Shiloh (The Shiloh Quartet)

I have been thinking about writing for middle grade kids myself, so I thought I would read some works by various authors. I selected this one because I like dogs myself. Oh boy, did I luck out! This is a great book for any age to read, but it's particularly a fine book for a middle grade child. The psychological realism the author offers her readers is astounding. Any child who reads this book will not only have a fine time between the pages but will also learn something about people in the process.

by Phyllis Reynolds

"lull"llllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyIiiiii8iiiiiiii

2wwwwwwwww2wwwwwwwwwww

this the best book
to m

good book

he dog good
to me

I like it

Wendell

This is one of the greatest books ever created. With Protagonist attempting to get the dog, it really shows how much he loves him. When Shiloh was attacked, I was on the edge of my seat. This is an amazing story for anyone

This is a slippery and thought provoking book. It is not, as I expected, a boy-and-his-dog book like "Old Yeller", or "Angus", or "Where the Red Fern Grows". It raises a lot more questions than they do, and the Shiloh-ness of the tale is almost an afterthought.

Judd mistreats his dog. Our hero Marty rescues the dog and hides it from Judd, and hides what he did from his parents. For most of the book we follow Marty's internal monologues as he justifies to himself what he has done in terms of deceiving and lying in the service of what he sees as a greater good. This is complicated by the fact that the story is set in a time and place where mistreatment of dogs is an accepted practice. It is further complicated by Marty's father's inconsistent guidance. It is also complicated by occasional explicit references to Biblical teachings.

Luckily, the author introduces a happy coincidence and some character transformations that lead us to a happy ending. But on the way there is much to consider and weigh here. So sure, this is a kid's book and it wraps up with a feel good conclusion. And, Marty is mostly aware of the fact that he had to follow a tricky and sometimes dubious path to get to that happy ending.

How much of this is sensed by the third and fourth grade readers to whom the book is directed? I don't know. What does seem clear, though, is that this is the kind of book that should be not only assigned but also carefully discussed. Ends and means are tricky, and I admire a writer who's willing to wade into the middle of those sorts of concepts in the context of a kid's book.

I dislike very much when the words are written incorrectly on purpose to resemble someone’s accent. It makes a very hard read for me and since this book was for my 9 year old it was even more difficult for her. She did not finish the book out of boredom trying to figure out the misspelled words.

I like a book with redeeming values. This book is about a boy who lies to get what he wants. I also don't like books that are geared toward children with offensive language. If our children aren't allowed to use foul language, then they shouldn't have to read the words in a book. This book pulls at the heartstrings because of a possible abused animal, but the end results teaches deception. Very disappointed.

Shiloh has many of the familiar elements of young adult fiction, especially for boys. A family, a boy, a dog, someone who wants to do something to the dog. There are many books that have similar plots, characters, etc...

But what makes Shiloh different than the others is that the author Phillis Reynolds Naylor(this was her 65th book!) tells the tale perfectly.

First, the length of the book is not to short that you really don't get to know the characters, but not to long that it bogs down. It's just right.

Second, I love how Naylor describes the inner struggle of the boy in this story with trying to do the right thing. This, I think is what made it so good and has allowed the book to stand the test of time.

The "villain" in the story Judd is a nasty man that you immediately don't like, and you feel the anxiety of Marty, the boy when he has to interact with him.

This book spawned a few sequels that I look forward to reading eventually. Shiloh won the Newbery Medal in 1992. I think it's a great book for young readers say, 4th-5th grade.

Last thing: I really enjoyed the setting of West Virginia. The time of the book is kind of a mystery. My guess is that it's sometime in the 1960s-70s

It's a great book!

Shiloh is a wonderful book. This is a book called Shiloh written by Phillis Reynolds Naylor at first
I thought this would be a regular book when I read it. When I got deeper into the book, it was a great. It was about a boy named Marty that lives with his mom and dad.
It was a little sad, but I’ll explain why? There’s a man named Judd Travis. He’s a dirty pitiful man. He’s an animal abuser. I know this sounds sad but just listen. Marty found a beat up dog at the lake. Marty felt bad, but he had to go home. The dog, Shiloh, followed Marty home. Judd Travis wanted his dog back, but Marty knew he was an animal abuser.

He did not want Shiloh, the dog, to go with him, but his dad did not want Marty to talk about Shiloh. But, Marty could not think of anything else but Shiloh. So they gave him to MS. Judd Travis until Marty stole Shiloh back and hid him from his parents.
I would recommend this book because Marty is very compassionate. In the story, Marty showed compassion when he tried to save the dog. He even saved money to buy the dog.
In addition, I liked the theme of the story. The theme was don’t worry about yourself, help others. In the story, Marty did not worry about hfimself even when he knew he could not afford the dog. He sacrificed himself for the dog.
For all these reasons, I recommend Shiloh for you.

This was a pretty good story overshadowed by cursing. My 8 year old daughter was really getting into the book until we discovered the curse words. That was the end of her reading of Shiloh. Ms. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, why did you have to do it???? American kids just need a good dose of good wholesome adventure- not often found in media these days. You had a pretty good story, Ms Naylor, but the foul speech tossed in was completely unnecessary! SO very disappointed!!!

This book was assigned summer reading for my daughter now going into 5th grade. Although the story itself was very good, the improper grammar and 'redneck speak' was pure torture to read and get through! Getting through each chapter was an exercise in utter patience, and a major pain in the derriere. My child's school has 3rd through 6th grades, and we recently found out that every other grade (they all have required summer reading) finished their assigned books much earlier than the kids reading 'Shiloh'. Gee, I wonder why?!

Shiloh is a simple story about a boy who falls in love with an abused dog, and a dog who returns his affection. Anybody who has ever gotten a puppy as a child will be able to relate to the adoration Marty shows the dog he names Shiloh. While this is a story for young children, its themes and ethical dilemmas are much more sophisticated than some books written for adults. Naylor asks some very interesting questions for parents to discuss with their kids, and even one another, questions that don't necessarily have a right or wrong answer.

This is a great book for younger readers. They will love it because of the friendship between Marty and Shiloh, and parents will love it because it has good values and poses some excellent questions for kids, and adults, to ponder. In considering his own moral code, Marty realizes that it is wrong to lie and to steal, but he feels a stronger obligation to keep a dog from returning to its abusive owner. What makes this conflict so interesting is that adults would likely consider it much differently than children. Adults, whose moral values are more logical and place a stronger foundation on property, would say Marty should mind his own business. If there was proof of extreme abuse or neglect, the law could step in, but a dog fearful of its owner is not proof. At least not to an adult. To a child like Marty, the proof is in the animal's eyes. He couldn't forgive himself for returning an innocent animal to someone who will not treat it with love.

Surprisingly, Judd, is very well-developed for being the villain of a young adult novel. Many novels or movies aimed at kids have one-dimensional or very silly villains, but Judd is much more human. I believe many of us have known someone like Judd. How Naylor resolves the conflict between Judd and Marty makes sense, and it sends a positive message. In making her villain human, she shows that though there are bad people in the world, things aren't simply black and white. You don't have to fight fire with fire. In fact, it is more effective to stand by your principles and stand up to people like Judd. Shiloh isn't just a novel about a boy who falls in love with a dog; it is about a boy who learns to be brave.

I'm a guy in his late-30s who's typical reading fare is military history, discussions on leadership, or action-packed novels. But lately, I've decided to read some of the Newbery award books and Shiloh was my most recent. I could not put it down.

This tale about a young boy in West Virginia and his relationship with a dog is absolutely well-told and includes several excellent lessons without being "preachy" about them. The story sounds simple: a dog owned by a mean man follows a young boy home. The young boy loves the little beagle and decides he wants him for his own. You can imagine how that goes over with the mean man ... or the young boys parents for that matter. The story is anything but simple, however, as the characters are developed into multi-dimensional people and the young boy struggles with what the right thing to do is in this situation.

This is a story about family, love, and relationships. It's also a story about avoiding gossip, prejudgment, or writing people off.

I recommend this (and the two other books in the Shiloh trilogy) to anyone: young and old, pet-lover or not, boy or girl. This book is worth reading.

This was my daughters next pick off of the Newberry Awards list. Unfortunately, I am finding that some of the content of some of the books on the Newberry list are not quite appropriate for my daughter yet. I would never censor what she reads, but the subject matter is not appropriate for a seven-year old.

Fortunately, this was not one of those books. There were things we had to talk about such as the difference between the south during that era and now. Some of the language I had to explain. Not inappropriate, just not used anymore. As a seven-year old, she would have had trouble reading this book, even though she is an advanced reader. The dialect was best read aloud by an adult or older reader.

This is the story of a boy and his dog, or rather a boy and someone elses dog. Marty is an eleven-year old boy that enjoys wandering the wilderness around his family home. One day he finds a small beagle following him around. The beagle is obviously shy, but continues to follow Marty home. Marty gains his trust and they instantly form a bond. Unfortunately when Marty's Father gets home, he insists that they must return the dog to his owner. He suspects the dog belongs to Judd Travers, a local hunter.

They drive the dog to Judd Travers' house and he confirms the dog is his and gives him a great big kick for running off. Marty is horrified. He can't understand how anyone could treat a dog that way. His mind will not let him rest. He is continuously thinking of the dog he calls Shiloh.

Shiloh runs off again, and Marty finds him. This time he is determined to save him from Judd. He knows it is wrong to lie to his parents and keep the dog even though he belongs to someone else, but he can't let Shiloh go back. The lies eat at him daily. He hates lying.

The rest of the story is about the struggle Marty fights within himself. He knows there are wrongs on both sides...but how can he choose? I will leave the ending of the book out so as to not spoil it for you. I would highly recommend this book. It won the Newberry Award in 1992.

