To this day, I’m still surprised how much I love this book. I mean, it’s about dogs. I’ve never been a big fan of dogs. But still, I enjoy the read.
General Book Info
Eleven-year-old Marty Preston doesn’t have much to do during the summer. That is, until he comes across a dog that appears to be abused. He comes to find out that this dog, whom he names Shiloh, belongs to Judd Travers, a sketchy individual who shoots deer out of season, cheats people out of their money, and spits chewing tobacco at those he doesn’t like. Judd’s frankness about his mistreatment of dogs horrifies Marty, and he vows to do something about it.
Good things about this book
As you might have guessed, this book deals with issues of animal rights. Shouldn’t we treat animals right? What can we do when someone is mistreating their animals? These are two of the main questions Marty struggles with during the story. His father is no help. He simply reminds Marty that many animals are mistreated, so Shiloh is only one out of fifty thousand. This answer, unsurprisingly, does not satisfy Marty. Something seems off with his dad’s answer, and it becomes an issue he ponders for the entire novel.
As horrible as Judd Travers is, I have to admit that he’s a great villain. From the beginning, the narrator tries to convince readers that Judd is a monster. And that’s very clear when we first encounter him. When Marty first finds Shiloh, his dad immediately insists the dog must belong to Judd. So they get in the car and drive over to Judd’s ramshackle trailer. As they approach, they can hear the growls and howls of dogs in distress. And when they get there, what do you think Judd does on first being reunited with his dog? He kicks the animal. So much rage. Not only that, but we also learn that Judd’s tactic for getting his dogs to do what he wants is to starve them. They also don’t have names; instead, he calls them whatever swear word comes to mind and sometimes the amount of money he paid for them.
The protagonist, Marty Preston, is just as likeable as Judd is despicable. Marty’s a smart kid; he can tell when adults are lying or trying to manipulate him. He recounts a story in which he ate some of his sister’s chocolate. His mom guilt trips him into admitting it by telling him that people who lie make Jesus cry, and doing bad things brings you further away from God. Marty can’t help but wonder if that’s really the whole story. Later, he ponders whether he should lie to protect God’s creature, (Shiloh), or tell the truth and provide the opportunity for more abuse.
This kid is also resourceful. One day, when he finds Shiloh wandering around, he decides to keep him secretly up on a hill near his family’s house. He procures old wire, boards, and sacks from his dad’s shed and builds Shiloh a cozy home. But how long can he keep the dog’s whereabouts a secret? Because Judd is on the warpath, and he suspects that Marty has something to do with his dog’s disappearance.
It’s a little thing, but another aspect I like is Mr. Preston’s job. He’s a mail carrier, so he gets to interact with lots of people every day. Some people are so excited to get their mail that they wait at their mailboxes to receive it. This reminds me of my childhood, when receiving a package or letter in the mail felt like Christmas.
Bottom Line
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an animal lover or not; you should read this book. It deals with some pretty big issues, such as religion and determination. We can’t all be as dedicated to an animal as Marty is dedicated to Shiloh, but his devotion can teach us about the kind of strength it takes to believe in something and be prepared to do anything to uphold your convictions.
Jen’s rating: 9/10
© Jennifer Shields and The Insightful Novelist, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jen and The Insightful Novelist with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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