out of the %trunk?

11. What happened when Billy pointed?

12. Why is Billy worried about his dogs crossing the river?

13. How %did Billy help Grandpa warm up his foot? Chapter XVIII

1. Who was the first searcher to find the group?

2. Why is Grandpa in luck?

3. How many coons did the Walker hounds get?

4. Why did Billy faint?

5. How did Grandpa get back to camp?

6. What sight did they %see when they got to the gum tree?

7. How did the hunters help the dogs?

8. Instead of loyalty, what does the man think some dogs have toward their masters?

9. When Billy got back to camp, why were all the tents taken down?

10. Why won't Grandpa leave?

11. What did the hunter who gave Billy the jackpot money say?

12. What has already been paid for the gold cup?

13. Why does Billy keep the cup? 14. How would Grandpa get to town?

15. Why does Papa think Billy might want to get home?

16. What did Billy tell his little sister when he picked her up?

17. What did Billy think was wonderful to see?

18. What H Mama already heard about?

19. What gift does Papa say is from Old Dan and Little Ann?

20. To Billy, what did the celebration feel like?

21. How did Dad restore harmony in the house? Why did he have to?

22. What did Mama do be;%t night that was unusual?

23. What did Billy think his parents were talking about? Chapter XIX

1. Where did Billy decide to hunt?

2. What were the dogs after?

3. Why would Old Dan not leave the tree when called?

4. What animal was in the tree?

5. Where did Like; Ann grip the animal with her teeth?

6. How did Billy try to help with the fight?

7. How did the dogs protect Billy?

8. When seeing the ax, who did Billy think of?

9. What would Old Dan not do?

10. How did Billy try to stop Old Dan from bleeding?

11. How did Billy get a grip on where he was?

12. What happened to Old Dan?

13. What did Billy attempt to do? 14. What would make Mama feel better?

15. What two loves does Old Dan have?

16. How did Mama and Papa look?

17. Sitting by the fire, how did Billy feel?

18. What noise did Billy hear on the porch?

19. When did Billy go back to the house?

20. What does Billy not want Papa to help him with?

21. What was special about the spot Billy picked?

22. What things did Billy think of?

23. What was wrong with Ann?

24. What did Billy notice about Little Ann's eyes?

25. What does Papa say is wrong with Ann?

26. Where did Little Ann go to die?

27. What does Mama tell Billy at the grave?

28. What did Billy rebel against?

29. What can Billy not understand? 30. Why does Mama not want Billy to carry Ann to the house?

31. What does Papa think Billy must do?

32. What does Mama hope will cheer Billy up?

33. What did Papa show the family?

34. What miracle do Mama and Papa talk about?

35. Why does Papa think the Lord took the puppies away?

36. What does Mama say everyone needs sometimes?

37. What did Billy bury a part of with his dogs?

38. What did Billy put by the graves?

39. Where do all good dogs go?

Chapter XX

1. On moving day, who was happiest of all?

2. What does Billy want Papa to wait for?

3. What grew over the graves?

4. Why didn't Billy cut the bush down?

5. What was the special legend?

6. Who does Billy shout to?

7. What does Mama think of the bush?

8. What does Papa say about the legend?

9. What does Billy notice about the grave area?

10. How did Billy think his home looked?

11. Where has Billy never been back to?

12. What souvenir would Billy like to find? Where the Red Fern Grows By Wilson Rawls

Reacher Copy

Chapter I

1. What kind of day does the chapter open with? It's a perfect day. 2. What was going on in the alley? A dog fight was going on. 3. Which animal was boldest? The red hound dog was boldest. 4. What did the man do to get the attention he wanted? The man yelled and swung his coat around. 5. Where did the lone fighter belong? Why? The hound belonged in the country because he was a hunting dog. 6. Who is Buddie? Buddie is the dog, at least that is the name on the collar. 7. How did the man show his gratitude? The man took the dog home to get something to eat. 8. What happened when dark came? The man let the dog free. 9. What does the man whisper as his new friend leaves? The man whispers good-bye, good luck, and good hunting. 10. Why does the man think something drastic must have happened in the hound's life? The man thinks something drastic happened because it is unusual for a hound to be traveling alone. 11. What feeling came over the man? A wonderful feeling came over the man. 12. What memories did the man have? The man was remembering two hounds, love, and death. 13. Why did the man leave the gate open? The man left the gate open in case the dog returned. 14. What was the dark atmosphere in the house perfect for? The atmosphere was perfect for memories. 15. What gleamed from the mantel? Two cups gleamed. 16. What was in the cups? Memory was in the cups. Chapter II

