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Shiloh
Shiloh
Shiloh
Ebook116 pages2 hours

Shiloh

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

Marty will do anything to save his new friend Shiloh in this Newbery Medal–winning novel from Phillis Reynolds Naylor.

When Marty Preston comes across a young beagle in the hills behind his home, it's love at first sight—and also big trouble. It turns out the dog, which Marty names Shiloh, belongs to Judd Travers, who drinks too much and has a gun—and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect him from Judd. But Marty's secret becomes too big for him to keep to himself, and it exposes his entire family to Judd's anger. How far will Marty have to go to make Shiloh his?
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 26, 2012
ISBN9781439132005
Shiloh
Author

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has written more than 135 books, including the Newbery Award–winning Shiloh and its sequels, the Alice series, Roxie and the Hooligans, and Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard’s Roost. She lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland. To hear from Phyllis and find out more about Alice, visit AliceMcKinley.com.

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Rating: 3.9766113326403327 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Book Summary: The novel, Shiloh, is a story of friendship between a boy and a dog.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Book Summary: After going for a walk one day, Marty noticed that a young beagle had followed him home. His father recognized this beagle as Judd Traver's dog . Marty and his father took him to Judd's house and saw how horribly he treated this dog. Once the beagle followed Marty a few more times, he decided to secretly keep him in a cage he built. A terrible thing happens to Shiloh, the new name for the beagle, while in the cage. Because of this accident, Marty's parents find out about him hiding Shiloh. He must now convince his parents and Judd to allow him to keep the dog. Content Summary: friendship, growing up, coming-of-age
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Marty takes to a dog that has followed him home- only to learn that the dog belongs to Judd Travers. But Marty knows that Judd is cruel and beats his dog- so what should he do? Is there a right answer? This book leads to great discussions about the difference between right and wrong and moral dilemmas. Kids start to realize that not everything is black and white.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is a classic about a boy and his love for a dog. This love makes him do whatever he can to make this dog his. Any elementary reader would love it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this story. I read it as a kid and thought the story was ok, but now that I read it again I really enjoyed it. I love Marty's attachment to Shiloh and his want to keep him safe. I really liked how well written the story was and it was really easy to read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Summary:This is about a young boy named Marty Preston who finds a beagle he names Shiloh. Shiloh belongs to Marty's neighbor named Judd Travers however Judd is a bad pet owner as he drinks alot and abuses Shiloh and the other dogs he owns. Wanting to save Shiloh, Marty steals him and tries to hide him and the two form an incredible bond. My Personal reaction:I loved this book the first time I read it in middle school. Then when they made a movie about it I was even more excited!!! This book reminds me of what it was like to want a dog and how when I was younger, would do almost ANYTHING to convince my parents to let me have one. I truly love dogs because they really are man's best friend. I like this story because it shows what hard work and persistence can do and teaches kids that there is always a right and wrong way to do something. It teaches them about choices and responsibility for those choices. Classroom Extension Ideas:1. We could read the book and watch the movie and compare and contrast the two analyzing how each affects the story.2. For a younger class, we could write about the pets we own or wished we own and write about the responsibility that comes with it. 3. If we had a class pet, we could let each student take the pet home and bring it back (with parental consent) to help teach responsibility.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When Marty discovers an abused and underfed hunting dog on his rambles through the countryside, it's love at first sight. Unfortunately, the dog belongs to Marty's neighbor, a hard, cruel man who isn't interested in giving the dog up. Moreover, Marty knows his family can't afford a pet; they can barely afford to keep food on their table. When Marty finds the dog again, he faces a moral dilemma: is it right to lie in order to save an animal's life?This Newbery winner has appealing subject matter, makes for interesting group discussion, and has a strong first-person narrative voice. Plus, the dog doesn't die! (I don't feel that that's a spoiler, as there are three more books in the series with the dog's name in the title.) It's not a new favorite of mine, but it's a solid choice on the part of that year's committee. I can see myself recommending this book to young animal lovers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Finally, an excellent (award-winning, actually) dog book with which a bond between boy and dog isn't shattered because of any deaths. I give this book an A+! Watch out for a lot of swearing, though.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book had scary and happy parts but I still liked it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is about a young boy named Marty who gets a dog named Shiloh. He later then finds out that Shiloh really belongs to a man by the name of Judd who is known for being cruel to dogs. In return, Marty hides Shiloh. Judd then tells Marty that he wants Shiloh back, but Marty makes a deal with Judd to keep Shiloh. Personal reaction: This book reminds alot of books written a long time ago. It reminds me of when I was young, when in that time, we didn't have video games or ipods. We were always adventourous playing outside as Marty was in the story. Classroom Extensions: I would have students draw a picture of their pet or pets. If they do not have a pet, draw a picture of what kind of pet they would like to have. I would also have my students write in their journals the summary, their favorite part, and why.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When Marty finds a young beagle who follows him home, he wants to keep him. But his fairly poor family can't afford to keep and feed a dog, and besides, the dog clearly belongs to someone else. That someone turns out to be Judd Travers, a mean, ornery and dishonest man who lives nearby. Marty knows Judd will abuse the dog, wanting it only for hunting. He soon finds himself lying to Judd, his parents, and nearly everyone, to keep the secret that he has hidden Shiloh away. And he finds that lies tend to snowball.This short novel about a boy who desperately wants a particular dog, which belongs to someone else, for his very own, is a remarkable tale of honesty, honor, facing ones troubles, and trying to do the right thing, when it's difficult to tell what the right thing is.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This story would be a great book to introduce in the classroom if there are students who are pet-lovers. It follows the story of a boy named Marty who comes across a beagle while walking around the countryside near his West Virginian home. The beagle follows him and he can tell it is a little skittish. Over time Marty realizes this dog is mistreated by it's true own and Marty wants to keep him although his family says that they can't afford to have a dog. This novel deals with different issues such as doing the right thing and honesty. Children will fall in love with Shiloh and think about their own pets.