Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Independent Reading Level: Grades 4-5
Awards: Bluestem Award (Nominee – 2015), Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Winner – Grades 3-5 – 1995), Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Nominee – 1994), Flicker Tale Award (Winner – 1994), Golden Archer Award (Winner – Original Golden Archer Award – 1992)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Winner – Intermediate Book – 1994)
Great Stone Face Book Award (Winner – 1992-1993), Land Of Enchantment Book Award (Winner – Children's – 1993-1994), Maine Student Book Award (Winner – 1993), Mark Twain Readers Award (Winner – 1993-1994), Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Winner – Winner – 1994), Nevada Young Readers' Award (Winner – Intermediate – 1994), Newbery Medal (Medal Winner – 1992), Nutmeg Book Award (Winner – Intermediate – 1994), Nēnē Award (Winner – 1994)… (mer)

I ask you...is this not the CUTEST most PRECIOUS little face you have ever seen? I would have given this book 5 stars and all the literary awards possible for that little face alone. Luckly, the story was worthy of the 5 stars also, although I may have still been under the influence of "puppy breath" :) It's a heart-warming story but also a bit of tear-jerker especially if you are dyed in the wool animal lover or addicted to cute dogs...which yours truly is both. Marty is an 11-year-old boy living with his family in rural West Virginia. Most of the people here own hunting dogs and most everybody lives by the moto "Mind you own business". I don't know if that's actually true, but it was true in this story. After several questionable incidents, the little beagle follows Marty home. Marty and his folks can see that the little dog has been abused. He hadn't been beaten, but something "disturbing" had obviously happened to him. Marty worked under the same rule that I worked under as a kid...if you name it...you can keep it. Marty calls the pup...Shiloh. They know who Shiloh belongs to...Judd Travers...who is not going to win "Dog Owner of The Year' awards. He unbelievably trains his dogs by not feeding them if they disobey him. Made you wonder how he treated the humans around him. Marty wants to keep the little guy. but his parents tell him that he can't...they could get in trouble with the law. Shiloh goes back but he runs away again, and this time instead of telling anyone...Marty hides him. Shiloh's troubles are only now just beginning when he's attacked by another dog and seriously hurt. Marty has to tell his father so that Shiloh can be taken to, and cared for, by the vet. Shiloh will live but will always limp. Of course, old mean-hearted Judd wants him back. Marty's father offers to buy the dog, but Judd says, "no way". The tension that was there already now has more added to it. Then Marty sees Judd doing something that even an 11-year-old knows is against the law. Surprised he would do this? Absolutely Not! I was just waiting and hoping that the author would turn the story toward a happy resolution for everyone...and she did...well. except for old Judd.… (mer)