From BookJive
|
|
| Edition: | Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Paperback) |
| Author: | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor |
| Published: | September 2000 |
| Pages: | 144 |
| ISBN 10: | 0689835825 |
| New: | $3.09 (60) |
| Used: | $0.01 (214) |
| + add to my profile | |
Shiloh is a first person children's novel by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The movie Shiloh was made based on the book in 1996.
The story takes place in the small town of Friendly, West Virginia where an eleven year old boy named Marty Preston finds a stray beagle wandering in the hills near his house. The dog follows him home so Marty takes the dog as his own and names him Shiloh. Shiloh's real owner is Judd Travers, who has several dogs that he uses for hunting. Judd Travers discovers that Marty has Shilo and insists that he return him. Marty does not want to return Shiloh because he fears for the dog's safety because Judd drinks and treats his dogs poorly. Later in the story, Marty travels up to Traver's house to try to convince Mr. Traver to allow him to keep Shilo. Judd does not see Marty approaching, and shoots a doe out of season, which would mean a stiff fine Judd couldn't afford. Marty lets Judd know he knows, and attempts to blackmail him out of Shilo. Judd and Marty eventually negotiate a deal where Marty will earn Shilo if he works for Judd for a month. Near the end of the period of labor, Judd says that he will not keep his end of the deal, as all the evidence of the doe are gone by now. Marty continues to work for Judd however, and Judd breaks his word as he said he would, and takes Shilo back. In the end, Judd relents and lets Shilo be with Marty.
People often confuse the dog in this story with the imaginary friend featured in Neil Diamond's song, "Shilo". Even though the spelling is different, the song was written over 20 years before the book was published.
