Student Question
What is Billy's age in Where the Red Fern Grows?
Quick answer:
In Where the Red Fern Grows, Billy is ten years old at the beginning of the novel. He is twelve when he earns enough money to buy the hounds, thirteen when he gets them, and fourteen by the end of the story. This progression reflects his journey from childhood to maturity.
Billy grows up a bit over the course of Where the Red Fern Grows, so he does not stay the same age from start to finish of the story.
At the beginning of the novel, Billy is ten years old. It takes him two years to earn the money to send for the hounds he wants, so by that point, he is twelve years old. When he gets the hounds, he is thirteen years old. At the end of the story, he is fourteen years old.
All of this growing up makes sense as Where the Red Fern Grows is a coming of age novel. Billy's growth from childhood to maturity as he takes the time to save for and then raise these hounds showcases his adolescent journey.
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