Common Sense Note
Kids love this edge-of-the-seat story of a boy going up against a really scary mean man to protect an abused dog.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
SHILOH is one of a new breed of children's books. Many of the best authors realize that children are capable of much greater intellectual power than our society gives them credit for. Author Philip Reynolds Naylor treats children as if they are intelligent, reasoning creatures who are capable of dealing with open-ended questions, who enjoy wrestling with ideas, and who don't need or want pat answers.
At first the situation seems clear: Judd is mean, and Marty is heroically trying to protect a defenseless dog. But as Marty's attempts to keep Shiloh hidden become increasingly desperate, things become less clear-cut. As Marty learns more about Judd, and why he acts the way he does, both he and the reader become less certain that Judd has, in fact, mistreated the dog. Marty's actions inadvertently cause Shiloh to suffer far more seriously than he did at Judd's hands.
And keeping Shiloh away from Judd seems to drag Marty increasingly into behavior that he knows is wrong: lying to his family and friends and complicity in illegal and harmful acts. He slides rapidly down the slope of the ends justifying the means, which are increasingly dishonest.
Finally, Marty's choices narrow to trying to decide on the lesser of evils, rather than choosing what is clearly right, and in the end the biggest lesson the book seems to teach is that nothing is as simple as it seems. This nerve-wracking story, which challenges readers to think for themselves, refuses to make things easy.
Sequels are Shiloh Season and Saving Shiloh.
Plot Summary:
When Marty hides a beagle from Judd Travers, the meanest man around, he thinks he's protecting the dog from abuse. But it means lying to his parents and sneaking around. Worse, Shiloh ends up in more danger than ever. Nothing is simple in this taut, unforgettable drama.
Rate It!
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ViolenceA German shepherd savages Shiloh; Judd beats his dogs. Every scene Judd is in is frightening; the German shepherd attacks Shiloh. |
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LanguageRare mild religious profanity. |
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Social BehaviorMarty lies to his parents and others, sneaks out, and acts deceitfully. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoJudd drinks and chews tobacco. |
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