1. What kind of puppy love is the author talking about? He is talking about the real kind of puppy love. Not the kind a boy has for a girl, but the kind he has for a real puppy. 2. How many dogs does the boy want? The boy wants two dogs. 3. What kind of dogs does Billy want? Billy wants coon hounds. 4. Why do Papa and Mama say Billy can't get what he wants? Papa says there is no money. Mama says a hunter needs a gun, and Billy can't have that until he is at least twenty-one. 5. Where does Billy and his family live? They live in the Ozarks on Cherokee land. 6. What kind of trees were around the cabin? Red oak trees were there. 7. What river ran near the area? The Illinois River ran through the area. 8. What tracks fascinated Billy the most? The coon tracks fascinated Billy the most. 9. What was Billy from the time he could walk? Billy had always been a hunter. 10. What happened to Billy with his puppy disease that convinced his mother to take action? Billy began to lose weight. 11. What would Papa buy with seventy-five dollars? Papa would buy a new mule. 12. What gift did Papa bring? Papa brought steel traps. 13. What was the first thing Billy caught? Billy caught Samie, the house cat. 14. How did the farm animals react? The farm animals threw a fit. The chickens blew, the pig ran in circles, and the cow refused to give milk. 15. How did Mama react? Mama was calm, helped, and was understanding. 16. What did Samie end up doing? Samie didn't come around much and was nervous. She hated Billy now. 17. When was Billy asked to hunt down in the canebrakes in back of the fields? After Billy caught a hen, he was asked to go hunt somewhere else. 18. After trying and not getting hounds again, what plan did Billy have? Billy decided to run away. Then he would bring dogs home. 19. What did Billy stay up all night listening to? Billy listened to a hunter and his dogs. 20. What does Mama correctly guess about Billy? Mama guesses Billy is not sleeping at night. 21. What does Papa think will put the muscles on Billy? Papa thinks helping in the field will put the muscles back on. 22. How do you think Billy should go about getting two dogs? Explain. Answers will vary. Chapter III

1. What did Billy find that changed his life? Billy found a sports magazine. 2. How much would hunting dogs cost? The dogs would cost 25 dollars each. 3. As the sun set in the forest, what did Billy notice? Billy noticed all of the wild animals coming out. 4. What new plan did Billy come up with to get the pups? Billy decided to sell things and to save the money. 5. What can did Billy use as a bank? Billy used an old K. C. Baking Powder can as a bank. 6. Where did Billy hide the can with the twenty-three cents? Billy hid the can in the barn. 7. What did Billy sell? Billy sold crawfish and minnows to the fishermen. He sold berries to his grandfather. Grandfather also bought animal skins. He sold vegetables and roasted ears of corn. 8. When Billy had earned twenty-seven dollars and forty-six cents, how old was he? Billy was twelve years old. 9. When Billy lay back on the hay, what did he think of? Billy thought of the last two years and all of the hard work. He thought of the prayer he had said. Billy thought He had helped. 10. When Billy dumped out the money, what did Grandpa say? Grandpa asked where Billy got all the money. 11. What look finally came back to his Grandfather's face? The friendly, old grandfather look that made Billy feel better came back. 12. What questions did Grandpa ask before he cried? Grandpa asked if Billy needed a haircut. He asked why Billy's feet were all scratched up. 13. What is Grandpa going to do? Grandpa is going to write to the kennel to ask about the puppies. 14. Why does Grandpa suggest they not mention this to Papa? Papa would still like to buy a mule. 15. What does Grandpa give Billy? Billy gets a big sack of candy. 16. What did Billy do with the candy? Billy ate some of the candy and shared with his little sisters. Chapter IV

