Shiloh

by Phillis Reynolds Naylor

*1992 Newberry Medal

Summary

Marty Preston is an 11-year-old growing up in West Virginia, and one day he finds a beagle running loose in the woods behind his home. He realizes the dog has been abused, and also that it belongs to his mean next door neighbor, Judd Travers. Because he knows it is Judd's dog, Marty gives the dog back to Judd even though he knows it is abused. The next time he sees the beagle, however, he hides him in a pen on his property in the woods and names him Shiloh. He keeps Shiloh a secret from his family because he knows that his family would force him to return the dog to his neighbor, as it is Judd's dog rightfully. However, a German Shepherd ends up near Shiloh's pen and attacks him. Marty has to go to his family for help, and in doing so all of his secrets and lies are exposed. Judd finds out that Marty has been hiding Shiloh and demands him back, as Shiloh was his hunting dog. Marty is able to stand up for what he believes in, and he works for Judd for twenty hours in exchange for Shiloh. After Marty has been working for a while, Judd says that the deal was no good because no one was there, and that he was going to keep Shiloh. Marty does not give up and continues to work hard, and Judd gives him the dog in the end.

Discussion

As a short novel, this book is good reading for a chapter a day story, or for more advanced children to read on their own. It raises many issues about violence to animals and telling the truth, especially in tough situations. As a group read, groups can discuss what kind of secrets Marty was keeping from his family, and if he was justified. With a young group, this book can cause a lot of confusion, as they may not realize why anyone would ever hurt a dog, and may agree with Marty. Using this book as a dialogue for change and discussion of justice and fairness can be effective in a classroom as long as those key points in the story are addressed. Students need to understand that lying in general is not okay, but that extenuating circumstances at points can call for drastic measures.