~Jenn

By Jeff Dedeker
Shiloh Book Review
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Shiloh is a book about a boy named Marty and his quest to protect his new best friend, an abused, run-away dog. His evil-hearted neighbor, Judd Travers, starves and kicks his hunting dogs, including Marty's new friend. When Marty finds this dog, he names it Shiloh and keeps him a secret from everyone. Judd goes on a search for Shiloh, and Marty's dad promises to give the dog back if he finds it. Marty knows that giving Shiloh back is technically the right thing to do, but asks himself why doing the right thing feels so wrong. When a German shepherd breaks loose and attacks Shiloh, Shiloh is severely injured and has to be treated. Marty's secret about Shiloh is jeopardized when Shiloh is taken to the vet. Marty eventually comes to the point where he has to confront the person he's most afraid of in the world, Judd, and tells him he's not giving the dog back. The problem is that Judd isn't willing to give Shiloh up that easily.
Shiloh is a heart-warming book and definitely a page turner. The book not only highlights the unconditional love a boy can feel for a dog but will also appeal to the reader's emotions. At some points in the book, you will feel sorrow and sympathy while at other points you will feel jubilant and happy for Shiloh. Shiloh is a great book and it is definitely one of my favorites. One lesson I took from the book is that sometimes breaking the rules is the right choice; particularly when the well being of an animal is at stake. People who love pets will love this book with a passion, but even if you don't love pets, I can almost guarantee it will still be a page turner.
I recommend Shiloh to anyone, especially those who love a good read. It is an inspiring, heart-warming book that gets you hooked in the first few pages. If I could have, I would have read the book in one sitting. Shiloh made me think about all the animals in the world that are neglected and abused. Was Shiloh given a happy ending and allowed to live with Marty, or was he sent back to being a prisoner? I recommend you read Shiloh and find out for yourself.

Eleven-year-old Marty Preston lives in West Virginia up in the hills close to the wilds. His family owns a property with some woods growing on it, but they are certainly not rich. The family is not exactly starving, but every cent must be counted and spent wisely on each person's needs. It is summer holidays and Marty is free to spend his time as he likes. One Sunday afternoon, after the family lunch, Marty goes for a walk in his familiar neighborhood. He intends to go into the woods, but as he passes the old Shiloh Schoolhouse, which is now closed, he meets a dog. It is a hunting dog, a beagle, but it is not fierce, as you might expect. If anything the dog is very nervous and almost grovels as it appears to ask for help. Marty calls to the dog, but it does not come. Giving up Marty continues on his way into the woods. The dog follows at a distance, but never answers Marty's calls. Finally the boy whistles and the beagle joyously comes to him. The dog follows him home and Marty begins to fantasize about keeping it. When Marty's father comes home, however, Mr. Preston immediately realizes that this must be Judd Travers' new dog. It must have lost its way. Travers lives not far from the old school. As they drive towards Travers' place the dog begins to shiver with fear. Marty is sure the dog has been mistreated, but there does not seem like anything he can do. When the dog turns up again at the Preston property though, Marty decides to take matters into his own hands. He hides the dog up in the woods. But this surely can't be a long-term solution? What will Marty do to save the dog he names Shiloh? Indeed, can Marty save Shiloh at all?

We all think we know right from wrong, but what happens when the situation is complex and there are no easy answers. Is 'right' obeying strictly what the law says? What if the law can't really help, for example, if there is no evidence of a crime? But then, on the other hand, doesn't wrongdoing, like lying, result in harm, even when it is done for the right reasons? Life is not always simple, or easy, and learning to navigate these difficult circumstances is a part of growing up.

Marty is the first person narrator of the story, thus we get to see into his character quite deeply. What strikes us most are Marty's good-heartedness and amiability. He is certainly a boy we would be glad to know. As Marty struggles with life and grows in understanding the reader also learns and is expanded.

Judd Travers is an excellent 'bad-guy' and we are easily tempted to take Marty's side, even when we suspect that the boy is going wrong. But Travers turns out to have a human side too. Few people are all bad and Naylor refuses to draw Travers like a flat cutout figure.

The story is written in a rustic, amiable, conversational style and the reader is easily caught up in the flow of events. The final confrontations between Marty and Travers are interesting and even a little nail-biting, though it could not be said that this story is action packed. This is more a psychological tale than an adventure story.

This book won the American Library Association's 1992 Newbery Medal and was a No.1 bestseller. Now, almost twenty years later, this book still seems fresh and relevant and can be enjoyed by our 'computer-age' kids. A boy's love for a dog is a timeless theme. This book is the first in a trilogy. The second book is Shiloh Season and the third is Saving Shiloh. These books have also been made into successful films: The Complete Shiloh Film Collection.

What can I say. SHILOH is the book that had my children begging me to continue reading (boy and girl; 8 and 10). 'We don't need TV', they said, 'just don't stop reading, mommy'.

And I think they liked it because unlike many of the books we read this one had REAL tension emanating from the pages, and not just 'pretend' drama. The story is about Marty Preston, a 10 year-old living in rural West Virginia. I'm not sure of the timeframe, but Marty's family has a television and a fridge, but not a phone.

Marty's a boy, very much like my children, in that he REALLY wants a dog. Unfortunately, his family isn't in a position to afford one. BUT THEN one day he happens upon a lost beagle. The dog is skittish but eventually the two come together and it's more or less love at first sight. Only problem is that the dog belongs to another. A man name Judd, who it turns out abuses his hunting dogs -- much as he himself was abused as a child.

Judd takes 'Shiloh' back and Marty is disgusted. But then Shiloh escapes again and this time Marty resolves that he won't give him up, no matter what.

TALKING POINTS:::
SHILOH might sound like a typical boy-and-dog book, but it's not. And what sets it apart in my view is that in keeping his promise to the dog, Marty crosses all sorts of barriers of right-and-wrong. He lies, for example, even to his family and best friend, and even resorts to blackmail at one point. Something I don't think you see in most of your standard kid books. And it's these decisions, and the threat of being caught, that created the drama that hooked my children. And which served as the basis of more than one serious conversation as we discussed what Marty did that was questionable and what we would do.

Recommend this one as a good read.

Pam T~
(booksforkids-reviews)

Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is one of those works I classify as a "universal cross-over." By that I mean that while it was written for the young boy or girl, it can nevertheless be read and enjoyed by older folks just as well, and indeed, after talking to quite a number of my reading friends, it is!

This is the story of an eleven year old boy living in rural West Virginia, a small beagle, a not so nice man who has abuse the dog and a cast of very believable characters. The boy rescues the dog and the entire story is about the young mans quest to same and keep this likable pup.

The story plot though is only the tip of the iceberg in this case though. The true charm and strength of this tale is the author's writing ability. The entire story is told in first person, via the little boy and we see the world through his eyes and share his thoughts and his logic. I am not sure how an adult could nail the personality of a kid so well, but she certainly has. The relationship between the small boy and the small dog is a wonder and makes the read worth the small effort it takes.

Ms Naylor has also been able to capture the vernacular speech of this area perfectly. Having traveled through that area and spent considerable time there, it was like music to my ears. Our local accent and language use here in the Missouri Ozarks is quite similar so I always feel right at home and when I talk to people, I don't stand out like a sore thumb. Her description of life in that area is perfect from local customs and attitudes to her physical description of the area.

Quite a number of ethical problems are presented in this book; some quite simple, some quite complex. This is an excellent work to read with your child; not to your child, but with him or her. There is much to discuss here.

The author is also a master at character development and obviously knows people. There was not one character in this book that I have not met face to face, some almost on a daily bases. As I read, I felt like I actually knew the people and was instantly able to put a face to each of them. Even the "evil guy" in the story was portrayed perfectly. I personally know of at least six men right this day that could step into his shoes and fit perfectly.

This is a fast read and you really owe it to yourself to pick up a copy and enjoy a reading treat. While the movie was sort of nice, it simply was no where near the quality of the actual book. Very much recommend this one. There certainly are worse ways to spend a couple of hours! For the life of me I cannot think of a negative thing to say about this work.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

This should be required reading for all students, it is timeless and truly relevant to growing up yesterday, today and tomorrow. My kids are 10 and 11 and the three of us were captivated by the story and ethical dilemmas. Usually when I try to talk with my kids about a book we are reading, they just want to enjoy the book. But while reading Shiloh they were eager to discuss the issues as well as keep reading.
It was our bedtime book, but they both kept reading ahead and were desperate to know what happened next.
Cannot recommend highly enough.

Reading this book, I had not heard of the author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor before. So I looked her up, thinking she'd probably written a book here and there before "Shiloh" her masterpiece. To my surprise, she is nothing less than prolific. There were already thirty one children's books to her name by the time "Shiloh" was written, and undoubtedly many more to come afterwards (the "Shiloh" sequels alone give one pause). The book itself is good. Not as surprisingly good as I've found her contemporary Katherine Paterson's books to be (yay Gilly Hopkins!) but fine reading just the same. Like many of my kind, I am not a dog book lover. If I hear that there's a book out there somewhere about a boy and his dog, I am probably going to do whatever it takes to avoid reading said book. In this particular case, Naylor has cleverly chosen a breed that is not only sympathetic but adorable. Shiloh is an abused beagle. I suspect that it is not difficult to get kids to identify with a dog that shares its pedigree with Snoopy. What makes the book "Shiloh" itself stand out, however, is not its cutesy factor. Many lesser books have done similar things and few have garnered Newberrys. No, this book introduces a character that I feel is perhaps one of the most well-developed "villains" I've read. Judd, the beagle kicker, is basically a transposed Jud from "Oklahoma" with a little more humanity built into his system. Here we have a man who was undoubtedly abused himself as a child and who now takes this abuse out on the animals he keeps. In time, Judd develops a grudging respect for the boy who wants to own Shiloh so very much. The boy, Marty, is an interesting little devil himself. Here's our protagonist; a kid willing to lie and blackmail in order to get his dog. He lies and blackmails all in the name of that which is good and righteous, of course, but it's interesting to see such dealings from the mouth and head of an eleven-year-old boy. Just the same, this is a worthwhile book to read. Now admittedly, as a woman of 25 years, I'm not about to ever read this book again. No sir. But a book's readability and re-readability do not always have much to do with one another. Read this book for the well drawn characters. Stay for the cute beagle.