1. What did Grandpa give Billy? Why? The price of dogs had gone down, so Grandpa gave Billy ten dollars back. 2. Where would the dogs be sent? The dogs will go to the depot in Tahlequah. 3. What question does Billy ask at supper? How does the family react? Billy asks how far it is to Kentucky. Some of his sisters want to go with him. Father asks if Billy is planning a trip. 4. What did Billy not want to wait a week for? Billy could not wait to get his puppies. He didn't want to wait a week for the ride in. 5. How far would it be for Billy to walk to town? It was a twenty mile walk through the woods and hills. 6. How did Billy feel about the town? Why? Billy was scared of the town. He had never been there before. 7. What did Billy see for the first time in his life? Billy saw a reflection of himself. 8. What did Billy buy? Why? Billy bought overalls for his father and material for his sisters and mother. He felt this might make up for leaving without telling anyone. He also bought candy. 9. On his way to the depot, what did Billy observe? Billy saw a man mowing lawn. He saw boys and girls in a school yard. 10. Why did the old lady laugh? The lady asked how Billy liked it. Billy tried coming down the shoot like the other boys, but landed spread-eagle instead. Chapter V

1. When Billy looked in the window of the depot, what helped build his courage? The man gave a bird some water. Billy thought he must not be so bad. 2. How had Billy planned to carry the dogs home? How did the station master help? Billy planned to carry the dogs in a canvas bag. The station master suggested that they cut holes for the dogs heads. 3. What did Billy do when the puppies were in his arms? Billy cried. 4. When people saw Billy with the dogs, what did they do? People laughed and stared at Billy. 5. When the boy pulled the dog's ear, what happened? Billy fought everyone, but there were too many to keep up with. 6. How did the marshal become Billy's friend? The marshal made the boys stop fighting. He bought Billy a bottle of strawberry pop. 7. What did Billy and the pups have for supper? They had salt pork and candy for dessert. 8. Describe the two dogs. The boy dog was strong, larger, and bolder. The girl dog was more timid, but seemed very smart. 9. From the cave, what scream did Billy hear? Billy heard the scream of a mountain lion. 10. What did the dogs do to face the danger? The boy dog bawled at the mouth of the cave each time they heard the lion. The dogs sat up listening.

Chapter VI

1. What did Billy decide to tell his parents? Billy decided to tell his parents the truth. 2. How did Billy come up with the names Dan and Ann for his dogs? At the fishermen's camp, Billy saw a heart on a tree with these names carved in the trunk. 3. What is Billy thinking about an unseen power? Billy is thinking about the fishermen's camp, the magazine, the nickels and dimes the fishermen gave, the prayer, and now the pups hear. He thinks a puzzle has been fit together and believes in an unseen power. 4. How did Billy feel about his home? Billy felt proud of his home. 5. How did the family react to Billy coming home? The family forgave and welcomed Billy home. 6. What does father say about town? He says town is okay. He says they may have to move someday. He thinks children need an education. 7. Where did the pups sleep? The dogs slept in the corn crib. 8. What does Billy make the next day? Billy makes a dog house and dog collars. 9. What does Billy talk to mother about? Billy talks about his prayers being answered. 10. What is your opinion of the book so far? Explain. Answers will vary. Chapter VII

1. What did Billy need? Why? Billy needed a coon skin to train his dogs. 2. What does Grandpa teach Billy? Grandpa teaches Billy how to make a trap to catch the coon. 3. How did Grandpa learn the trick? Grandpa learned from observing a pet coon he had as a boy. 4. Why did mother get angry at Billy? Billy used his mother's scissors to cut to tin from a can. 5. What advice did Papa have about the traps? Papa said there might be too much of Billy's scent around the traps. Papa tells Billy just to wait. 6. At the trap, what happened with the pups? The pups fought with the coon. 7. Why did Mama cry? Mama thought Billy got bit by a snake. 8. How did Papa kill the coon? Papa whacked it with a club. 9. What does Papa ask Billy to do with the other traps? Why? It is summer, and the coon fur is no good. Papa does not think it's fair to catch the coons this way without giving them a chance to fight. 10. How did Billy train the dogs? Billy made trails with the coon skin for them to practice following. 11. How did Billy learn even more about coon hunting? Billy listened to the men at Grandpa's store.

