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bookwormloverofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ogreart's review
5.0
I read this when I was in seventh grade. I just thought about it recently for some reason. I remember loving the book a great deal.
lobeliaparides's review
4.0
I kinda preferred outlaw Red to this one, however it was still a pretty good book :)
lgpiper's review
4.0
So, we have a 17-year old hillbilly Danny Pickett, living in a shack with his father, Ross. They support themselves by hunting, fishing and trapping. Occasionally they do some odd jobs for the rich guy, Mr. Haggin, on whose estate they have been squatting for years. I'm guessing they're somewhere in Appalachia, although we're also told they're only 300 miles from New York City. Whatever, they live an idyllic life, albeit a bit on the rough side.
One day Danny goes to see Mr. Haggin and is greeted effusively by an Irish Setter, whom Danny calls Red. Red is a show dog, so has a fancy name, but Danny doesn't much cotton to such fanciness. Anyway, it's obvious to all that Red and Danny can't be separated, so Mr. Haggin hires Danny to be Red's caretaker and also, through osmosis mostly it seems, to learn to handle show dogs.
Danny's father, of course, thinks they should turn Red into a varmint dog, like his blue tick hounds. So, there's some tension there because everyone, save Ross, knows that a quality setter should be eschewing varmints in favor of birds. Also, there's tension in that a giant bear, Old Majesty, occasionally shows up in their valley to terrorize farm animals, people, and the creatures of the forest. Only Red, it seems, is not afraid of Old Majesty. So, mostly we have a story about a boy and his dog in the woods.
Along about 5th or 6th grade, I read this book and adored it. I was determined to get myself an Irish Setter. So, when I was allowed to get a new dog, a year or so after our sheltie, Jeanne, was run over by a laundry truck, I started calling people advertising Irish Setters. Well, the first one seemed "sort-of" ok, but then someone who had called before I had showed up and snagged the dog. The second person I called told me they were selling Irish Terriers? WTF? I thought (well, in those days, WTF? hadn't been coined). Oh well, I want a damn dog! So I got an Irish Terrier, who was the grand daughter of the legendary Ch. Wahoo Satellite, one of the few Irish Terriers to have ever won a Best in Show. Bridget wasn't show quality, but was a great pal. She had a daughter, by Ch. Ahtram Legacy, named Colleen. Colleen was also a great companion. Then, after almost 30 years of Irish Terriers, I ended up for some reason, with Golden Retrievers for about 25 years. Now, thanks to my daughter, I'm stuck a little Jug dog.
The above is all to say, I love dogs and have had a number of them. But sadly, none of them has ever come close to matching Big Red. He's a veritable paragon of dogdom, smart, quick to learn, loving and loyal to a fault, and so forth.
I think this is a book better suited to impressionable 10- or 11-year olds, than to jaded geezers. It was a fun enough read, but rather fanciful in its telling. No dog could possibly be so wonderful as Big Red. But, to his credit, Big Red wasn't a racist asshole like Lad a Dog. Then too, no 17-year old hill billy could ever be quite so worldly wise and manly as Danny Pickett. Still, it was an enjoyable adventure. After all, what's better for a dog lover and Eagle Scout than reading about a boy and his dog in the wilderness?
One day Danny goes to see Mr. Haggin and is greeted effusively by an Irish Setter, whom Danny calls Red. Red is a show dog, so has a fancy name, but Danny doesn't much cotton to such fanciness. Anyway, it's obvious to all that Red and Danny can't be separated, so Mr. Haggin hires Danny to be Red's caretaker and also, through osmosis mostly it seems, to learn to handle show dogs.
Danny's father, of course, thinks they should turn Red into a varmint dog, like his blue tick hounds. So, there's some tension there because everyone, save Ross, knows that a quality setter should be eschewing varmints in favor of birds. Also, there's tension in that a giant bear, Old Majesty, occasionally shows up in their valley to terrorize farm animals, people, and the creatures of the forest. Only Red, it seems, is not afraid of Old Majesty. So, mostly we have a story about a boy and his dog in the woods.
Along about 5th or 6th grade, I read this book and adored it. I was determined to get myself an Irish Setter. So, when I was allowed to get a new dog, a year or so after our sheltie, Jeanne, was run over by a laundry truck, I started calling people advertising Irish Setters. Well, the first one seemed "sort-of" ok, but then someone who had called before I had showed up and snagged the dog. The second person I called told me they were selling Irish Terriers? WTF? I thought (well, in those days, WTF? hadn't been coined). Oh well, I want a damn dog! So I got an Irish Terrier, who was the grand daughter of the legendary Ch. Wahoo Satellite, one of the few Irish Terriers to have ever won a Best in Show. Bridget wasn't show quality, but was a great pal. She had a daughter, by Ch. Ahtram Legacy, named Colleen. Colleen was also a great companion. Then, after almost 30 years of Irish Terriers, I ended up for some reason, with Golden Retrievers for about 25 years. Now, thanks to my daughter, I'm stuck a little Jug dog.
The above is all to say, I love dogs and have had a number of them. But sadly, none of them has ever come close to matching Big Red. He's a veritable paragon of dogdom, smart, quick to learn, loving and loyal to a fault, and so forth.
I think this is a book better suited to impressionable 10- or 11-year olds, than to jaded geezers. It was a fun enough read, but rather fanciful in its telling. No dog could possibly be so wonderful as Big Red. But, to his credit, Big Red wasn't a racist asshole like Lad a Dog. Then too, no 17-year old hill billy could ever be quite so worldly wise and manly as Danny Pickett. Still, it was an enjoyable adventure. After all, what's better for a dog lover and Eagle Scout than reading about a boy and his dog in the wilderness?
sdmomof5boys's review
3.0
Good, classic story of a boy and his dog with their adventures. I liked the relationship of Danny and his dad, Danny's survival skills and the growing and maturing that took place in the story. A little slow for me sometimes, but some exciting parts too.
creepepaper's review
4.0
I really loved this book when I was in 4th grade. It's a great book for young readers who are also interested in dogs. Great way to get elementary kids reading.
caedocyon's review
3.0
I read a million of these dog books as a kid-- for a year or so, Kjelgaard was my favorite author. Only slightly spoiled by my dad telling me that Irish Setters are the dimmest of the dim dogs.
birdkeeperklink's review
3.0
I rated this when I first joined Goodreads, but I don't remember why I only gave it three stars. I seems to me that I enjoyed it more than that. I've recently picked up a used copy of the book, so sooner or later I'll get around to rereading it and give it a proper review. I'm really stumped that Kjelgaard seems to be largely out of print--I loved the few of his books I encountered growing up, and can't see why kids today shouldn't enjoy them, too.
kellylynnthomas's review
5.0
I have read this book countless times and used to read it at least four times a year. I checked out the school library copy so many times my mom had to finally buy me my own copy. I desperately wanted an Irish Setter, but my mother wouldn't let get me one. Also, totally had a crush on Danny, hard core. He was probably my first crush, like, ever. Yeah, I'm a nerd.