I dearly love this series (as did my daughter, when I read them to her). My only criticism -- and it's minor -- is that it so clearly captures a world of what I'm guessing is the '30s-early '40s, possibly '50s in W.VA, and then all of a sudden Naylor will toss in what feels like an anachronism: David's dad has a computer in his office, or David wears Nikes; Judd has a satellite dish. Naylor was perhaps going for contemporaneity, but it falls flat. My daughter even said, "What? They had computers when Grandmother was little?" (my mother was born in 1938). My daughter understood that what she was hearing about was a world as distant as that of Laura Ingalls Wilder. And so be it. Why try to yank it forward?

Although this is a "boy loves dog" story in the truest sense of the term, "Shiloh" adds the dimension of animal abuse that is a contemporary concern of all that love animals. Marty is a compassionate soul whose "hunting" is more of the investigative nature than the actual killing of an animal. This aspect of the boy's character is one of the strengths especially in light of the stereotypical view of all young boys in rural America having a passion for killing. Showing that it is just as "manly" to have concern for animals, as it to hunt them, is a concept that Ms. Naylor has cleverly presented.
By having the characters speak in the language and manner of the West Virginia hills, Naylor has added authenticity to her prose. The conversations between the respective personalities are both insightful and entertaining. As I read the book, I felt as if these were real people speaking to me in their natural manner.
Even though the principal is a boy, I am sure that all children, regardless of gender, can relate to this boy's courage and ingenuity. Marty's devotion to the animal is certainly an attribute that all should aspire to have for others.
Because of the dog's presence in the family, there are subtle changes in the family. Mother and father discover maturity in their son that hey had not seen before; the boy becomes closer to his younger sisters; and Marty realizes that he possesses perseverance and resourcefulness that would benefit him for the rest of his days. Even an "enemy" of Marty becomes a respectful acquaintance.
When I first began reading the book, I thought that it would take me through familiar territory. However, I was pleasantly surprised at its originality.
I cared for this boy and his dog.
Children will also have these same feelings.

By Eyal from Israel

This book is about Marty, a little boy who lived with his two parents and two little sisters, Becky and Dara Lynn. They lived in Middle Island Creek.
One day when all the family ate supper, Marty went for a walk and he found a dog that was kicked out of his owner's house. He saw the dog and said to him to come and the dog didn't come. He went home and he saw the dog following him to his house and Marty kept going. He came in to the house and he saw the dog outside the house.
The dog stayed a couple of days there and meanwhile the dog's owner, Judd, who drank and had a gun, wanted his dog back. He said to everybody in Middle Island Creek that if they sees his dog they should tell him. He also said it to Marty's dad who didn't know that Marty was hiding Shiloh. Marty hid Shiloh in the hills without anybody knowing.
After a while people start to find out about Marty's secret, even Judd! And it starts to be dangerous for Marty. What will happen to Marty and Shiloh?
I think the book was very interesting because of the conflict between Marty and Judd. I also liked it because I didn't know what would happen.
I recommend the book for people at all ages that like stories with surprises and also some sad things.

Marty finds a runaway dog and he instantly falls in love. The dog has not run away without good reason; his owner, Judd Travers, disciplines his dogs by kicking them and starving them. The dog is returned to his owner, but when the dog runs away again, Marty can't bear to send the dog, who Marty names Shiloh, back to such a life. Instead, Marty hides Shiloh in the woods behind his house and tells what becomes a nest of lies to his parents, his friends, and the dog's owner.

Of course, Marty is soon found out and Judd Travers is determined to have the dog returned to him. But Marty catches Travers hunting deer out of season and at last has a way to obtain Shiloh for his own. As a part of the agreement, Marty goes to work for Travers. The two talk each day and Marty learns more of Travers. Gradually, they forge a relationship that enables them to get along.

One of my favorite Newbery winners.

Shiloh is a wonderful example of realistic fiction for children. The story revolves around Marty, a small town boy in the hills of West Virginia. There isn't much money, and putting food on the table is difficult and all consuming for the adults of his community.
Marty spends his free time roaming the hills with his rifle, until he discovers Shiloh, a dog, whom he learns lives with constant abuse by his owner. Marty determines to rescue Shiloh and care for the dog he immediately becomes attached to. He finds, however, that simply wanting something, is not a determinant of taking possession: he is stunned that the abusive owner has rights, which is confusing and heartbreaking for him.
Throughout the story, Marty is confronted by moral issues which he must wrestle with as he focuses his attention on loving Shiloh and finding a way to make life better for the dog. In doing so, his values are questioned and his morality is strengthened. He must learn to solve moral dilemmas by analyzing the choices he has. He realizes that adults don't always do the right thing, nor do they always have the answers to questions. Most, important, he learns to recognize that he has the ability, within himself, to realize the resolve it takes to do the right thing in the face of adversity.
Young readers will experience these dilemmas with Marty, and the story provides youngsters with the opportunity to develop their own moral skills along with him.

Shiloh is one of my favorite animal books. The fact that Marty never gave up to buy and save Shiloh, was amazing! When going out for some shooting practice, young Marty Preston finds a young beagle, whom he names Shiloh. Marty soon finds out that the baby beagle belongs to a man named Judd Travers, who shoots deer out of season, drinks, and abuses his dogs. When Marty and his father go to drop Shiloh off at Judd's, Marty is horrified when he sees what Judd really does to his dogs. "If he wanders off again, I'll whup the daylights out of him," says Judd, kicking the poor animal. What will Marty do? When Marty finds Shiloh, who escaped from Judd, Marty knows he can not just return the poor animal and have him tortured. So Marty builds Shiloh a pen, sneaks him some food, and gives him some exercise. But is Shiloh truly safe? What happens next? Read this great book to find out! WAY TO GO, MARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Shiloh," the novel by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, received the 1992 Newbery Medal "for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." While the book is certainly ideal for younger readers, don't be misled by either the award or the publisher's marketing approach: this moving, well-written book is good for adults, too.
"Shiloh" takes place in rural West Virginia. It tells the story of Marty, an 11-year old boy who seeks to shelter an abused beagle from his hard-hearted owner. Reynolds lets Marty tell his story in the first person, and her excellent prose captures the rhythms of rural West Virginia speech (and I say this because I spend a lot of time there with my extended family). Reynolds had me hooked with her opening sentence: "The day Shiloh come, we're having us a big Sunday dinner." Reynold's skill at rendering American vernacular speech evokes, in my mind, favorable comparisons to such authors as Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Walker.
"Shiloh" is rich with the details of life in that region: the food, the hunting, and social customs. Reynolds creates a wonderful portrait of a poor but loving family. But the heart of the book is the way she captures the special bond between a boy and his dog.
"Shiloh" is an "issue" book in the sense that it deals with animal cruelty, but Reynolds wisely tells a realistic story without overtly preaching at the reader. But the book still raises very relevant issues. Marty's moral dilemma is not presented as an easy "black-and-white" situation. Shiloh's owner, Judd, is not a cardboard villain. Marty's ethical and theological inner struggle is comparable to that of the title character in Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Like Huck, Marty is a compelling hero: courageous, loyal, and thoughtful.
In short, "Shiloh" is a contemporary classic, a book with true moral and psychological resonance. Naylor's portrayal of the enduring ties between a child and a beloved animal is comparable to such enduring works as John Steinbeck's "The Red Pony." This moving book deserves a wide audience.

This book is one of the most beautiful, moving and very Christian stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. The central character, Marty, is part of a Christian chain of events. Marty saves the adorable beagle pup's life. He is able to forgive the cruel man who beat and neglected the hound. Marty's parents and sisters are also loving, richly drawn and wonderful characters who add to the story. Mere words do not do this justice. It is and will remain a timeless classic.

A salute to the author -- in recent years I adopted a beagle from the shelter. She, like Shiloh, had been beaten and left to roam the streets. Shiloh was loosely based on a dog named "Clover" who, like Shiloh, was adopted into a loving home. (There is a large female beagle in my neighborhood named Shiloh. She's beautiful).

My beagle has been a pet therapy dog for senior citizens in a nearby nursing home. She has been great medicine for the folks there and one nurse said she had gotten a beagle because she liked my dog. She couldn't think of a name for the dog, so I suggested "Clover," in honor of the literary Shiloh's real counterpart. "Clover, like in a good luck charm," I said at the time. I was delighted to learn days later she named her hound Clover. Shiloh is a continuum of love. It's great.

To keep Shiloh, a white beagle with brown and black spots, Marty Preston has to do more than keep a water dish filled and train his dog not to go the bathroom indoors. He has to build a special pen, buy food with his own allowance, and even do some odd jobs for extra money. Also, as Shiloh is really someone else's dog, Marty has to lie and keep secrets from his parents and friends. He excuses his actions with the fact that Shiloh is better off with him than with the abusive original owner--which is, I know, justification enough for most readers. The novel is not that simplistic, though: Marty eventually realizes that he will have to come clean, even if it will mean losing his dog.
The characters in "Shiloh" are well-drawn and realistic. It was nice to read about complex people who love animals, grow up with guns and occasionally hunt for their own food. Their West Virginian dialect is a pleasure to read. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's observations, through Marty's eyes, really seem like an eleven-year-old boy's, not a grown woman writer's. Moreover, her pace, like her integrity as a storyteller, never lags.
This is a great book for teaching children not just about dogs and other pets, but about right and wrong. Nothing is purely white or purely black in this novel, not even the "villian," Judd Travers. There is a powerful scene near the climax when Marty starts asking himself questions about what is ethical and what is not--about whether or not the ends justify the means. All the scenes that follow show how a young boy, through his love for his dog, learns life lessons about maturity, responsibility and respect.
Despite all this complexity, the lessons of "Shiloh", like its theme, are very simple. They are the universal values that all children pick up for themselves whenever they truly experience life.