Chapter VIII

1. What does Papa tell Billy about the chores? Why? Papa says he can handle the chores during hunting season. Billy will be out all night and busy with his dogs and coon hunting. 2. What must Billy tell his parents before hunting? Why? Billy had to tell his parents where he would be hunting. If anything happened, they would know where to look. 3. What made Billy feel big? Papa talking to Billy like he was a man instead of a boy made him feel big. 4. What made Billy feel unsure about hunting? Mama's worrying about Billy in the woods after dark made him feel unsure. 5. When the family went out on the porch, what surprise did they get? The dogs were waiting on the porch already. It was as if they knew it was time to hunt. 6. What kind of night was it? The moon and the stars could be seen. It was a peaceful night and the air was frosty. 7. When the dogs bawled to say they were on the trail of a coon, what did Billy do? Billy yelled and encouraged his dogs. He also cried. 8. When Dan and Ann came to Billy for help, what did he do? Billy told the dogs to find the coon. He would not help and wanted them to remember their training. 9. Who finally found the trail of the coon? Little Ann found the trail of the coon. 10. What was unique about the sycamore the dogs trapped the coon in? The tree was one of the tallest around. 11. What had Billy named the tree? The tree was named "the big tree". 12. How did Billy solve the problem? Billy decided to chop down the tree. 13. When Papa found Billy, what did he say? Papa said they were worried. Billy should have come to tell them he was okay. But Papa was not angry when he saw the situation. 14. Why does Billy refuse to go home? Billy insists he must keep his part of the bargain with his dogs by getting the coon from the tree. 15. How will Papa help with the situation? Papa will send the oldest sister with lunch. He'll talk over the situation with Grandpa to see if Grandpa has any ideas. 16. Why did the sister want to look at Billy's eyes? Billy's sister wanted to look at his eyes to determine whether or not he was crazy. 17. What ideas do you have for Billy? What would have you done? Explain. Answers will vary.

Chapter IX

1. What advice does Grandpa give Billy? Grandpa tells Billy not to start anything he can't finish. 2. What is Mama having for supper? Mama is having chicken and dumplings for supper. 3. What does Grandpa have Billy get from the canebrakes? Billy must get some sticks. 4. What is Grandpa's plan? Grandpa wants to build a scarecrow to keep the coon up in the tree. 5. What does Grandpa do with grease from a hub cap? Grandpa makes a face on the scarecrow. 6. What does Dan do when it's time to go home? Dan hides behind the tree. 7. Why doesn't Grandpa think the tree chopping is all bad? Grandpa thinks maybe every boy should chop down a tree. It shows determination. 8. What trick does Grandpa think the coon used? The coon used a trick called the backtracking trick. The coon backtracked on its own trail. 9. How might Billy make a little money? Billy may sell the coon hides. Coon skin coats are popular. 10. What does Mama make Billy do before bed? Mama makes Billy take a hot bath and she rubs liniment on him. 11. Why does Mama decide she wants Billy to get the coon? Old Dan has already gone to the tree on his own. He wants the coon badly, so now Mama understands. 12. Why did Billy apologize to Ann? Billy scolded Ann for not guarding the tree with Dan. Then he noticed two little beds, and knew Ann had also been there all night. 13. What began to sting Billy's hands? Billy's hands were getting blisters. 14. What did Billy pray? Billy prayed for the strength to finish the job and not leave the tree like that. 15. How did Billy get the tree down? Actually, the wind ended up causing the tree to finally fall. 16. Why was old Dan not able to get the coon first? A smaller tree falling hurt Dan. 17. What did Billy feel as he was walking home? Billy was proud. He was a full-fledged coon hunter now. 18. What does Mama say scared her to death? Hearing the big tree fall on thinking maybe it was on Billy scared Mama. 19. What about the tree was Billy convinced of? Billy thinks he was helped. Maybe his prayer had been answered. Chapter X

1. Why did Mama end up wishing she didn't make the coon skin cap for Billy? Billy when coon crazy. Mama thought maybe the hat effected his mind. 2. Why did Billy stretch his coon hides up on the side of the smoke house facing the road? Billy was proud and wanted everyone to see the coon hides. 3. What was happening to the money Billy earned? Billy gave the money to Papa. Billy thought maybe Papa was saving for something, because he never seemed to buy anything. Billy didn't care about the money. 4. Why didn't Billy like taking his dogs to the store? Other dogs seemed to want to jump on Dan. 5. What did Grandpa get sharp about? Grandpa got sharp when Billy was asking why he was marking on the coon furs. 6. Why did Billy go to the store on Saturdays? Billy liked to be there when the other coon hunters were there. He shared stories and listened to stories. 7. What did some of the hunters say about Ann? They said Ann was too small and must not be as smart as Billy says. A coon might think she's a rabbit instead of a hound. 8. What was strange about Dan? Dan would only hunt with Billy and not without Ann. 9. What did Mama sometimes ask Little Ann to do? Why not Dan? Ann could catch a chicken for Mama without harming it. Dan could not catch a chicken without leaving just the feathers. 10. From in the river, what did Dan do? Dan bawled to tell Ann he was coming. 11. What hole did Ann open up? Why? Ann opened a hole to a muskrat den so Dan could be heard. Dan had fallen into the den. 12. What did Billy notice about the coon that they dug out? The coon was old, its face was white. It had a mangled paw. The coon was smart and old. 13. What mess did Dan get himself into at the Cyclone Timber? Dan got stuck in a tree. He got up was using a hallow hole, but then got turned around. 14. How did Billy solve the problem in the Cyclone Timber? Billy shoved the dog head-first back down the hallow hole in the tree. Billy had to cram things in the hole to stop Dan from climbing up the tree. Chapter XI

