The children's book "Stone Fox," by John Reynolds Gardiner, is the adventurous story of a 10-year-old boy named Willy who needs to save his sick grandfather's potato farm from tax collectors. With his grandfather depressed, Willy and his dog, Searchlight, harvest the crop themselves. When Willy discovers his grandfather needs $500 to pay back taxes, he enters the National Dogsled Race in hope of saving the farm. The major theme in "Stone Fox" is perseverance.
Willy's grandfather has given up, but Willy never gives up. He has unwavering determination to save their potato farm and his grandfather's life. The story displays a theme of never giving up as Willy faces and overcomes obstacles that no child should have to endure. When he discovers there is no money to rent a horse, he hitches his dog to the plow to harvest the crop. He then realizes the reason his grandfather is sick because of the back taxes, and there is no money to pay it. Willy applies for a loan at the bank but is turned down, so he enters a dogsled race that no one believes he can win. His biggest obstacle is Stone Fox, an Indian who has never lost a race. Willy practices everyday and starts the race out ahead, but Stone Fox moves up. They are neck-and-neck when Willy's dog collapses and dies. Ultimately, Willy carries Searchlight over the finish line to win.
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