`Shiloh' was one of my favorite novels as a young boy. I can still remember reading it in school and being fascinated with the concept, with the storyline and underlining morals that forced me to think about things in a way I never had before. The overall plot may seem to be simple enough. A young boy named Marty finds a beagle he names Shiloh (after the place he found him). The dog, as it so happens, is being abused by his master Judd and Marty vows to rescue the dog whatever way he can. The great thing about `Shiloh' is that it's not that simple.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor beautifully creates a moral battle within this young boy and everyone around him. Ethically taking this dog would be stealing, and stealing is wrong. But on the other hand of ethics there is the fact that bringing this dog back to his owner would mean subjecting a helpless creature to pain and fear. When his parents are telling him the right thing is to return the animal that is not rightly his, but his heart is telling him that returning him is not an option Marty has to decide for himself the right path to take.

Children's novels have a history of presenting moral issues subtly, but here the conflict of morality is presented bluntly and left for the reader to learn along with Marty. When Marty becomes determined to keep Shiloh any way that he can he comes up with an idea that may appease both side of the issue. I'll leave that for you to read on your own.

Be aware that `Shiloh' is classic children's literature and will remain in your hearts forever after your first reading. It's the definition of satisfying reading no matter what your age is, boy or girl, man or woman I promise that this is not an experience you'll regret. It's a relatable story because it exposes a principle that all humans, children and adults alike with be tested on in there day to day and despite what you may initially think, there's a lot to be learned from this boy and his dog.

Have you ever wanted a dog so bad that you stole someone else dog but you didn't know it? In the book Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Marty does just that. One day Marty went to go shoot some cans up near the bridge. When he got there he started setting up the cans when he saw a dog in the corner of my eye. He started calling it, but the dog would not come.He started walking back home when he saw a dog following him. He turned around and the dog stopped. When he started walking again the dog followed him. When he finaly got home him and his family saw how cute he was but he knew he couldn't keep him. Finally Marty came over to Shiloh and Started to stroke him on the back. He found that the dog had a collar on. His dad came thumping in the driveway when he asked where he got the dog from. Marty grinned and said " up by the shiloh bridge ". Marty went on. Marty named the dog after the old shiloh bridge where he found him. Marty's dad knew that Judd just got a new hunting dog and wondered if that was his. Ladies and Gentlemen I invite and encourage you to read Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds NAylor.

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a very good children's novel. "Boy and their dog stories" have been kind of a staple in children's literature since Ouida's A Dog of Flanders, and this is one of the better examples. This book is narrated by Marty, and eleven-year-old from a very poor West Virginia family. He happens upon a dog one day who has noticably been abused. Marty falls for the dog, but he doesn't want to return it to its owner. Ethical questions are raised as to whether he should return the dog or keep it (steal) and lie to his parents. This novel presents a good and well-written story. It also raises some thought provoking questions and teaches some marvelous lessons. My favorite aspect of the novel was the way in which the family was written about. The setting and speech are captured exactly. The situation of a dirt-poor family that loves each other and is working to better itself is presented brilliantly. Children should read Shiloh.

"Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a heartwarming story of a boy, Marty, who meets and takes care of a Beagle he named Shiloh. When Marty finds out that Shiloh is being mistreated by his owner, Judd, the boy does everything he can to keep his doggie friend safe. The only problem is he can't tell his family or he'd have to give Shiloh back. Although written for middle schoolers, this story drew me in and kept me there until the final page. I totally enjoyed the plot twist near the end. I recommend this book to readers of all ages.

What a wonderful book! I read it after my 11-year old son suggested it as a change from my usual reading fare of history and biography. It turned out to be much more than just a summertime reading diversion...it became for me a deeply moving reading experience in its own right. I was quickly captivated by Marty and his family, Shiloh, the beagle, and yes, even the despicable Judd Travers.

The story is straightforward: Marty Preston is an eleven-year old boy living with his parents and two younger sisters in rural West Virginia. It is a close-knit, loving family with traditional values and a clearly defined set of rules to live by. His father is a mail carrier and his mother a homemaker.

One Sunday afternoon, as Marty is walking along a backwoods road, he spies a young beagle hiding under a bush. He calls to it, but the dog doesn't respond. When Marty walks away, the dog follows him. Marty tries to get the dog to come to him several times, but the animal, which has obviously been abused, cowers miserably. Finally, the dog happily comes to Marty when the boy whistles at him. Marty immediately falls in love with the dog, whom he names Shiloh. The little beagle responds with trust and affection. The boy quickly figures out that Shiloh belongs to Judd Travers, a local ne'er-do-well, and a man with an unsavory reputation for dishonesty, a hot temper, and animal abuse. Marty wants to keep Shiloh, to protect him from Judd. However, his parents insist he return the dog to its rightful owner, which Marty begrudgingly does.

Shiloh runs away from Judd a second time and finds his way back to Marty's house. This time, Marty vows to keep him. He hides the dog, sneaks food out of the house to feed him, and begins to lie to friends and family when questioned about Shiloh's whereabouts. A tragic accident causes Marty's secret to be found out by his parents. He is forced once again to return Shiloh to his master. Marty, desperate to keep Shiloh, offers to do almost anything to get Judd to give him the dog.

I won't give away the ending of the book; suffice it to say, it is a dramatic and compassionate ending, sure to move anyone who reads this book.

"Shiloh" is a beautifully and masterfully written in every way. It is written in the first person, from Marty's point of view. The narrative is written in a rural West Virginia dialect that sounds totally natural and unaffected. It seemed almost possible for me to hear Marty speak as I read along. The book's plot is absolutely superb - tightly woven, dramatic, and realistic. Each of the characters come to life with complete believability. All of the situations presented in the narrative are easy to understand and appropriate for young readers.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor proves why she is such a gifted writer of children's books, mainly because she so brilliantly fires the reader's imagination and teaches positive values. In the story, she presents Marty with an ethical dilemma which, at one time or another, all children face. Marty's predicament is this: whether to do what is right in the eyes of a higher authority (his parents) when it is a reasonable certainty that the action will result in a great wrong being done by someone else; or to do what his heart says is right, even though that action is wrong in the eyes of the higher authority (his parents). Marty's dilemma is compounded his conscience, which speaks loudly and often to him, demanding from him both honesty and a sense of fair play. How Marty responds to these challenges is the great lesson taught by this book.

"Shiloh" is a winner of the Newbery Medal and a classic of children's literature. I heartily recommend it to kids of all ages...from 9 to 99.

This book is about a boy named Marty and a dog named Shiloh. It's summertime in rural West Virginia and Marty must keep Shiloh safe from Judd Travers, Shiloh's owner. Judd is a mean, cruel, dog abuser who wants to hurt Shiloh. Now, Marty is hiding Shiloh while also creating a big pile of secrets and lies.

Shiloh is an incredibly thrilling book. It tells the endearing story of the unbreakable friendship between a boy and his dog. To begin with, it teaches us how difficult it can be to decide between right and wrong. It also teaches us to never give up. Furthermore, it helps us understand that if you really want something then you might have to work for it.

What are you waiting for? Grab a copy now.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds, Shiloh, New York, New York: Aladdin Paperbacks Publishing, 2000. 137 pages.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Why do people abuse their animal(s)?" I mean it is just plain wrong. In the book Shiloh there isn't really a main setting in the book because they go all around their town. The main characters are Marty who is a boy, then there is Shiloh who is the dog which is surprisingly the main character but also the title of the book. My favorite part of the book was when Judd got in a truck accident because of drinking to much beer. That night Shiloh snuck out of the house because he had a weird feeling and when Shiloh was looking off the bridge he saw someone which was Judd Travers who was the original owner of Shiloh and still was but Judd was abusing Shiloh, so Shiloh ran away. Well, I don't want to ruin the story but Shiloh started barking like crazy when he found Judd on the side off the bridge. Marty woke up at the loud barking and noticed that Shiloh wasn't there. If it wasn't for Shiloh, Judd would've been dead. I don't really think that you can really judge a book by its cover. If you love animals then you will really love this book. It is really sad because Judd abuses his animals so bad, and it makes me get all teary. This book is the best book I have ever read. I have read this book more then 5 times. I really love to read animal books. I really wouldn't change anything about this book. I would rate this book out of 1-5, with four being that I couldn't put this book down, it was so good and one being that it was hard to stay awake, and I struggled to finish it, I would rate this book a five and beyond.

The story of an earnest and lovely little eleven year old boy who comes from a VERY REAL po' white trash West Virginia family and who befriends and protects an abused beagle. It's a surprisingly powerful and universal story, as the little beagle really represents not only the boy's wounded inner self who he wished his shut-down parents would protect...but the wounded, neglected and abused inner selves within each of us. The boy's love and protection of the beagle represents the parents we always wished we had had, and perhaps even thought (or still think) we had.
Book's weak point: The author sacrificed potential emotional depth for the smiles and hugs of a happy ending. I think a much more realistic ending would have been the father disregarding the feelings of his sensitive son and sending the dog back to the abusive owner, the mother not lifting a finger to protect her son's feelings, and the owner killing the dog as he promised all along. Basically, I think the author didn't have the guts to do it, and thus be able to transmit a real message to the audience about how the world is - essentially how cruel and uncaring parents really can be. The boy becoming aware of such things would have hurt (him and us), but would at least have been REAL and given us the base of potential from which to GROW and not just keep our heads in the sand, leading us further down the path of denial...and ultimately toward perpetuating the same patterns those parents did. Only emotional honesty (as opposed to the fantasy ending of this book) will break such cycles.

This wonderful story about a boys' love for an abused beagle will be enjoyed and loved by the whole family.
It is written in such away that the characters become very real as you read along. You will relate to Marty's struggle as he decides whether to do what is legally correct or to do that which is ethically correct in deciding the future of the beagle he has named Shiloh.
As a native West Virginian this book struck a cord of familiarity as I read about cities that are familiar to me. Also the issue of poverty, which sadly every West Virginian is aware of as West Virginia has one of the highest poverty levels in the United States.
It is truly a gem. I hope the schools in West Virginia are using this wonderful book as part of their curriculum.

I bought this book for my ten-year-old grandchild for Christmas thinking it was a soft cover book. Since it was instead a Kindle book, I decided to read it because I own a Kindle. What an enjoyable read! Any middler should find the story engaging. It vividly describes the love bond that quickly develops between a boy and his neighbor's abused hunting dog. The boy does everything in his power to rescue the dog, which he names Shiloh, from his cruel master. As the story unfolds, it is difficult to put the book down. During the course of the story, the boy learns some important lessons about himself and about human nature. This book is well worth purchasing for a child who loves animals.