1. Why did Billy think the coons would be stirred up? A big blizzard was just ending. 2. Why does Dad say to be careful? Dad thinks it may be slick under the snow. He thinks there may be fog by the river. Dad said it would be very dark. 3. Why had Billy been hoping the coon wouldn't make it to the water? Billy didn't want to wade in the cold water. 4. On this night, what sound was missing? The sound of the water was missing. 5. What happened to Ann? Ann fell in the icy river. 6. How did Billy get his lantern out on the ice? Billy put the lantern on the end of a cane. 7. What prayer did Billy say? Billy prayed for a miracle to help Ann. 8. What sound did Billy hear that made him think someone was coming to help? Billy heard a metal on metal sound. 9. How did the lantern help Billy rescue Ann? Billy took the hook off the lantern. He used it to hook Ann and pull her up out of the icy water. 10. How did the group warm up? Billy started a fire. 11. What was the second prayer that night that Billy told? Billy thanked God for the miracle, the miracle of the lantern. 12. Why didn't Billy tell Mama about the accident? Billy knew it would scare Mama. He didn't want to stop hunting because of it. 13. Why did Billy leave the handle up on the lantern and put it in his room? Billy wanted to know if it was a miracle that brought the handle of the lantern down to give him the clue as to how to save his dogs. 14. What does Billy think coon hunters should not get? Coon hunters should not get kisses from their moms. Chapter XII

1. What did Grandpa not miss a chance at in the store? Grandpa bragged about Billy and the dogs. He bragged and told the part he played in getting them. 2. Why couldn't Papa go to the mill? Papa had to butcher a hog that day because they were almost out of meat. 3. Describe the Prichard family. The Prichard family was not well liked. They were large and had a bad reputation. Some thought they are thieves and that the Dad had even killed a man in Missouri. 4. What was the youngest Prichard, Rainie, like? Rainie was always nervous. Trouble seemed to follow him. Young and old did not like him. Rainie liked to bet. 5. What did Rubin order at the store? What did he say was the reason? Rubin ordered chewing tobacco. He said it was for his Dad. 6. Why did Grandpa make the Prichard boys leave the store? Grandpa locked the store while he ground the corn for Billy. He probably thought the Prichards would take something. 7. When Rubin first asked Billy wanted to bet about his dogs treeing the ghost coon, what did Billy say? Billy said that he did not want to bet. 8. When getting out his billfold, what does Grandpa say? Grandpa says they will take the bet. If the Prichards beat Billy up, Grandpa will make sure they go to jail. 9. Why did Billy decide not to tell his parents about the hunt? Billy knew mother would not approve of him having anything to do with the Prichard boys. 10. How did Billy respond when the Prichards said his dogs looked too little? Billy told them that dynamite came in little packages. 11. How did Rubin get Rainie to shut up? Rubin told his brother he would bloody his nose if he didn't shut up. 12. What way did the ghost coon swim that was opposite of most coons? The ghost coon swam up river. 13. When would Billy give up hunting for the ghost coon? Billy would give up when his dogs gave up. 14. Where had the coon been hiding? The coon was hiding in the old tree top. 15. What surprising thing did the coon do? The coon came straight for the boys. 16. Who knocked Billy down? Old Dan knocked Billy down. 17. Why did Billy feel good all over? Billy felt good because it seemed that Rainie was actually excited. 18. What do the Prichards say the coon does at the tree in the field? The boys say the ghost coon just disappears. Chapter XIII

