Shiloh

Bibliographic information: 

Naylor, Phyllis Reyonds.  Shiloh.  Yearling Book, 1991.  p. 141.

Brief plot description:

Shiloh is the story of Marty and his beloved dog Shiloh.  Marty is eleven years old, and he finds Shiloh on a summer day near the old Shiloh schoolhouse.  Shiloh follows Marty home, but he cannot stay because he is Judd Travers’ dog.  Marty and his dad take Shiloh back to Judd, but Marty doesn’t want to leave him there and decides he wants to buy Shiloh.  Marty starts collecting money, but can’t come up with enough.  Marty builds a pen for Shiloh to stay in on the hill facing their house, and saves part of his meals to feed Shiloh.  Mom learns that he has been hiding Shiloh and must tell dad.  Shiloh is attacked by another dog and must be fixed up by the local doctor.  What will happen to Shiloh when he is taken back to Judd?  Will Judd see that Marty loves the dog more?

Brief review:

I really enjoy this book because it is about achieving ones goals no matter how long and how difficult they might be.  I believe that the book will tell tweens that they can have what they want as long as they work for it.  This book could be used in grades fourth through sixth.  It could be used as an inspiration story or for a pet story.  I really like this story because it was very descriptive, such as, the condition of Shiloh when Marty first saw him.  The book did not contain many difficult words that would give tweens a difficult time comprehending the book. 

Genre label:

Realistic Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

4^th – 6^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Saving Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Oh the Far Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Character names/descriptions:

Marty

Dara Lynn- Marty’s sister

Becky- Marty’s sister

Ma

Pa- works for the Post Office

Shiloh – Marty’s dog

Judd Travers

David Howard

Doc Murphy- the local doctor, takes care of Shiloh

Subjects/themes:

Inspiration story

Pet story

Awards:

Newbery Award

ALA Notable Children’s Books

Buckeye Award

Series information:

The Shiloh series contains three books.  They are Shiloh, Shiloh Season, and Saving Shiloh.  The first two books have also been made into movies. 

Missing May

Bibliographic information:
Ryland, Cynthia.  Missing May.  Orchard Books, 1992, p. 89.

Brief plot description:
This story is about a girl, Summer, who is living with Aunt May and Uncle Ob after her parents died in a flood in Ohio.  Summer enjoys living with them because they make her feel welcomed and loved.  Summer and her family live in Deep Water located in Fayette County in West Virginia.  The story starts when May has passed away.  At this time Summer is twelve years old.  Her Uncle Ob is a disabled navy man, who makes whirligigs and feels May’s presence as they are working in the garden.  Summer feels that Ob is dying gradually on her and that there is nothing she can do.  Cletus talks to Ob about him feeling May’s presence.  Ob becomes obsessed with getting May back.  Cletus comes over later that day to talk about a pastor that can talk to the dead, but he has passed away.   

Brief review:
I feel that this book has relatable characters for anyone who has lost a loved one.  I think this book could be used in a fifth through seventh grade class when talking about family, death, and life.  The main idea is that even if one dies they are still with us.  This book could be given to a tween that has recently lost someone and my help the tween in their grieving process.  If this book is used in a classroom, it is important for the teacher to discuss the themes of the book with the students so that they better understand what the characters go through. 

  

Genre label:

Realistic Fiction         

Reading level/interest level:

5^th- 7^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:
Miracle on 49^th Street by Mike Lupica

  

Awards:
Newbery Award