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Summary: This book is about a dog named Shiloh. The dog is sad and abused and followed a boy named Marty home. Marty wanted to keep him, but gave him back to his abusive owner neighbor. Shiloh comes back a second time and Marty convinces the owner to let him have Shiloh in exchange for 20hours of labor. This book teaches many good lessons about hard work and perseverance. This is a heartwarming book about a boy that wants to save a mistreated dog.Personal Reaction: I think that Shiloh is a great book. If I have kids I will definitely make them read it. I watched the movie growing up and read the book. I hope this classic stays around.Classroom Extensions: 1) I would give each student a piece of paper and tell them to describe their favorite pet, and if they do not have a pet I would instruct them to write about a pet they wished they had. 2) I would plan a fieldtrip to an animal shelter. I would have the children see what happens to animals that are not taken good care of. I would encourage them to think about talking to their parents about adopting from the animal shelter the next time they consider getting a new pet.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Content summary: friendship, maturity, growing up, fighting for what you believe in, values, ethics, hard work, determination
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Summary:Shiloh is a very well written book about an 11 year old boy that finds a stray dog, a beagle, that he thinks is not being taken care of/ or abused. He decides to keep the dog for himself despite the fact that his parents won't allow him too and they are very poor and can not afford to keep the dog. He is determined to do right by the dog and take care of and protect him from further harm. This book was a very heartwarming book, my 11 year old son helped me pick it out because it was one of his favorites. It was very easy to read and the large print was nice as well. Personal reaction:This book is an awesome book, it is so easy to read aloud or independently. It really gives children a look into what's right and what's wrong, and has a strong emphasis on family and religious values which I wished more children were exposed to.Classroom Extensions:1. I could use this book to read aloud to my students during quiet time.2. I could use this book to teach children about right and wrong.3. I could use this book to teach children about how to treat others to include animals.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Shiloh is a chapter book that would be perfect for elementary school children. It is about a young boy who goes to drastic measures to save his favorite dog Shiloh from his old owner.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    the shiloh is about a dog and a boy yhey both have a relationship with eachother. Also they stay by each other.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved reading the book, "Shiloh." The book is about a little boy who steals a dog because he is being beaten. The little boy hides the dog in the woods, in hope that no one will find him. When Marty's parents find out they force him to tell the truth. The story deals with a battle of helping someone and lien to someone. Does the other one make it right? Overall I feel as though this is a great book to implement in the classroom. It will help students to understand what is right and wrong.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book sure holds up!
    I first read it when I was 8 years old, and it affected me so much that I ended up reading it about 10 times. It was my favorite.
    Thankfully I still have my old copy from back then, and it was wonderful to go back 21 years later and read the same copy.
    For anyone who has ever loved an animal.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a great coming of age story about a boy named Marty and his struggle with right and wrong. He loves and wants to keep the beagle Shiloh, even though he is not supose to.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    When a young comes across a young beagle in the woods behind his home, its love at first sight, but little does he know that the beagle belongs to Judd Travers, the alcoholic and dog abuser , that lives down the street. So the boy trys to keep Shiloh hiden in a shed he makes. Thats when things start to get out of hand!This is another one of my all time favorite books! I cry everytime I read this one because I have such a soft side for animals.I could have my students tell about what they would do if they were in the same situation that the boy was in. Or I could have them draw a picture of something they would be willing to fight for and tell about it.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I did NOT like this book very much. Though overall it's a pretty sweet story but there are so many stories like this. The main character, Marty LIES too much for me. Lying is wrong and he should have resisted the temptation regardless of whether or not he would lose his dog in the first place. Poor. I say don't waste your time reading this.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A heart warming easy chapter book that describes the struggles and obstacles a young boy must face in order to obtain a spunky dog. The boy will stop at nothing to have his first pet. A wonderful book for readers grades 4-7.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I would suggest this book for ages 3-5. Shiloh is a very moving story about a young boy and his love for animals, especially a dog he names Shiloh that just happens to be his crude neighbor's hunting dog. Marty is very determined to keep Shiloh because he knows his neighbor mistreats the dog but is stuck between a rock and a hard place when making decisions of what is right and what is wrong. Will Marty give up his fight or will he follow through and make the dog his own so that he can love him forever?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Summary:Shiloh is about a boy Marty who finds a dog and names it Shiloh. The dog is very skittish and is afraid of people. The family ends up falling in love with Shiloh and keeps him.Personal Reaction:I feel like most dogs are treated poorly and should have the right owners that take care of them. we have 3 dogs and they never tuck their tail unless they know they are in trouble.Classroom Extensions: 1. Have students bring in a picture of their dog.2. Read the book out loud.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Summary:This book is about a boy named marty who finds a dog and names him shiloh. Marty's father thinks the dog belonged to Judd Travers. Marty doesn't like Judd. Marty's dad returns Shiloh to Judd. Shiloh runs awoay from Judd and goes to Marty, Marty hides him. The rest of the book is about him trying to keep Shiloh.Personal Reaction:I Love this book. I remember reading it as a child, so i was excited to re-read it. it is a great story that everyones should read.Classroom Extention:1. Children can write about their pet.2. Class can watch the Movie and compare and contrast the two.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Read it for ever agoo but it a good book
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good story for kids who love dogs.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    When Marty finds out that his neighbor beats his dogs, he is determined to keep Shiloh away from him at all costs, even if it means keeping secrets and breaking the law. Even though this book was written in the 90's, it reads like a book set in a much earlier decade because of how the family lives. Although this gives a strong message of being self sufficient and simpler happiness, it might be hard for today's kids to relate to.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I know it's almost unheard of for an elementary teacher or librarian not to be ga-ga over this book, but it just wasn't my thing. The students love it, however.