1. What was the oak and area around like? The oak was short and wide. There was an old fence and gate in the area. There were no other trees around. 2. What did Rubin say when he was given the two dollars? Rubin said he bet it would break his Grandpa's heart. 3. Why does Billy say they better get home? There is a breeze. Billy thinks there may be a storm coming. 4. Where was the coon? How did it get there? The coon had dropped down from a long tree branch into a hallow post. 5. Why was Rubin mad? Billy didn't want to kill the ghost coon. 6. What animal came? The Prichard's hound came. 7. Why don't the boys want to give Billy the two dollars? The Prichards say the coon is not dead. Billy says the bet was just for his dogs to tree the coon. 8. What did Rubin do and say to Billy? Rubin threw Billy to the ground. He said if Billy said anything to his Grandfather, he would knife him some night while he was out hunting. 9. What happened to the Prichard's hound? The hound fought Dan and Ann, and lost. 10. What happened to Rubin? Rubin tripped on a stick and stabbed himself with the ax. 11. What was Billy not sorry for? Billy was not sorry for letting the ghost coon live. 12. What can Grandpa do? Grandpa has the only authority to move the body. 13. When Papa got home, what did Billy offer to do? Why? Billy offered to do the chores because Papa was wet and tired. 14. When and where would the funeral be? The Prichards had their own graveyard. They did not invite people to a funeral and said they would take care of everything. 15. What did Mama become angry about? Mama got angry when Billy mentioned getting a gun. 16. How did Billy pay his respects? Billy put some flowers on Rubin's grave. Chapter XIV

1. What did Ann try to get Dan to do? Ann tried to get Dan to play. 2. What did Grandpa want to know about? Grandpa wanted to know about Rubin's death. 3. How is Grandpa feeling? Why? Grandpa is feeling guilty. He thinks he is partly to blame for Rubin's death. He should not have called the bet. 4. What does Grandpa point to in the newspaper? Grandpa points to a coon hunting championship contest. 5. What dogs can be entered? Good coon hunting dogs that are registered can be registered in the hunt. 6. What could they come home with? Grandpa and Billy could come home with a gold cup. 7. What did Grandpa give the dogs? Grandpa gave the dogs some cheese. 8. How should Billy prepare his dogs? Billy should let his dogs rest. 9. What did Grandpa give Billy? Grandpa gave Billy a sack of candy. 10. What did Billy always enjoy? Billy always enjoyed the sights and sounds of nature. 11. What does Billy realize about Mama? Mama is going to have a baby. 12. What promise does Billy make to his little sister? Billy says if he gets the gold cup, she can have it. 13. Why had Old Dan been sulking? Dan was sulking because Billy had not been taking him hunting. 14. What is the one thing wrong with Little Ann? Little Ann is afraid of guns. 15. What object did Grandpa keep of Billy's? Grandpa kept the ax. 16. Before leaving, what upsets Grandpa? Grandma bring out a scarf and long underwear. She says Grandpa doesn't know how to pack. Chapter XV

1. Where did the guys sleep that night? They made a fire a built a lean-to from a tarp. 2. Why wouldn't Dan start eating? Dan would not eat until Ann was also fed. 3. What made Billy feel very big? Being given coffee made Billy feel very grown up. 4. What was the problem with hearing two screech owls? Billy thought hearing more than one owl was bad luck. 5. How did they know when to leave the main road? A flag had been tied up so everyone could find the campground. 6. What was surprising about the camp? The large number of people, cars, buggies, and tents were surprising. 7. What made Billy feel doubt? Walking around camp to see the beautiful coon hounds made Billy feel some doubt about his own dogs. 8. What did Grandpa get all huffed up about? Grandpa got huffed up when Billy said he didn't want to enter Ann or Dan in the best-looking dog contest. 9. What things did Billy use to groom Ann? Billy used butter and Grandpa's good brush set. 10. What happened when Mr. Kyle walked his dog? The dog jumped off the just before he got to the end of the table. 11. Why did Billy get a silver cup? Ann walked to Billy perfectly and won the beauty contest. 12. How many sets of hounds are in the hunt? Twenty-five sets of hounds are in the hunt. 13. How did the other hunters treat Billy? The other hunters treated Billy like a man. 14. Where does Billy want to hunt? Why? Billy wants to take the buggy and go down river where the other hunters have not been. 15. Why did Billy go under the buggy? Grandpa found he had used the brush on Ann. Billy wanted to keep his distance. Chapter XVI

