Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh . New York, N.Y.: Aladdin Paperbacks, 2000. Print.
Genre Category: Contemporary Realistic Novel
Source: Newbery Medal, 1992.
Age Range: Ages 9 to 12
Assessment of the book’s quality: The book is significant for its use of colloquialism and the employment of dialect and spelling and for its straightforward plot.
Assessment of the book’s potential use: The book can be used for free voluntary and pleasure reading as part of summer reading program, providing the opportunity to face ethical dilemmas as well as to develop their own moral skills.
Assessment of the book’s child appeal: Appealing for children interested in animals and animal abuse, answering or solving ethical questions and dilemmas, in addition to getting acquainted with the colloquialism and cultures of the south.
Summary:
The story takes place in a rural community in West Virginia. It is the story of a boy and someone elses dog that the boy ends up saving. Marty, a ten year old boy finds a mistreated beagle on his way down the fishing road. Since he found the dog on Shiloh road, he names him Shiloh. Marty knows that he can't keep the dog as they are poor. His father knows who the dogs owner is and demands that Marty returns it to him, Judd Travers, a hunting man with dogs. When Marty takes the dog back, he finds out that Judd harshly abuses his dogs and Shiloh is no exception. The next day, Shiloh runs away from Judd, back to Marty's house. This time Marty decides to keep the dog secretly. He builds a pen for the dog, and sneaks food out from his home to feed the dog. Thus, in order to keep the dog and its location secret, Marty finds himself telling lie after lie: he lies to his sister Dara Lynn, telling her there’s a snake in the hills, in order to get her to leave him alone, he lies to his parents about eating his dinner, he lies to Mr. Wallace, the store clerk, about buying the expired food, and he lies to Judd Travers. But then one day when Shiloh is attacked by a german shepherd and severely injured, the secret comes out, and Marty bravely decides to tell Judd Travers that he is not going to return the dog. So on his way to confront Travers, Marty witnesses Travers shooting a deer out of season, and realizes that he can use this information against Travers to let him keep the dog (for which Marty feels guilty later on). Travers agrees to give up Shiloh, in one condition if Marty will “earn” the dog by working on Travers’ farm. And so, desparte and determined to get Shiloh back, the Marty is ready to do anything. He goes through many situations where he must question himself and the morals and values he has been taught. The story ends with a good moral, Marty teaching Judd about kindness.
Reaction and Impressions:
I found many powerful and good messages and lessons, but there is one that I liked the most and that is the value of truth telling: For example, even though Marty is forced to lie in order to keep Shiloh safe, at the end, he comes to value truth-telling more, when he recognizes Judd Travers’ deception. The story provides young readers with the opportunity to develop their own moral skills along with Marty's character.
"...Without breaking new ground, Marty's tale is well told, with a strong emphasis on family and religious values. This heartwarming novel should win new fans for the popular Naylor." _Publishers Weekly
"...Honesty and personal relations are both mixed into the story. Naylor has again written a warm, appealing book. However, readers may have difficulty understanding some of the first-person narration as it is written in rural West Virginian dialect."_School Library Journal
Genre Category: Contemporary Realistic Novel
Source: Newbery Medal, 1992.
Age Range: Ages 9 to 12
Assessment of the book’s quality: The book is significant for its use of colloquialism and the employment of dialect and spelling and for its straightforward plot.
Assessment of the book’s potential use: The book can be used for free voluntary and pleasure reading as part of summer reading program, providing the opportunity to face ethical dilemmas as well as to develop their own moral skills.
Assessment of the book’s child appeal: Appealing for children interested in animals and animal abuse, answering or solving ethical questions and dilemmas, in addition to getting acquainted with the colloquialism and cultures of the south.
Summary:
The story takes place in a rural community in West Virginia. It is the story of a boy and someone elses dog that the boy ends up saving. Marty, a ten year old boy finds a mistreated beagle on his way down the fishing road. Since he found the dog on Shiloh road, he names him Shiloh. Marty knows that he can't keep the dog as they are poor. His father knows who the dogs owner is and demands that Marty returns it to him, Judd Travers, a hunting man with dogs. When Marty takes the dog back, he finds out that Judd harshly abuses his dogs and Shiloh is no exception. The next day, Shiloh runs away from Judd, back to Marty's house. This time Marty decides to keep the dog secretly. He builds a pen for the dog, and sneaks food out from his home to feed the dog. Thus, in order to keep the dog and its location secret, Marty finds himself telling lie after lie: he lies to his sister Dara Lynn, telling her there’s a snake in the hills, in order to get her to leave him alone, he lies to his parents about eating his dinner, he lies to Mr. Wallace, the store clerk, about buying the expired food, and he lies to Judd Travers. But then one day when Shiloh is attacked by a german shepherd and severely injured, the secret comes out, and Marty bravely decides to tell Judd Travers that he is not going to return the dog. So on his way to confront Travers, Marty witnesses Travers shooting a deer out of season, and realizes that he can use this information against Travers to let him keep the dog (for which Marty feels guilty later on). Travers agrees to give up Shiloh, in one condition if Marty will “earn” the dog by working on Travers’ farm. And so, desparte and determined to get Shiloh back, the Marty is ready to do anything. He goes through many situations where he must question himself and the morals and values he has been taught. The story ends with a good moral, Marty teaching Judd about kindness.
Reaction and Impressions:
I found many powerful and good messages and lessons, but there is one that I liked the most and that is the value of truth telling: For example, even though Marty is forced to lie in order to keep Shiloh safe, at the end, he comes to value truth-telling more, when he recognizes Judd Travers’ deception. The story provides young readers with the opportunity to develop their own moral skills along with Marty's character.
"...Without breaking new ground, Marty's tale is well told, with a strong emphasis on family and religious values. This heartwarming novel should win new fans for the popular Naylor." _Publishers Weekly
"...Honesty and personal relations are both mixed into the story. Naylor has again written a warm, appealing book. However, readers may have difficulty understanding some of the first-person narration as it is written in rural West Virginian dialect."_School Library Journal
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