Book preview

Shiloh - Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

CHAPTER 1

The day Shiloh come, we’re having us a big Sunday dinner. Dara Lynn’s dipping bread in her glass of cold tea, the way she likes, and Becky pushes her beans up over the edge of her plate in her rush to get ’em down.

Ma gives us her scolding look. Just once in my life, she says, I’d like to see a bite of food go direct from the dish into somebody’s mouth without a detour of any kind.

She’s looking at me when she says it, though. It isn’t that I don’t like fried rabbit. Like it fine. I just don’t want to bite down on buckshot, is all, and I’m checking each piece.

I looked that rabbit over good, Marty, and you won’t find any buckshot in that thigh, Dad says, buttering his bread. I shot him in the neck.

Somehow I wish he hadn’t said that. I push the meat from one side of my plate to the other, through the sweet potatoes and back again.

Did it die right off? I ask, knowing I can’t eat at all unless it had.

Soon enough.

You shoot its head clean off? Dara Lynn asks. She’s like that.

Dad chews real slow before he answers. Not quite, he says, and goes on eating.

Which is when I leave the table.

The best thing about Sundays is we eat our big meal at noon. Once you get your belly full, you can walk all over West Virginia before you’re hungry again. Any other day, you start out after dinner, you’ve got to come back when it’s dark.

I take the .22 rifle Dad had given me in March on my eleventh birthday and set out up the road to see what I can shoot. Like to find me an apple hanging way out on a branch, see if I can bring it down. Line up a few cans on a rail fence and shoot ’em off. Never shoot at anything moving, though. Never had the slightest wish.

We live high up in the hills above Friendly, but hardly anybody knows where that is. Friendly’s near Sistersville, which is halfway between Wheeling and Parkersburg. Used to be, my daddy told me, Sistersville was one of the best places you could live in the whole state. You ask me the best place to live, I’d say right where we are, a little four-room house with hills on three sides.

Afternoon is my second-best time to go up in the hills, though; morning’s the best, especially in summer. Early, early morning. On one morning I saw three kinds of animals, not counting cats, dogs, frogs, cows, and horses. Saw a groundhog, saw a doe with two fawns, and saw a gray fox with a reddish head. Bet his daddy was a gray fox and his ma was a red one.