Shiloh is a beautiful book! Its a true story, and it was made when the author came home from a vacation. During this vacation, she met a female beagle who was abused, and she couldn't get the dog out of her mind. So she created this book. The book became a big success, and the female beagle eventually found a home. In the third book of the trilogy, the back page has a picture of the beagle, looking fat and happy.
Shiloh is a fantastic book because it opens the eyes of young readers, on how dogs don't live happy lives like they thought. They may start looking around for dogs living on chains, and when they see that, they think of Shiloh. They grow up and learn more about the plight of abused animals, and they're the people who'll change the world for pets. I am now 17 years old, and I still read the trilogy over and over, and tear up in many parts. I read this book as a young kid, and I grew up with it. I would highly recommend it to anyone I meet, especially people who are in contact with dogs who are starving and being neglected by their owners.

Shiloh is the winner of the 1992 Newbery Medal, and it tells the story of Marty Preston, an 11-year-old boy, and his efforts to rescue a mistreated beagle, Shiloh. Though Marty believes Shiloh came to him for help, his father makes it clear that he must not interfere in their neighbor's business, even if that neighbor is Judd Travers, a thoroughly unlikable man who abuses his dogs. When Shiloh comes to him a second time though, Marty has to choose between his love for Shiloh or obedience to his father. Though I had to do some minor editing while reading aloud to my preschool-aged children, this is a very engaging story full of struggle, devotion, and suspense that had my son (and hubby) begging for more. Naylor expertly reeled us in from the first chapter as we got wrapped up in Marty's concern for Shiloh and she kept us expectantly turning the pages to find out what would happen next.

Positive Elements: Marty and his family are very hard-working and ethical. Though they don't appear to attend church regularly, Marty often prays and considers what Jesus would think about his actions. Marty's devotion and loyalty to Shiloh push him into moral dilemmas (some parents may view this as a negative), including blackmail and lying, which I used as a springboard to discuss these issues with my children.

Negative Elements: There are scenes that some children will find frightening or disturbing, including the mistreatment of animals and the killing of a deer. There is some mention of alcohol consumption and also some language that I edited out as I read, including vain reference to God.

I chose this book because I saw the movie and loved it. I wanted to see the differences in the book and the movie. I love dogs so after seeing the cover and reading the summary I knew I would enjoy this book.
One day, Marty was walking home and saw that a dog was following him, he soon found out that it was Judd Travers dog and he knew he was going to keep it no matter what it took.
My favorite character was Marty because of his bravery and determination shown in the book.
My favorite part of the book was when Judd gave in to Marty and let him keep Shiloh, but he still made Marty work really hard to earn him.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs and had a southern accent.

Shiloh was an awesome book. I felt like I was the main character, Marty. It's full of action, thrills, and lies. You name it! All this is in the book plus more. Shiloh is breath taking. I really liked it because it was told in first person. Near the end I didn't want it to end because I was attached to the characters.
Marty tells you secrets like keeping Shiloh forever. Marty also tells personal experiences like taking a piece of his sister's chocolate Easter bunny. Marty was like me because if I saw a dog that was being abused I would take the dog and care for it. I didn't like the cuss words. It was such a good book, I couldn't put it down. Everything went so smoothly. The characters went so well with the story. That is why I would recommend Shiloh for you to read.
By: Chris Henry

The book was unbelievable! It had details that were off the chart! Plus, that kid Marty is such a card. He was back-talking Judd Travers like nobody's business! Also, Marty was so loving to animals.
I just couldn't stay on my seat! Shiloh was so exciting, but could the book be a little more dramatic! I mean I'm not saying it was bad but the book was a little predictable.
Another thing was that I could kind of relate to Marty because when I get mad I kind of get a little angry. But the enthusiasm in that kid...wow!
An amazing thing was that the dog knew exactly what you're saying. When Marty said,"shh!" that dog was all for it! All in all, this book was 5 stars!
So next time you need a good book to read this is a book for you! Pass this around to your mom, dad, sister, brother, grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, your cousin's brothers, and your whole entire family! They will absolutely and positively love this book!
By: Ayianna Moser

Shiloh is an awesome book. There are parts where you just wish weren't there, but there are parts keeping you on the edge of your seat. It's about a dog that is being kicked, unfed, and abused by a person who doesn't treat his dogs correctly. There are parts that will surprise you and you'll be like whoa that really just happened. There are parts that are sad. Marty (the main character) becomes attached to a dog that he finds hunting.
Shiloh follows Marty and doesn't leave him, but Marty can't keep him because it's too much work. I really do recommend this book for dog lovers. There is one part that is sad but you'll be happy to see what the result is. I think the book was surprising, happy, and sad. I say that it could use a little more of a detailed setting. I like the main character because he back talks and I do too. Plus, I also love dogs. I hope you'll enjoy Shiloh. I think you will love it!
By: Brock Allison

Shiloh is a story about the remarkable connection between a boy and a dog.
Marty Preston is an eleven year old boy who finds a beagle near his home. He decides to name the beagle, Shiloh. But Marty and Shiloh are both in big trouble when Marty discovers that the beagle pup belongs to Judd Tavers.
Marty will do anything to protect Shiloh. Tavers and Marty come to an agreement. Marty works hard until finally one day Tavers gives an old dog collar to him, sealing the deal. Shiloh is finally Marty's dog.
Naylor's story of a young boy's love for his dog is sure to have animal lovers glued to this book. The story takes place in West Virginia and is told from Marty's point of view, complete with southern dialect.
Naylor based the story on her own real life experience. While visiting friends in Shiloh, West Virginia, she encountered a scared female dog near a creek. When she left for home she was filled with worry over what would happen to he dog. Knowing this her friends went searching but found nothing. One day five months later they happened upon the dog. Since then the dog has made a happy existence for herself at home with Naylor's friends.
This is a realistic, well written book that is highly deserving of the Newbery Medal. Recommended to readers of all ages, this book is sure to please.

Have you ever faced a time when you know you must do the right thing, even if it seems wrong? The main character in Shiloh, Marty Preston, has a very difficult time trying to figure out what is right and wrong. The first of a three book series, Shiloh is a book mainly about a mistreated dog named Shiloh that runs away from his home to 11-year old boy, Marty Preston. Marty soon falls in love with Shiloh and tries to rescue him from the evil Judd Travers, Shiloh's cruel owner. Even though the Preston family cannot afford a dog, Marty is willing to do whatever it takes to save his tortured friend.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor did an excellent job writing this book. Shiloh mainly goes in chronological order, with a few flashbacks scattered throughout. I think she did this because the book was written in a Southern accent, and it is harder to understand reading an English dialect, unless you are from the South. This realistic fiction book is somewhat similar to Old Yeller. Both books tell two lives of two dogs, but the family perspectives tend to be different. I am guessing the theme of Shiloh is to do whatever it takes to do what you think is right. When Marty first discovers Shiloh, he knows the dog must be kept secret. Marty realized if his family knew his secret, they would instantly tell Judd, and the dog would be mistreated once more. While reading the book, I found it comical at points in the ways he tried to keep Shiloh.

Because Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has written over 100 children's books in all sorts of genres, I recommend Shiloh to just about anybody. Dog lovers would probably enjoy it more though. During the book, I found myself laughing and crying because at points, I could relate to how Marty feels about Shiloh. I tried to read it a little slower because of the slang-like terms throughout the whole thing. I hope this book review will encourage you, as well as others, to read the entire Shiloh trilogy: Shiloh, Shiloh Season, and Saving Shiloh.

The children's novel Shiloh is about a young boy, Marty Preston, who encounters a stray dog on one of his summer adventures through the West Virginia countryside. Marty befriends the dog only to find out that he belongs to Judd Travers, a hunter who abuses his dogs. Knowing in his heart that he cannot return the dog he has named Shiloh, Marty cares for the dog himself and eventually ends up working to buy Shiloh from Judd. Throughout this story, the character of eleven-year-old Marty goes through a metamorphosis as he develops from innocence to maturity with an understanding that life is not always just, and adult responsibility is complicated. At the beginning of the story, Marty is just an ordinary child enjoying a summer of frolicking in the hills of West Virginia with his .22 rifle. His moral development begins when he sees Shiloh for the first time and realizes he has been abused because of the dog's reluctant and almost fearful nature. After Marty decides to keep Shiloh, his internal conflicts begin when first he is forced to deal with the issue of legality versus morality. He knows that Shiloh legally belongs to Judd; however, Marty knows that the dog will end up being starved or even killed if he returns to his owner. Secondly, Marty feels anxious for deceiving his family. He has kept Shiloh a secret, and he has used food to feed Shiloh that the family needs. Marty feels great remorse for the pitiful impression he gives others of his family as he asks Mrs. Howard for extra cookies and Mr. Howard for scraps of cheese; however, he feels Shiloh's well-being is worth his family's reputation for being poor. The last "internal conflict" that Marty wrestles with is the issue of whether the dog is worth the hard labor Marty has to give to Judd in order to keep Shiloh. Judd Travers makes him slave away, almost unfairly, to win the legal rights of the dog. Throughout this novel, Marty learns the value of responsibility and all that it entails along with the costs of doing what is morally right. Jeanne Harms and Lucille Lettow propose that, ".. dialoguing with oneself the reader brings different inner audiences into the reading experience, thus expanding the possibilities for creating meaning" (Harms 210). By analyzing Marty's character development, it is evident to the reader that these "internal voices" cause the protagonist to become a strong and successful character, and therefore by reading this book, the reader deals with the "inner voices" along with Marty. This novel forces the reader, child or adult, to battle out similar situations and, in effect, gain far more from the book than just a simple moral. This in turn, causes readers to grow personally by relating to the situations of conflict such as lying to family or doing what is right versus what is legal. By dialoguing with oneself the reader brings different inner audiences into the reading experience (Harms 210). Marty's "internal conflict" is the driving force behind his character development

This is a heart-warming story about a dog named, Shiloh who was abused by his owner, Judd Travers. Shiloh is soon found by an 11 year old boy, named Marty. Soon Marty and Shiloh grow a great bond. Will it last forever? Will Marty secretly keep Shiloh or bring him back to his abusive owner? This book is an amazing book with twists and turns and multiple cliff hangers. If you love scary, sad, funny and loving books, then you should read this one. This book is recommended for ages 8 and up. Our book club gives Shiloh a 5 out of 5 stars!

