This book was suggested a couple of times while looking at the best children’s novels of the past century. I knew basically nothing about it except that it involved a boy and a couple of dogs. Now that I’ve read it, I can safely say this is a good summary of what the book is about!

Still, let’s give a few more details. Billy, a young boy of around ten, wants one thing and one thing only : two hounds to go raccoon hunting. His whole life revolves around that very idea. Living in rural Oklahoma in the first half of the century, his family is quite poor and sadly cannot buy the dogs for him. Undeterred, he works relentlessly over two years to amass the fifty dollars necessary to afford. He names the hounds Little Ann and Old Dan. Through countless trials and adventures, the trio becomes very efficient coon (what they call raccoons in the book) hunters and gain quite a reputation around the area doing so. This eventually leads Billy to participate in a hunting contest against other hunters in the region.

It’s a simple and sweet story with some more emotional moments, perfectly adapted to older children in its pacing and subject matter. There aren’t a ton of characters ; most of the story revolves around the boy, his family and his hounds. To me, the most interesting aspect was the bond developing between Billy and his dogs. I’ve never had the privilege of owning a dog, but from what people have told me, the kind of relationship that can take place between a person and his dog is quite extraordinary and difficult to put into words. The author did an excellent job at describing the boy’s feelings and actions towards his hounds. A quick search tells me the story is somewhat autobiographical, which does not come as a surprise. You can sense the author’s perception in his words.

The story will therefore feel relatable to anyone who’s ever owned a dog. And even more so if one has lived in a rural area and likes hunting. For me, a guy who grew up in a suburb and no interest in hunting, these aspects, while an integral part of the plot and the book’s appeal, did nothing for me. It did however made think of another era – the story takes place, it seems, in the interwar period – and brought me there.

It’s a good book for young readers ; I can also definitely see it being read aloud in a classroom setting or as a bed-time story for your children.