My favorite place to walk is just across this rattly bridge where the road curves by the old Shiloh schoolhouse and follows the river. River to one side, trees the other—sometimes a house or two.

And this particular afternoon, I’m about halfway up the road along the river when I see something out of the corner of my eye. Something moves. I look, and about fifteen yards off, there’s this shorthaired dog—white with brown and black spots—not making any kind of noise, just slinking along with his head down, watching me, tail between his legs like he’s hardly got the right to breathe. A beagle, maybe a year or two old.

I stop and the dog stops. Looks like he’s been caught doing something awful, when I can tell all he really wants is to follow along beside me.

Here, boy, I say, slapping my thigh.

Dog goes down on his stomach, groveling about in the grass. I laugh and start over toward him. He’s got an old worn-out collar on, probably older than he is. Bet it belonged to another dog before him. C’mon, boy, I say, putting out my hand.

The dog gets up and backs off. He don’t even whimper, like he’s lost his bark.

Something really hurts inside you when you see a dog cringe like that. You know somebody’s been kicking at him. Beating on him, maybe.

It’s okay, boy, I say, coming a little closer, but still he backs off.

So I just take my gun and follow the river. Every so often I look over my shoulder and there he is, the beagle. I stop; he stops. I can see his ribs—not real bad—but he isn’t plumped out or anything.

There’s a broken branch hanging from a limb out over the water, and I’m wondering if I can bring it down with one shot. I raise my gun, and then I think how the sound might scare the dog off. I decide I don’t want to shoot my gun much that day.

It’s a slow river. You walk beside it, you figure it’s not even moving. If you stop, though, you can see leaves and things going along. Now and then a fish jumps—big fish. Bass, I think. Dog’s still trailing me, tail tucked in. Funny how he don’t make a sound.

Finally I sit on a log, put my gun at my feet, and wait. Back down the road, the dog sits, too. Sits right in the middle of it, head on his paws.

Here, boy! I say again, and pat my knee.

He wiggles just a little, but he don’t come.

Maybe it’s a she-dog.

Here, girl! I say. Dog still don’t come.

I decide to wait the dog out, but after three or four minutes on the log, it gets boring and I start off again. So does the beagle.

Don’t know where you’d end up if you followed the river all the way. Heard somebody say it curves about, comes back on itself, but if it didn’t and I got home after dark, I’d get a good whopping. So I always go as far as the ford, where the river spills across the path, and then I head back.

When I turn around and the dog sees me coming, he goes off into the woods. I figure that’s the last I’ll see of the beagle, and I get halfway down the road again before I look back. There he is. I stop. He stops. I go. He goes.

And then, hardly thinking on it, I whistle.

It’s like pressing a magic button. The beagle comes barreling toward me, legs going lickety-split, long ears flopping, tail sticking up like a flagpole. This time, when I put out my hand, he licks all my fingers and jumps up against my leg, making little yelps in his throat. He can’t get enough of me, like I’d been saying no all along and now I’d said yes, he could come. It’s a he-dog, like I’d thought.

Hey, boy! You’re really somethin’ now, ain’t you? I’m laughing as the beagle makes circles around me. I squat down and the dog licks my face, my neck. Where’d he learn to come if you whistled, to hang back if you didn’t?

I’m so busy watching the dog I don’t even notice it’s started to rain. Don’t bother me. Don’t bother the dog, neither. I’m looking for the place I first saw him. Does he live here? I wonder. Or the house on up the road? Each place we pass I figure he’ll stop—somebody come out and whistle, maybe. But nobody comes out and the dog don’t stop. Keeps coming even after we get to the old Shiloh schoolhouse. Even starts across the bridge, tail going like a propeller. He licks my hand every so often to make sure I’m still there—mouth open like he’s smiling. He is smiling.

Once he follows me across the bridge, though, and on past the gristmill, I start to worry. Looks like he’s fixing to follow me all the way to our house. I’m in trouble enough coming home with my clothes wet. My ma’s mama died of pneumonia, and we don’t ever get the chance to forget it. And now I got a dog with me, and we were never allowed to have pets.

If you can’t afford to feed ’em and take ’em to the vet when they’re sick, you’ve no right taking ’em in, Ma says, which is true enough.

I don’t say a word to the beagle the rest of the way home, hoping he’ll turn at some point and go back. The dog keeps coming.

I get to the front stoop and say, Go home, boy. And then I feel my heart squeeze up the way he stops smiling, sticks his tail between his legs again, and slinks off. He goes as far as the sycamore tree, lies down in the wet grass, head on his paws.

Whose dog is that? Ma asks when I come in.

I shrug. Just followed me, is all.

Where’d it pick up with you? Dad asks.

Up in Shiloh, across the bridge, I say.

"On the

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