11 year old Marty Preston finds an abused dog. He instantly falls in love with him and names him Shiloh. He later finds out the dog belongs to an abusive owner named Judd Travers. He tries to keep the dog a secret, but after a tragic incident his secret is revealed.
We recommend this book because it shows the love between a boy and an abused dog. Some parts have adventure that won’t make you want to put the book down. The only thing that we disliked was the way the author put the dialogue between the characters. It was difficult to read and understand. Overall, Shiloh is a great book.

When I taught school, I would read this book every year to my 4th graders, who identified with the protagonist--a young boy trying to save a mistreated hound. Gritty but tender, it deals with both the good side and the bad side of human nature. A must for children who love dogs.

Rebecca Willman, Author
"Calamity's Daughter"

I would recommend the book Shiloh. I liked the book because it has interesting characters. The main character is an 11 year old boy named Marty. Marty loves dogs. Judd is another character, he is not very nice to dogs. Marty and Judd are not friends.

I think the book has a good story. Marty finds a dog that follows him home. His dad says it must belong t Judd so they take it to Judd and he takes the dog. Marty is sad because he wanted the dog to be his first pet. One day Judd went hunting and the dog found a way to get back to the boy. Marty does his best to keep the dog hidden. Every day he plays with the dog. One day Judd stops by, has asks the boy if he has seen the dog. The boy lies and says he has not seen the dog. Judd leaves and the boy is happy. Marty must love that dog. I would recommend this book to 11 year old girls and boys.

Title: Shiloh
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Date: Paperback edition 2000

This is a fantastic book for all ages. Shiloh deals with important ethical issues that anyone can relate to. I especially recommend this book for middle school students, as I think they will find its message especially compelling.

In 1990, Shiloh won the coveted Newbery Award. It is a quick fiction read, with only 156 pages. According to Scholastic, the book is at a Grade Level equivalent of 4-6, a Lexile Framework of 890, or a 5.6 Reading Level.

Shiloh tells the story of Marty, an eleven-year old boy living in rural West Virginia. His family has close relationship and strong values. Living in the country, there is an established set of social norms that all families live by. When Marty stumbles across a young beagle hiding behind a bush, he is forced to grapple with these strict social norms in his quest to define right from wrong.

After spotting the Beagle, Marty notices that the dog won't stop following him. The dog is skinny and desperately in need of a meal and some love. After coxing the dog into his arms, Marty quickly falls in love with his new found friend. He names him Shiloh, and because of his owners apparent neglect and abuse, Marty vows to take care of him.

Marty quickly discovers that the dog belongs to ornery man by the name of Judd Travers. After taking care of Shiloh for some time, his parents discover the dog and demand that Marty return him to his owner. In spite of his better instincts, Marty returns Shiloh to Judd Travers.

Adding to the plot, Shiloh manages to escape again and find his way back to Marty. This time Marty is faced with a difficult ethical dilemma: should he return the dog to his abusive owner, or should he defy his parents to keep and protect Shiloh?

After an accident in the woods, Marty's parents once again discover his secret. Despite their growing affection for the dog, his parents demand that he return the dog again to its rightful owner. At this point , Marty is so desperate to keep the dog, he offers to do almost any thing for Judd, so long as he can have Shiloh back.

The book is riveting and keeps the reader engaged all the way to the last page. The characters are well developed; the reader truly feels Marty's pain as he grapples with his difficult situation. This book is a must read for all animal lovers or anyone learning to make difficult decisions.

As a caveat, children without a rural background may have trouble understanding or relating to Shiloh. The book uses beautiful imagery to describe the scenery of rural West Virginia; however, this may not appeal to someone who grew up in an urban setting.

Shiloh is the story of a poor West Virginia boy who is meet with several dilemmas after he finds a dog along the road one day. When he finds out that the dog belongs to a man that abuses his animals he must decide if he should follow his families code of ethics or follow his own heart to save the dog from certain death.

The story is told through the eyes of Marty, the 11-year-old boy who finds the dog, which helps the reader to understand more of where he is coming from. A child reading this could easily place themselves in Marty's shoes and make some of the decisions that Marty has to make. It helps to show the humanness that they are trying to acquire at this age. Pre-adolescents desperately want to be loved and accepted but they also have a strong sense of justice.

This story helps children to understand that there are fine lines between what is right and wrong. Life is not always fair and the answers are not always a clear-cut yes or no. Marty must make some tuff decisions in order to come to terms with his own conscious and his love and duty to his family.

If a child is going through a similar situation this book could help them to come to terms with it in a non-threatening, impartial way. If a child has never had to deal with these kinds of issues then it would help to expand their world to see that not everyone lives as they do. That life is different for everyone but some situations are universal to all

That old git!Judd Travers does not even care for that beagle named Shiloh this a awesome book how Marty tries to get Shiloh no matter what happens to him he just wants to keep Shiloh safe and never return it to Judd.^_^I love this book so much!!!

Lately I've been recalling some of the books I read in school, since it will be only a couple of years before I graduate from school. I remember seven years ago when I read "Shiloh", one of the best children's books there are. It's about a boy who finds a beagle and tries to keep it away from it's cruel owner. I really loved the pictures of life, with good details. It's about friendship, responsibility, trying to get along, and how wonderful it is to have a pet. Your children are sure to love it and remember it forever, as I have.

This book tells a great story about a young boy, Marty, and his love for a dog, Shiloh. Marty fings Shiloh, who is being abused by his owner. Marty falls in love with him, but must return Shiloh to his cruel owner. Marty really wants to keep Shiloh and he comes up with many creative ideas to keep the dog, but none of them will work. In the end as Marty is giving up, he is surprised to find that he has found the perfect way to keep Shiloh.

You will love this book if you love animals. If you have a pet and would do anything to keep your pet safe and happy, you will be able to connect with Marty and his feelings for Shiloh. You should read this book if you like books with surprise endings.

Charlie Wiggins English 385 Dr. Martin Sec. 5 3/15/01 Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh. Dell Publishing. 1991. New York. Mills, Claudia. "The Structure of the Moral Dilemma In Shiloh". Children's Literature Annual. 1999. Vol. 27. p185.
When It's Okay To Lie
The story begins when eleven year old, Marty Preston, comes across a skinny malnourished beagle. Marty learns that a man who doesn't take good care of his dogs, Judd Travers, owns the Beagle. Marty refuses to return the beagle, names the dog Shiloh, and hides the dog from his parents. Marty is forced to lie, to protect Shiloh.
The main theme in Shiloh is the moral dilemma that Marty faces. He comes face to face with a "question that professional philosophy literature has been struggling to answer. Is there always a right answer to the question "What should I do?" (Mills185-186). Marty has to decide between the law and what he feels is right. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor uses Marty and his situation to answer the age-old question "What should I do?"
Marty narrates the story of he and Shiloh. This first person point of view lets us get a better idea of what Marty is going through. We get to see how he feels about each situation in which he is involved. It also allows the reader to side more with him than any other character because the reader do not know what the others are thinking and how they feel about things. With insight into Marty's feelings, the reader becomes concerned with Shiloh's well being; the reader wants to help Marty rescue Shiloh from Judd. Marty lies to Judd to save Shiloh from being kicked. He states that "a lie don't seem a lie anymore when it's meant to save a dog, and right and wrong's all mixed up in my head" (Naylor 80). We tend to agree with him on this stance because Marty makes Judd out to be such a terrible person, that Marty is made out to be in the right. He realizes that he should not be lying, but he would do anything for Shiloh. Marty feels does what he is the right thing to do; this means Marty must lie.
Marty is brought up in a religious household. His mother tries to instill in him what is right and wrong. She believes that lying is wrong and tells Marty this. His mother tells him that the worst thing a person can do, is "become separated from God's love" (Naylor), and lying will do that. Marty's mother uses religion to show Marty and her other children what to do when faced with a dilemma. Marty uses his mother's beliefs to help him find out what to do with Shiloh. "Jesus" he whispers "'which do you want me to do? Be one hundred percent honest and carry that dog back to Judd so that one of your creatures can be kicked and starved all over again, or keep him here and fatten and glorify your creation?"(Naylor 57). He answers his question with his question. Marty feels that it would be better to keep Shiloh and keep him healthy, than to return him to Judd Travers, where Shiloh would be mistreated.
Marty is also faced with the problem of obeying the law. By him keeping the dog he is breaking the law, since he basically stole Shiloh from Judd. After a neighbor's dog attacks Shiloh, the family learns that Marty has been lying to them. Marty's father says that Shiloh must be returned. He says that the dog is not Marty's; he belongs to whoever has paid for him. "Marty claims that it is love, not money, that should establish ownership" (Mills 192). Marty says "Mine more than Judd's! . . . . .He only paid money for him. I'm the one who loves him" (Naylor 82). Marty also uses the law to get what he needs. One day he comes across Judd shooting a deer, which are out of season. Since Judd has already said that he would not sell Shiloh, Marty bargains with Judd. He ends up convincing Judd to sell Shiloh, but only if Marty works twenty hours at Judd's house (Naylor 125-126).
Marty is trying to separate what is right from what is legally and religiously required (Mills 193). Marty's dad tells him, "I want you to do what's right" to which Marty responds "What's right?"" (Naylor 94). His father has no answer. There is no finite response to the question "What should I do?" You have to look into yourself and decide what is right; the only thing to do is to go with your gut.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I love animals especially dogs just like Marty does. In this book he would do anything for Shiloh it didn't matter what he had to do he was going to save him. Most all children love animals to and want to have there own pet. I cried several time while reading this book. I would love to read this to my children in class or have them read it. I thought this book was very well written. While reading this book the children can feel what Marty is feeling. How he don't want Shiloh to go back to Judd's. No child wants the dog to be treated wrong so they to are wanting Marty to keep the dog. They will keep reading to see if he gets to keep it or not. This is a great book in my opinion. Marty is a young boy that lives out in the country. His family is poor and they can't afford much. Marty goes and walks a path everyday down pass an old school in a part that was called Shiloh. On day that he was walking he came up on a little beagle. The dog was very shy and would not come up to him. Marty finally whistled to him and he came running over to him. The dog acted like he had been beaten. He followed Marty all the way home. When Marty dad saw him he said that he bet it was Judd Travers dog that lived down the road. Marty didn't like him he knew that he kicked his dogs. They took him over to his house. Marty had named him Shiloh. Shiloh was Judd's dog. Marty told him that if he saw him anymore that he would bring him back. Marty didn't want to tell him because Judd didn't feed him and he beat him. Well a few days later Shiloh got loose and came back. Marty made him a pen and kept him a secret. Then one night a German shepherd attack Shiloh in his pen and hurt him real bad. Marty dad found out and they took him to the vet. Then a few days later Judd found out that Marty had his dog so he went to get it back. He got mad and told Marty that he wanted his dog back in two days. Well on the day that he was to take Shiloh home to make up his mind that he was not giving him back. He caught Judd killing a deer out of season and made a bet with him if he would sell him he dog then he would not tell on him about the deer. So Judd agreed and gave Marty a job and he worked for twenty hours to pay for him. Judd worked Marty very hard and then they became friends and Marty bought Shiloh. He was finally his own dog.

