Shiloh

This book is really good. I should share it to you:)

The novel begins when a young beagle follows 11-year-old Marty as he takes a walk up in the hills on the road past the old Shiloh schoolhouse near Friendly, West Virginia. Because of the dog looks miserable, Marty’s sure the dog's owner is abusing him. Marty feels protective of the dog, and names him Shiloh.

Marty's father thinks the dog belongs to Judd Travers, who recently got another hunting dog. Marty doesn't like Judd or trust him. Marty saw Judd cheat Mr. Wallace in the corner store, Marty knows that Judd kills deer out of season, and he hates that Judd chews tobacco and tries to spit it close to people he doesn't like. When Marty's father takes him to Judd's trailer to return Shiloh, Marty sees Judd kick Shiloh and pleads with Judd to stop kicking the dog.

Marty can't stop thinking about Shiloh. He decides that he has to buy Shiloh from Judd. Marty starts collecting cans and bottles to try to make some money, but realizes it will take him forever to raise enough money to buy Shiloh. Before long, Shiloh runs away from Judd again and ends up at Marty's house. This time, Marty hides Shiloh in a makeshift pen just off the path that leads up the hill behind his house. He makes sure Shiloh has water and protection from the weather. Marty becomes attached to Shiloh as he continues to care for him — taking Shiloh on long walks, playing with him, and feeding him whatever he can manage to save from his own meals.

However, Judd comes closer and closer to finding Shiloh, who Marty has hidden in the woods. Then when Marty discovers that Judd is poaching, he blackmails him and makes a deal to work for Judd to pay for the dog. During the time he works for Judd, Marty gains understanding about Judd and feels almost sorry for him. Marty can finally see Judd as a person who doesn't know how to care about other people or animals. In the end of this book, Marty and Shiloh are allowed to be together.

Overall, I love this book so much. I love the idea about animal rights and animal–human relationships. We fall in love with dogs and owned by others. To be honest, I’m a dog lover. I love playing with dogs. In this book, I like the most when Marty works for Judd to pay for Shiloh. In this part, Marty showed that he loved Shiloh so much and doesn’t want him to suffer. The part I don’t like the most is when Judd abusing Shiloh. I feel sorry for Shiloh. The moral of this story are respect the animal rights, friendship, and responsibility like what Marty did.