Shiloh

Written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Book #1 in the Shiloh series

A boy risks everything to protect a runaway dog from its abusive owner.

5.8/7 Bookroo expert·4.0/5 Goodreads · 90,828 ratings

144 pages· 29,820 words· Est. 4 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Marty Preston discovers a beagle in the hills and names him Shiloh. But Shiloh belongs to Judd Travers, a man known for his cruelty. When Shiloh escapes to Marty, the boy faces a moral dilemma: hide the dog and risk his family's safety or return him to Judd. As secrets unravel, Marty must decide how far he's willing to go to save his new friend. Can he outsmart Judd and keep Shiloh safe, or will his actions bring danger to his doorstep? The stakes are high in this tale of friendship and courage.

From the publisher

Marty will do anything to save his new friend Shiloh in this Newbery Medal–winning novel from Phillis 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 drinks too much and has a gun—and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect 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 make Shiloh his?

Awards

Newbery Medal (1992)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 144
Words: 29,820
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 890L

Themes & topics

Books about animal abuse Books about animal rescue Books about self-esteem and self-reliance Books about animals Books about social themes

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Language

Some mild cursing, uses of h*ll and d*mn.

What readers & critics say