August 2014

BotM-Shiloh

Shiloh

Phyllis 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 abuses his dogs. When Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty hides and protects 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 keep Shiloh as his own?.

Activities

  1. Explain the challenges Marty faces when rescuing Shiloh. Describe at least 3 challenges, and use specific details from the text to support your ideas. Why is Marty willing to deal with these obstacles? What challenges have you worked to overcome in your life and why were you determined to find a solution?

  2. Do you think that Marty finds that there is a fine line between not telling the truth and lying by omission? Why is Marty's problem more than just lying to Judd? How would you have handled the situation if you were in Marty’s position?

  3. Do you have or know a special pet like Shiloh? Did you find it or have to rescue it somehow? Or did you get it from a pet store or the pound? Write a story where you describe how you got the animal and all the qualities that make him or her so special.

  4. Have a mock trial with your family or friends between Marty and Judd. Look back through the book to find evidence to argue whether Shiloh should belong to Marty or to Judd Travers. Remember that speculation and emotion do not go far in a courtroom! Although most readers feel Shiloh should belong to Marty, the jury will need facts and evidence to exercise the law.

  5. If you enjoyed reading Shiloh, visit your local public library to check out other books about dogs or pets, such as Sounder, Call of the Wild, and Where the Red Fern Grows. The library is a wonderful place to check out free books about topics that interest you!