Willy was trying to win a dog-sledding race. The book was published in 1980, and was written by John Reynolds Gardiner. Almost immediately, the book became a bestseller. It sold three million copies, and has been turned into a movie. It is set in some place and time in the western part of the United States, but that is never specifically stated. The movie has changes, as all book to screen adaptations do. Alright, SPOILER ALERT time. If you haven’t read the book, stop here.
The book, as mentioned, focuses on a boy named Little Willy trying to win a dog-sledding race. He wants the prize, which was $500 to the winner. Simply put, he was trying to help his grandmother pay her taxes.