A U T H O R B I O * R E A D A L I K E S Author , was Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor born Phyllis Dean Reynolds in Anderson, . She is best known In the second book of the Shiloh for her books for children and young series, Shiloh has belonged to 11-year adults. Her most famous is the -old Marty Preston for a month when novel Shiloh (1991; film, 1996), which this gripping book begins. Although won the . The three Marty has earned Shiloh by working sequels are Shiloh Season (1996; film, for the dog’s loathsome owner, Judd 1999), (1997; film, Travers now wants Shiloh back. 2006) and A Shiloh Christmas (2015). Since the What will Marty do? appearance of the story collection, The Galloping Goat (1965) and the children's novel, What the Gulls $ # $ # $ $ # $ # $ Were Singing (1967), Naylor has published more than 120 books; among them are the Bessledorf comic Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner mysteries for children (The Mad Gasser of Bessledorf Little Willy’s grandfather is sick, and it’s Street, 1983), two gothic Witch trilogies (Witch's up to Willy to save their farm from tax Sister, 1975; The Witch Returns, 1992), and the York collectors. Their only hope is the prize trilogy (Shadows on the Wall, 1980), about a teenage money from the National Dogsled Race. time-traveler seeking a cure for Huntington disease. Her But a lot of other people want to win the most popular series has followed Alice McKinley, a race, too, including Stone Fox, who has motherless girl, from sixth grade in The Agony of never lost a race in his life. Can Willy and Alice (1985) to her high school years in Alice on Her Newbery Medal Winner, his dog Searchlight win the race to save Way (2006); there are more than 15 books in the series. the farm before it’s too late? 1992 $ # $ # $ $ # $ # $ A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray “Naylor offers a moving by Ann Martin and powerful look at the

Squirrel, a stray puppy, tells her life best and worst of human story, from her nurturing mother and brother to making her own way in the nature.” world, facing busy highways, changing -Ellen Mandel, seasons and humans both gentle and brutal. “A heartwarming novel” -

(Source: Scholastic.com, 2017) (Source: NoveList Plus, 2017) * D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S * * S U M M A R Y * 1) Where does Marty find Shiloh? How does he finally 10) On the morning he has to return Shiloh, Marty marches In the hill country, folks mind each other's get the dog to follow him? over to Judd Travers’ place to confront him. How does he privacy and personal rights, a principle that is respected plan on negotiating with Judd before he sees Judd kill the in 11-year-old Marty Preston's family and reinforced by a 2) Besides the fact that Judd Travers is cruel to animals, doe? Do you think Marty would have been successful strict code of honor--no lying, cheating or taking what what are the other reasons Marty dislikes Judd? negotiating with Judd without being able to blackmail him isn't yours. When a beagle he names Shiloh follows him for hunting out of season? home, Marty painfully learns that right and wrong are 3) How does Marty explain the food he saves at the end not always black and white. of each meal for Shiloh? 11) Why is it so important for Marty to work every minute of the twenty hours he owes Judd, even after Judd suggests he Marty's dad realizes that the beagle is Judd Travers' new 4) Judd is always complaining about how much Shiloh might not follow through on the deal? hunting dog and insists they return Shiloh to his rightful disobeys him, so why does he care so much about getting owner, even though they both know that Judd keeps his Shiloh back? 12) Marty wants to believe he can hide Shiloh forever, but dogs chained and hungry to make them more eager how easy was it for you, the reader, to tell that Shiloh would hunters. Sure enough, Judd claims the dog and greets him 5) Marty takes his can-collecting money and buys be discovered soon? Describe how Marty might have been with a hard kick to his scrawny sides. Marty worries leftover food for Shiloh. Why does he worry that the caught if the Bakers’ dog about Shiloh being abused and makes plans to buy the butcher will think it’s for his family to eat? Why is Marty hadn’t attacked Shiloh. dog . . . if Judd will sell him. Then Shiloh runs away embarrassed when the neighbors start leaving more and again, and Marty secretly shelters the dog, beginning a more food for his dad to pick up on his mail route? 13) What kind of person chain of lies as he takes food and covers his tracks. does Judd Travers turn 6) How does finding Shiloh change Marty’s opinion out to be in the end? Though troubled about deceiving his family, Marty about the way all animals should be treated? For Does he seem as evil at reasons, "a lie don't seem a lie anymore when it's meant instance, how does he say he would get rid of a snake? the end of the book as he to save a dog." The West Virginia dialect richly seasons does at the beginning? the true-to-life dialogue. Even when the Prestons care for 7) After praying, Marty decides that it’s okay to hide Give examples from the Shiloh after he is nearly killed by another dog, Mr. Shiloh from Judd Travers because he’s protecting the dog, story to support your answer. Preston insists Shiloh be returned to Judd if he recovers; and God would approve of that. How does Marty however, Marty makes a deal with the malicious Judd to discover that one lie, no matter how noble, leads to 14) Why does Marty say, at the end of the book, “nothing is earn Shiloh for his own. another? as simple as you guess-not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, Not until the final not even me or this dog I got here.” What do you think he paragraph can readers means, and what does this idea have to do with the events in relax--every turn of the the book-the strong feelings he has for Shiloh, his desire to plot confronts them with treat animals well, and the anger he has toward Judd? questions.

Like Marty, readers gain 8) Why does Marty’s mother refuse to keep Shiloh a “…and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess-not understanding, though not secret from Marty’s father? What does she say will acceptance, of Judd's happen if he finds out she lied to him, even just once? right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I got tarnished character. Fueled here. But the good part is I saved Shiloh and opened my eyes by the love and trust of Shiloh, Marty displays a wisdom 9) After discovering Shiloh, why does Marty’s mother some. Now that ain’t bad for eleven.” and strength beyond his years. Naylor offers a moving give him a day before revealing his secret? What does and powerful look at the best and the worst of human Marty plan to do when morning comes, and does he - Marty, Shiloh nature as well as the shades of gray that color most of really believe he’ll be successful? life's dilemmas. (Source: Scholastic.com, 2017) (Source: NoveList Plus, 2017)