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.Marty comes across a distressed young dog one day, and it follows him home. His parents recognize it as Judd's new hunting dog. Judd has a reputation for mistreating his animals, and for this reason Marty wants to keep the dog, who he names Shiloh, but his parents tell him he can't. It belongs to Judd and it's not anybody's business what Judd does with his property. This kind of logic does not persuade Marty.Shiloh flees his master yet again, and this time Marty keeps him a secret from his family. He builds a makeshift pen in their expansive yard, hidden from view, and keeps Shiloh there. He sneaks food every night, eating less of his own dinner so Shiloh can have something to eat. It takes a toll on Marty to continue lying to his parents, but he decides it's in Shiloh's best interest to keep quiet. Even his two sisters are becoming curious about where he sneaks off to. Judd stops by one night asking about his new hunting dog and he seems to suspect that Marty's hiding something. A showdown between Judd and Marty is inevitable.Shiloh won the Newbery Award, spawned two sequels, and was made into a movie, a testament to its quality and its popularity. 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.
Reading Response to Shiloh April 17In the book Shiloh there is actually a pretty big issue f law. The main character Marty wants to get this dog from the enemy Judd Travers because the dog gets all beat up kicked. Marty thinks that this should be against the law. He says it like violating a dog. There was a scene in the book where Marty find a whole in a dos head and it turns out to be Judd who shot the dog of his in the head. It is illegal to kill a dog though. Then there was another seen where Judd killed a doe out of season which was also illegal. When Judd killed that doe I wondered about how we all at least did one thing illegal in our lives. D anything change? The answer for me is no. It goes from J-walking to murder. If you J-walk nothing happens but what if you murder something will happen. But there is another side. Marty had kept Judd's dog because Judd was abusing it. That to is illegal but when you think about it the dog was beaten and almost killed s t just seems right to take the dog away. I think that is how Marty saw it so broke the law and took the dog. But if you want to do things accordig to the law t is not alllwed for a person who did nt pay for thr dog to take the dog. I would actually side with Judd no matter how much he beats the dog. Judd has killed a dog before but thats the other dog. The amin idea is the one main dof Shiloh. Judd has just beaten him and its only illegal to kill him so the dog should still automatically be his. Even if marty goes and tell the officers it doesnt change the law. The dog is still officialy Judds. So it is kind of like marty robbed Judd. But in the end Marty ends up paying for the dog by working for it. That is the right way. So in different points of views there is a right and a wrong. Judds point of view was that marty taking the dog was illegal because Judd payed for it. Martys was the oppsoing side and he thought no it is leegal because Judd abused the dog. Abusing the dog is not right but marty didnt do anything that should let him keep the dog. So those are both different points of view. Marty makes it seem right because he is trying to protect the dog but Judd acually payed for it so the only way he will be able to get it is if he pays for it. But the dog just wants to be free. Its like treating the dog like a slave so a question is why are dogs kept by us? They probably rather be free like any other human. Also in this book there was a time where Judd decided to give Marty a chance to buy Shiloh by gaining some money by doing work for Judd. Marty worked really hard. He had cut and was always sweating off of that. That is pretty much child labor. Child labor is illegal. He worked marty so hardd just ffor that dog. So that is actually one things you can side with Judd in. He told marty that he wanted the wheat or some other crop cut until it could seep through his fingers like sand. I think that has to be pretty hard. That is kind of why child labor is illegal. Its that we kids cant do what adults do which is hard work. Judd has broken the law more but he still is right that Mrty should not have the dog. Marty has not payed for it. But later i the book he does and gets the dog. But Judd has to take a penelty. He has broken many laws. In concusion the dog should be Judds until at the end of the book where marty finally pays for it.
What do You think about Shiloh (2003)?
I thought this book was a decent book to read, because it tells the story of the love of a boy for his dog. It shows how much someone can love their pets.Plot: Marty finds a beagle in the woods behind his house. In the story it tracks how Marty tries to convince his parents into letting him have a pet dog. Along the way, they realize it is Judd Traver’s dog. Judd is a low-life, alcoholic with a gun. With careful persuasion, and pleading, eventually he is allowed to keep the dog. Characterization: Marty Preston is a young boy at the age of 10. He enjoys walking around through the hills of Friendly West Virginia. He loves nature and going for his walks. Judd Travers is an older man in his late 40’s. He is a poacher and an alcoholic. He shoots deer out of season and treats his dog bad. Setting and Impact: The setting takes place in Friendly, West Virginia. It takes place in the past. 1980’s Based on the type of transportation, this is a good estimate of time. It makes sense to take place in a rural community, because if not, Shiloh couldn’t get lost in the woods. Thematic connection: In this book, the author is trying to teach the reader not to give up on their hopes and dreams. Even when others put them down, you have to work to achieve their goals. Who and why: I would recommend this book to any person who likes adventure and a good story. Anyone who likes adventurous stories, would like reading this book.
—John Jorgensen
Much more than a story about a boy and his dog...Shiloh is a story of compassion, determination and struggling with stretching the truth to accomplish a goal that is character worthy. Is omitting information the same as lying, especially if it prevents abuse? Marty Preston, 11, finds a beagle in the woods behind his house one day. When he realizes it belongs to Judd Travers, his heart drops because he knows Judd is mean and abusive to his animals. When the dog comes back the second time, Marty secretly hides him. The outcome isn't all he expected when the dog, he has now named Shiloh, is injured by a bigger dog...his secret is revealed to all. Marty and his family slowly grow to love the gentle, friendly dog and Marty is prepared to do just about anything to keep him, to buy him, and to care for him. A bargain is struck between Marty and Judd. Marty hopes he hasn't made a pact with the devil, but only time will tell. In Shiloh, he has found a constant, loyal companion...one companion he won't turn his back on.
—Jackie
As a fourth grade teacher, I make it my business to read many of the books that sit on my classroom's shelves. Although I am sometimes embarassed to whip out an obvious childish book when I'm sitting on the subway, I must admit I am rarely disappointed with the level of the literature I discover. I have read so much adult literature that is just plain awfully written or simply just plain, but most literature written for children has grace and a unique voice. Of course, since Shiloh won the Newberry Award for Literature, it seems that it would be more likely to have been well written than other children's books. You need to understand that I avoided the book, because even though I loved the two dogs I grew up with and I liked a few more that I met along the way in my life, I am not a true animal lover. I simply cannot relate totally to the mushy attitude people extend to a puppy. So, it was with a bit of skepticism that I began to read Shiloh. I was immediately taken in by the language of the book, by the lack of a wasted word, by the ability to create such a complete voice and character in such a small book. I admire the book for facing such a deep problem in human nature, by raising the questions we all need to face, in a simple story. One of the hardest parts of growing up is the loss of innocence, coming in contact with people who don't love us as much as our family does, or in the case of the evil farmer Judd, who doesn't love anybody. It confronts the question of the righteous of truth. When and why and where is it not the best decision to tell the truth? How dark is the heart of darkness? The fact that such deep questions can be raised in a tale of a boy who wants a dog is a tribute to Ms. Naylor's storytelling ability. I loved it for the philosophical questions it raised. Some will love it for the sentimental dog tale. Others, will love it for both reasons.
—Agreenhouse