1. When does Billy say he will whoop to his dogs? Billy will whoop to his dogs after they strike a trail. 2. What did Grandpa lose? Grandpa lost his hat and glasses. 3. What was the roar they heard? The dogs had the coon close to camp. The men at the camp were whooping. 4. When crossing the river, what happened to Grandpa? Grandpa lost his balance and fell in the river. 5. While on the hunt before dawn, what did the judge say about Dan and Ann? The judge said the dogs didn't give up. 6. How does Billy think Ann caught the coon? Billy thinks Ann smelled the coon's scent in the air. 7. Why did Billy go to sleep in between his dogs? Grandpa caught a cold and was snoring. Billy couldn't sleep. 8. Where does Billy want to hunt on the final night? Why? Billy wants to hunt at the swamp. He thinks it will be easier to tree a coon there because the river is not as close. 9. What did Ann and Dan do to one another? The dogs cleaned each other after they got cut up. Chapter XVII

1. After the first coon was caught, what happened with the weather? It got windy, colder, and it began to sleet. 2. Why did Billy ask Papa to shoot the gun? Billy thought the gun shot would make Ann come. 3. Who got lost? Grandpa got lost. 4. Who found him? Little Ann found Grandpa. 5. What did the judge say about Grandpa? The judge thought Grandpa was gone. 6. Why did Billy think they should go back to the gully where Old Dan was? Billy thought there was less wind there and maybe they could build a fire. 7. When does Grandpa tell Papa he can %get help? Papa can go get help in the morning. 8. While waiting, what does Grandpa want them to do? Grandpa wants them to get the coon out of the tree. 9. What %does Papa do with the hollow tree? Papa cuts the tree and pushes it down. 10. What came out of the %trunk? Three coons came out of the trunk. 11. What happened when Billy pointed? When Billy pointed to see where the coon had gone, his dogs took off after the coon. 12. Why is Billy worried about his dogs crossing the river? If the dogs get wet, they will freeze. 13. How %did Billy help Grandpa warm up his foot? Billy heated a coon skin by the fire. He put in on Grandpa's foot. Chapter XVIII

1. Who was the first searcher to find the group? Mr. Kyle got there first. 2. Why is Grandpa in luck? There is a doctor from Texas in the camp who can help Grandpa. 3. How many coons did the Walker hounds get? The hounds got 3 coons. 4. Why did Billy faint? Billy thought his dogs froze to death. 5. How did Grandpa get back to camp? Grandpa was carried back to camp on a stretcher made of logs. 6. What sight did they %see when they got to the gum tree? The hounds were white from sleet and snow. They were trotting around and around the tree. They had warn a path down to the ground. 7. How did the hunters help the dogs? The hunters made a fire. They thawed the ice from the dogs. 8. Instead of loyalty, what does the man think some dogs have toward their masters? The word is love. 9. When Billy got back to camp, why were all the tents taken down? The men wanted to get home before another blizzard hit. 10. Why won't Grandpa leave? Grandpa won't leave until Billy is handed the gold cup. 11. What did the hunter who gave Billy the jackpot money say? The man said Billy's dogs were two of the finest he has ever seen. 12. What has already been paid for the gold cup? Engraving of Ann and Dan on the cup has already been paid for. 13. Why does Billy keep the cup? Billy knows his little sister is waiting for the gold cup. 14. How would Grandpa get to town? Grandpa rode in the back of a car. 15. Why does Papa think Billy might want to get home? Papa thinks Billy might want to show off the gold cup. 16. What did Billy tell his little sister when he picked her up? Billy said there was no use crying, he brought the gold cup for her. 17. What did Billy think was wonderful to see? Billy thought the awed expression on his mother's face was wonderful to see. 18. What H Mama already heard about? Mama had already heard about Grandpa having an accident. 19. What gift does Papa say is from Old Dan and Little Ann? Papa says the money is from the dogs. 20. To Billy, what did the celebration feel like? The celebration felt like Christmas. 21. How did Dad restore harmony in the house? Why did he have to? Dad gave the oldest girl a silver dollar. The two girls were fighting over the silver cup. 22. What did Mama do %t night that was unusual? Mama gave the dogs plates of food. She knelt by the dogs and prayed, and also pet the dogs. 23. What did Billy think his parents were talking about? Billy thought his parents intended for him to help Grandpa in the store because of his foot. Chapter XIX