this book is great because at first, when ever I read the first chapter, it was sad. I thougt it was going to be sad the whole time.
But it got better and better every chapter, so I wanted to keep on reading it. I Was amazed how brave that boy was. And at the end of
the book I was very inpressed because jud travers let marty the boy have shiloh . you ask why because marty worked for jud travers.
I really liked this book it was very good book .

This book Shiloh really moves you inside, especially when you read what a mean man does to Shiloh(The dog this book is about). The book is all about a boy and a dog. One day Marty was out and he sees a dog. When he finds out that the dog belongs to a man that abuses this dog he doesn't want to give him up. Marty has to find a way to get the dog or even to buy the dog. DO YOU THINK HE WILL GET THE DOG? Read this book and all about the relationship between a boy and man's best friend.

Absolutely loved this book, and have read it many many times since I was a child myself. There is nothing like the bond between a child and a dog who needs him or her, and this touching story encompasses all there is to such a love. Children and dogs are so very vulnerable and perhaps this is why they are so attractive to each other. I attempted to write this bond into my own book "For the Love of Petey" knowing that dog lovers of all ages would enjoy the story, as I enjoyed "Shiloh" .For the Love of Petey

Shiloh is one of the first books that I read and finished. Before reading it, I didn't really like to read. But after reading it, I wanted the rest of the series because I just had to know what happend next.

Shiloh is about a connection between a boy named Marty and a dog that follows him home from the Shiloh bridge. The dog follwed Marty home, but wouldn't let him come close enough to touch. Every time he would start walking, the dog would follow, but when he would stop, the dog would stop. That is until Marty slipped in the mud on the river bank, and the dog went over to him to see if he was ok. Marty named the dog Shiloh since that was the name of the bridge he found him by. As I read the book I felt as if I were a part of it and the many challenges that they faced. But you will have to read it to find out the rest!

Shiloh is an awesome book and I recommend it to anyone who loves dogs. After I read Shiloh I really wanted a Beagle. Now we have 3 named Thunder, Mindy, and Huntie! Hopefully it will have the same effect on you.

I love this book, it had some bad parts and good parts. It had some lessons to never be afraid to ask something or never hit your dog or kick him either. Marty was really nice to Shiloh even though it wasn't even his dog or the family didn't even know about the dog and he tool care of it.

Jamie Keseloff
March 27, 2003
Period 2
Shiloh Book Review
Shiloh was written by Phyllis Renolds Naylor. A poor hopeless little beagle named Shiloh is owned by an evil hunter named Judd who treats Shiloh very bad. The neighbor boy, named Marty feels so bad for the dog and try everything to save him.
In one of the chapters, it tells how Shiloh gets hurt real bad and almost dies. Shiloh happened to be in an area when another dog attacks him. Marty hears Shiloh yelp and ran out of his house in the middle of the night to see what was happening. Shiloh's right leg was almost torn off. Marty's Dad rushed after him and they took Shiloh to the nearest Vetenarian. A few days later, Shiloh was doing better.
My favorite part of the book is when Marty's Sister, Dara Lynn followed him to check on Shiloh. Marty knew his Sister hated snakes, so he made up a story and said there was a twenty-nine foot snake. She believed him and ended up going back home.
I chose this book because I love dogs, especially Beagles. Shiloh is such an adorable, cute and fluffy animal. I can read this story over and over again and never be bored. This is one book I won't ever forget.

It is about a boy named Marty and a dog named Shiloh. During this book, Marty sees a dog that is lost and immediatly likes him. He names him Shiloh, because he finds him near the Old Shiloh schoolhouse. He brings the dog home and his parents say "Judd Travers lost his dog". Judd Travers is a mean person, he kicks his dogs! They give him back and a couple days later he comes back and Marty builds a pen for him and doesn't tell his parents because he doesn't want to give him back to Judd. Then his mom sees him and she says she will give him one day to figure out what to do. Then his dad finds out and freaks. Soon the Baker's german shepard comes and bites Shiloh close to death, the Preston's take him to Doc Murphy and he takes care of Shiloh. Then a person tells Judd and Judd comes to Marty's house and yells at him. If you want to find out what happens next read the book. My favorite part of the book is how Phyllis R. Naylor makes the accent perfect for West Virginia. I also enjoyed how she describes the characters. Marty has a nice relationship with Shiloh, one that all kids and up will enjoy. This was a school assignment, but I would still read it!

This tender, loving, dignified story about Marty and his dog is a jewel. In this book, Marty rescues Shiloh from his savage owner, Judd Travers. Marty, having fallen in love with the sweet and comical beagle, lets nothing stop him from becoming Shiloh's owner. This young boy shows true love and devotion to his cause, inspiring the reader to imitate Marty by letting nothing stop us from pursuing our hearts' desire.

This book isn't a lot of fun, but it is very interesting and has some good things to teach anyone who reads it. Marty's descion about Shiloh will agree or disagree with many readers and spark some good debates. The style of writing, the way it is totally in the present tense and the way Marty talks in his southern way is very original and beautiful. It's a good book for what it is but I wouldn't reccomend it to everyone.

I read this fine book to my 4th grade class. They would stop what they were doing, dash to the carpet, and listen, spellbound, for as long as I cared to read to them. I think of this book as the American "Black Beauty." It certainly gets the same issue regarding animal cruelty across to them. This is a first rate book!

This book series is very adventurous as Marty tries to protect Shiloh from Judd Travers' unkind ways. When you pick up this book and start reading this book you cannot put it down. My son is reading this book as a reading assignment and when he starts reading it he forgets to record his pages because the book is so good.

I m no kid I'll be 75 next week but I love this book maybe everyone should Read it,It
certainly would teach how some people. Can be so cruel to animals and others go way over the line to love and protect them... Great kids book..great bedtime reader..

My 8 year old son actually went to bed early every night we read this book so that we could read 2 chapters. Sometimes kids books just don't hold the attention of parents, but I truly enjoyed sharing this story. I choked up and had to compose myself. What a great story. What amazing life lessons, I loved this book as much as my son did. A must read.

Over the course of 4 nights as I real aloud to my son we took every advantage of this wonderful story to talk about courage, friendship, honesty, and responsibility.
The main character, Marty is a wonderful character for children to experience because he has fears, concerns, and has trouble with a problem that is larger than he could every imagine, but he proves himself worthy in the end.

11-year-old Marty happens across a pup, obviously injured. He soon grows attached to the pup, naming him Shiloh after where he found him. The pup, however, belongs to Judd, a notorious poacher. Marty is then faced with a difficult choice: Return the pup to Judd where it will be abused, or lie to his parents and keep the pup? Marty chooses the latter and, with a little work, sets out to make Shiloh his own.

While the novel relies a bit too heavily on stereotype, it is a well-written tale that displays the complexity of Maty's choice. He is forced to trade one wrong for another, yet in the end, at least to Marty, the ends justify the means. If you like contemporary realistic fiction and animal stories, you will love this one.

Shiloh is the first book in Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's trilogy about Marty and Shioh, a beagle that he rescues from Judd Travers, a man who abuses his hunting dogs.
The story is set in Friendly, WV and is told by Marty who finds Shiloh and is determined that Judd Travers does not deserve such a wonderful dog. His father makes him return the dog to Judd Travers the first time he finds him, but the second time Shiloh runs away, Marty hides him for a week before he is caught.
This is a great series that offers many important subjects that can be discussed with your child.

This is a wonderful story about a boy named Marty and a dog named Shiloh. Marty has wanted a dog all of his life, and finally , when he discovers a dog in his yard, he doesn't want to give him up. Marty goes through a horrible time trying to keep Shiloh a sercret from his friends and neighbors. Read this inspiring story to find out about a young boy's determination to save this dog.

INCREDIBLE! OUTSTANDING! SUPERB! GREAT! Ok, so that was more than one word, but this book is incerdible. Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, is a sad true story. I first read the book probably...when I was about nine. I saw the movie when I was probably about six or so. The movie is sad, and I loved it, just as I loved this book. Marty Preston, 11 years of age, finds a beagle and wants to keep it. The thing is, his parents won't let him, so Marty secretly keeps the dog. Marty feeds the dog table scraps, eggs, whatever he can find seeing as how his family doesn't have much money. The young beagle belongs to an abusive owner, Judd Travers, who also happens to be an acholic. This is why Marty refuses to let him go. The book is for all ages, even thought it does say 9-12. It deals with a lot, and that's why it's great.

A thrilling novel that will pull true emotion out of the readers. Happiness, sadness, anger, disbelief, relief, and sorrow for the cute, adorable beagle displayed in the most humane way and loved by all in the end.

I think Shiloh is a very good book. It has some sad parts. It has some very happy parts. I enjoyed reading about how much Shiloh meant to Marty. He worked so hard to get Shiloh. I like this kind of book. I think all 6th and 7th graders should read it. That is if you like a good book.

11 year old Marty Preston discovers a dog being abused by its master. When the dog runs to martys house his parents say he must return it to its owner but it hurts marty to return it to its mean master thats when marty decides to do any thing to save the dog. My favorite part of the book is when marty gets to keep shilo it mad me fell good that the mean master didnt get to keep him and pluse marty was happy. I reccomend the book because its really a good book i mean i dont think theres anyone who wouldnt enjoy it its a good book. Any body of any age would enjoy this book. If you like Rescue Josh Mcguire you might like this book.

Elvis Florentino 4/11/2004
There's nothing eleven year old Marty preston enjoys more than spending time up in the hills behind his home near friendly, West virginia. But this time is different. This time Marty sees a young beagle on the road past the old shiloh schoolhouse. Marty feels sure the dog is being abused by his owner. When the dog turns up at Marty's house, Marty's parents say he must take him back. But it hurt's marty secretly decides he'll do anything to save the dog he names shiloh. !This book is sad! I rate this book a four because is a very beautiful story and it explains the sadness the kid had for the dog.

Eleven-year-old Marty lives with his parents and two younger sisters just above Friendly, West Virginia. Marty finds a dog and he is convinced that the dog is abused by its owner. He wants to keep Shiloh, but he has to strike a deal with Shiloh's owner, Judd Travers.

Naylor's characterization of Marty emphasizes that he is a compassionate and determined person. This enables the readers to understand Marty's attachment to Shiloh and why he does not want to return him to his owner.

I enjoyed reading this story because of Marty's relationship with Shiloh and his multiple attempts to trick Judd into letting him have Shiloh.

The main character in this story are Marty and Shiloh. Marty is eleven years old. Shiloh is the dog.
One day Marty was walking around the old Shiloh schoolhouse in West Virginia. He saw a dog in the woods and started to whistle and call for it. Marty thinks the dog looks like it is being abused. the dog follows Marty to his house, but Marty's parents make him get rid of the dog.
Marty named the dog Shiloh because he found it by the old Shiloh schoolhouse. Shiloh was actually being abused by his owner Budd. Budd abuses all of his dogs.
I would recomend this book to anyone that likes dogs!!!

This book is so good! If you like adventure, this is yourbook. I give it five stars. This is a book about a boy named Marty.He finds a dog and it won't leave him alone. He has to take it back to his owner twice. The owner is cruel to it. Read this book to find out if Marty can save the life of the dog he loves!
by Nick

The book Shiloh is based in a real small town. It's about a kid named Marty who finds dog which is a little beaten up. He brings him home, and his parents find out and tell him to give it back. They think it belongs to Judd, a mean and somewhat old drunk. Marty later on gets Shiloh and hides him up in the woods. He will do anything to keep the dog away from Judd, because he knows he beats the dog. To find out what happens next, you'll have to read the book. Will Judd find out, and if he does what will he do?

This is part one of the series. I wouldn't recommend this book to adults. It's more of a children's book, but anyone can read this book, which is written by Phyllis Naylor. This book won the Newberry Medal. So go out and live the adventures of Shiloh!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the plot and how Marty tries to hide the dog from judd. I would recommend this book to everyone. For all the people who think the author is from alabama because of the writing, its supposed to be like that. The story is from an eleven year old boy who lives in the countries perspective

The first time I heard about this book was I overheard my 4th grade teacher say it was a GREAT book. So I thought i loved Because of Winn-Dixie which is a dog story and I saw Shilohs book cover and said I will be reading this. I read it complety and Phills did a charming job.GREAT,GREAT,GREAT BOOK IT IS FILLED WITH SOME LAUGHS AND ALOT OF HOPE AND SADNESS IN THIS BOOK. If there was more than 5 stars for rating I would have rated to the top top. I recommend Because of Winn Dixie and Shiloh GREAT BOOKS.

I read this book in my fourth grade class, about twelve years ago. I loved it in class, and went on to read the rest of the series (it's a trilogy, if I remember correctly). The storyline is compelling, but not confusing. It poses an excellent moral dilema for kids--is it better to do what you know is right and break the rules, or follow the rules and allow an innocent animal to suffer?

I loved this book. I want to give it 1 million stars but I can't. I think if you're a dog lover you will love this book. I thought it was sad when the German Shepherd hurt Shiloh. I was afraid he was going to die. You should read this book and then make all your friends read Shiloh. It's awesome! Read Shiloh!

I am a student in Roger Samples' Summer '05 Children's Literature class at West Virginia State University. I chose "Shiloh" as my West Virginia author book report because my family recently lost our beloved beagle dog of 8 years. I could see the similarity between Marty and my son. As a future teacher, I would definitely use this book in a classroom. There are so many lessons in the book for adults and children. It often tugs at your heart, but also makes you want to laugh and cry! It is a great book to read!

For my book report I read the book Shiloh. It's about a boy who finds a dog that belongs to someone else. At the end of the book, he gets to keep the dog. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a really good author.

"Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a must read! In grade school I read the book and I still reflect on the simple lessons it teaches. When reading the book I thought it was well written. This book is a great read for young children and adults. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and easy read.

This is a good book because u really have sympathy for the Marty & Shiloh. When I read this book I would cry because u just want to help Shiloh and just have Marty's back so I could help him get the money to buy Shiloh. I would recommend it For grades 3-5
Thank you,
Natalee

Shiloh is the most inspiring story about a boy and a dog. I love the way Marty the main character fights for Shiloh, a dog he desires, loves, and wants with all of his heart. This book has helped me improve in my fear of dogs so much, thank you Mrs. Naylor!!

That was a terrific book! I think the plot was well thought out and I just loved the dedication that Marty had to Shiloh. You can really tell in Marty's thoughts and actions that he would do anything for Shiloh. And that's what tells me what is a good book or a bad book and in that case I think it was a great book!!! That was probably one of the best books I ever read. I would recommend this book to people of all ages.

i love this book. when i started reading it i thought it was boring. but i finished the book and I loved it! science i love dogs and i have one, i think it was a cutee book about a dog and a boy and a person named judd

I absolutely loved this book. Thumbs up!
It was sad but totally worth it I recommended it to everyone+it had a great ending, not going to spoil it,but 5 words for you YOU NEED TO READ THIS!!!!!!!!!! :-)

I liked this book. I kept on touching noses with Shiloh on the book cover. I thought Shiloh died when a big dog attacked him. I also liked the part when Marty stood up to Judd Travers. I'm only 7 and I finished it in one afternoon.

This book evokes emotions of sadness and joy in the reader's heart. It helped me remember and connect with the feeling that we often need to take action no matter what the sacrifice. This book is appropriate for fourth through sixth grade. Math, geography, art, music, social studies, language arts, and science all can be easily incorporated into lessons taught on this book.

This book was a fabulous book that can be expanded to many different subject areas. This book can be expanded in learning geography and West Virginia, where the story takes place. The story can integrate morals and values because of Marty lying to protect his dog. A wonderful book for kids, coming from a teacher's point of view! :)

Shiloh is the best book I have ever read. It's nerve racking, funny and it shows that if you work for something, theirs a great prize. That's why I think it's the best book ever. I love you Shiloh!!!.

I am a student at West Virginia State College. My name is Mary Cook and I am taking a children's literature class. I read the Newbery Winner of 1992,Shiloh for a report. I thought the book taught a lot about the value of life and responsibility and making decisions that you have to live with.

I think this book was great beacause it shows you how to stand up for what you think is right. Also I thought this book was sad because Shilohs owner is mean to him.I think Marty is a neat character because of his personality also because he never gives up. Iloved this book! I highly recommand this book. Read It!

I thought this was a very good book. Most people would enjoy the story. It was entertaining and heartbreaking. The best part of the book was the end. It kept you in suspense. If you want to read a good book this summer, read Shiloh. You won't be sorry.

This book is dogone good because its main character is a dog named shiloh. Ireally like the dog and what troubole he gets into he was going to get shot.that would not be good it is a good book you should read it if you like dogs!

This book is a poorly written adventure. From the start you know that he is going to get the dog in the end. It is not an enjoyable reader its just a book torchering you to stop all the way through it. Its insigneficant charecters have no meaning they all seem to go against marty, and are all cruel. This is a book of pain, dont read it. It will waste your money and your time.

I didn't really like this book, but a 6 or 7 year old might like it better than I did. It is a decent story about a boy and his dog, and a very short book to. It is about a boy named Marty who has a poor family, and hides their cruel neghbor's dog who is being treated badly. I guess it isn't to bad. It also has horrible grammar.

This book was assigned reading for my son's 4th grade class. He had a hard time understanding the language, so I read the book myself to help him understand it. What horrible grammar! This book is written in a difficult to understand local dialect with many slang phrases and some swear words. Maybe there are people who speak like this and the story might be sweet (a boy and a dog). But I don't think it is an example of good literature for a 4th grade class. At this age, they are trying very hard to learn proper grammar and sentence structure.

1991. It is imperative that Newbery Award Winners attack White males, so this book does.

Rural adult white males in this book are:

1) distant
2) remote
3) disapproving
4) terrifying

Rural white society in this book is closed, secretive, and often violent. Rural white families are terrified of the fathers. We see this in the protagonist Marty's family, and in the antagonist Judd's family.

Good dog in this book.

The author displays antipathy to fathers, men in general, and rural people. There is a LOT of cursing in this book. Dammit, God, Jesus, and even using Jesus's name to curse a friend if he discloses a secret. Yikes.

What are boys supposed to grow up to be? Who are girls supposed to grow up to marry? The books you give your children come with your unspoken sanction. Think before you Newbery -- the Newbery people are notoriously anti-family.