1. Where did Billy decide to hunt? Billy went to Cyclone Country to hunt. 2. What were the dogs after? The dogs were after a bobcat. 3. Why would Old Dan not leave the tree when called? Dan had no fear. He was a hunter. 4. What animal was in the tree? A mountain lion was in the tree. 5. Where did Like; Ann grip the animal with her teeth? Little Ann went for the mountain lion's throat. 6. How did Billy try to help with the fight? Billy used his ax to fight. 7. How did the dogs protect Billy? Ann and Dan jumped together to get between Billy and the lion. 8. When seeing the ax, who did Billy think of? Billy thought of Rubin getting killed with the ax. 9. What would Old Dan not do? The dog would not let his bite go on the mountain lion. 10. How did Billy try to stop Old Dan from bleeding? Billy mixed the blood with mud and tried to stop the bleeding of the wounds. 11. How did Billy get a grip on where he was? Billy looked at the river to get an idea of where he was. 12. What happened to Old Dan? Old Dan's entrails were coming out. 13. What did Billy attempt to do? Billy tried to put the entrails back inside Old Dan. 14. What would make Mama feel better? Mama would feel better if she knew what she was doing. 15. What two loves does Old Dan have? Dan loves Billy and hunting. 16. How did Mama and Papa look? Mama and Papa looked weary. They didn't know how to comfort Billy. 17. Sitting by the fire, how did Billy feel? Billy felt numb He couldn't believe Old Dan was dead. 18. What noise did Billy hear on the porch? Little Ann wanted to sleep by Old Dan, though he was dead. 19. When did Billy go back to the house? Billy went back to the house at daylight. 20. What does Billy not want Papa to help him with? Billy does not want Papa to help with burying the dog. 21. What was special about the spot Billy picked? The spot was beautiful. From there, the hounds hunting could be heard. 22. What things did Billy think of? Billy thought of working, saving money, and when he first saw his dogs at the train station. 23. What was wrong with Ann? Ann would not eat. 24. What did Billy notice about Little Ann's eyes? Little Ann's eyes were cloudy. They had no life and fire. 25. What does Papa say is wrong with Ann? Ann has lost her will to live. 26. Where did Little Ann go to die? Little Ann went to Old Dan's grave. 27. What does Mama tell Billy at the grave? Mama tells Billy he did no wrong. Suffering is a part of life. 28. What did Billy rebel against? Billy did not want new dogs. 29. What can Billy not understand? Billy can't understand why the dogs had to die. 30. Why does Mama not want Billy to carry Ann to the house? Mama does not want the girls to be upset. 31. What does Papa think Billy must do? Billy must stand up like a man. Everything happens for a reason. 32. What does Mama hope will cheer Billy up? Mama hopes sweet potato pie will cheer Billy up. 33. What did Papa show the family? Papa showed the family a box of money. 34. What miracle do Mama and Papa talk about? Money earned from Old Dan and Little Ann so the family can move to town is a miracle. Now the children can get an education. 35. Why does Papa think the Lord took the puppies away? They were going to let Billy stay with Grandpa and help so he would not be away from his dogs. Since the dogs are gone, the family will now be staying together. 36. What does Mama say everyone needs sometimes? Everyone needs help sometimes. 37. What did Billy bury a part of with his dogs? Billy buried part of his life with his dogs. 38. What did Billy put by the graves? Billy found a red stone. He carried the names in it. 39. Where do all good dogs go? All good dogs might go to heaven. They may hunt there in a place like the Ozarks.

Chapter XX

1. On moving day, who was happiest of all? Mama was happiest of all. 2. What does Billy want Papa to wait for? Billy wants to say good-bye to his dogs. 3. What grew over the graves? A wild bush grew over the graves. 4. Why didn't Billy cut the bush down? The bush was a red fern. 5. What was the special legend? The Indian legend about the red fern was about a little boy lost in a blizzard. They had frozen to death. In the spring, a red fern had grown up between the two bodies. Only an angel could plant the seeds of a red fern. They would never die. The spot was sacred. 6. Who does Billy shout to? Billy shouted to his Mama. 7. What does Mama think of the bush? Mama has never seen a sacred red fern before. She can't believe it. 8. What does Papa say about the legend? Papa says maybe there is some truth to the legend. Maybe its God's way of helping Billy understand the purpose of his dogs not making it. 9. What does Billy notice about the grave area? There are many wild flowers and a warm breeze. 10. How did Billy think his home looked? Billy think the home looked sad and lonely. 11. Where has Billy never been back to? Billy has never been back to the Ozarks. 12. What souvenir would Billy like to find? Billy would like the ax with the lantern hanging from it.

Rosa Mauer 6/15/2012