Shiloh Season

Written in 1996 by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh Season is a middle grade novel that continues the story begun with the Newbery Medal–winning Shiloh. The second installment in a quartet, Shiloh Season follows young Marty Preston as he faces new challenges in protecting Shiloh, the beagle he rescued from the abuses of the dog’s former owner, Judd Travers. After Judd is suspected of becoming intoxicated and fighting a man, he crashes his car near Marty’s home, and tensions rise in the community. Marty must navigate these difficulties while dealing with his own moral dilemmas about right and wrong, forgiveness, and responsibility. Naylor further explores themes of compassion, the complexity of human nature, and the bonds between humans and animals.

This study guide refers to the 2013 Kindle e-book edition published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Content Warning: Both the source text and this guide contain descriptions of animal abuse, alcohol addiction, and gun violence.

Plot Summary

Marty Preston, an 11-year-old boy, lives in West Virginia with his family and beloved dog, a playful beagle named Shiloh. After saving Shiloh from the abuse of his former owner, Judd Travers, Marty now raises Shiloh as his own dog. Shiloh is Marty’s best friend.

Meanwhile, Judd Travers’s alcohol addiction has been worsening. One day, he drives his pickup truck erratically and almost hits Marty and Shiloh as they walk along the road. Marty tells his parents about Judd’s dangerous driving, and they all worry about Judd’s alcohol addiction. They also worry that Judd has been hunting in their woods. Judd’s trespassing is potentially dangerous because if he operates firearms while intoxicated, he might accidentally shoot Marty or Marty’s little sisters, Dara Lynn and Becky.

Marty feels guilty that he never told his parents the real story of how he obtained Shiloh from Judd a few months ago. Because Judd abuses his dogs, Shiloh kept running away. Marty found Shiloh and secretly kept him hidden behind his home, but Judd wanted the dog back. When Marty saw Judd kill a deer out of season, he blackmailed Judd; if Judd would let him keep Shiloh, then Marty promised not to tell anyone about Judd’s hunting crime. Left with little choice, Judd agreed, on the condition that Marty also work for Judd for two weeks to earn Shiloh.

Now, Marty worries that Judd is drinking more alcohol and behaving cruelly because he misses Shiloh. (Even though Judd still has three other dogs, Shiloh was his best hunting dog.)

One day, Marty’s best friend David comes over for a sleepover and suggests that they spy on Judd, so the boys play a spy game, hiding in the woods and watching Judd as he drinks and holds his shotgun. Suddenly, Judd shoots a squirrel for fun, and when he moves to shoot another, Marty yells for him to stop. Marty and David do not get caught, but Judd recognizes Marty’s voice. The boys race home.

At school, many wild rumors spread about Judd, but some of them turn out to be true, including the fact that Judd got into a fight with someone at a local bar and  went to work while intoxicated. He has also run over many neighbors’ mailboxes. In class, the teacher lectures Marty and the other students on the difference between truth and gossip. She also instructs them to write a report about their ideal future profession and requires them to do research and interview people for the assignment. Marty chooses to write about being a vet and interviews Doc Murphy, a local doctor who saved Shiloh after the beagle was attacked by another dog a few months ago. Because Doc stitched Shiloh up, Marty agreed to do yard work to pay for the bill. Now, Marty tells Doc about his dream of becoming a vet, and although Doc warns him that the medical field is hard work, he urges the boy to aim high.

Soon, Judd calls Marty’s house, claiming that either Marty or his father has destroyed Judd’s mailbox and keyed his truck. Marty swears that he did nothing of the sort. Judd tells Marty’s father that Marty and David were spying on him. This prompts Dad to have a talk with Marty about honesty and emphasize the importance of telling the truth rather than keeping secrets. Marty agrees, but he still does not tell his family about the blackmail plot that enabled him to keep Shiloh.

One weekend, Judd’s three dogs get loose. One of them bites Dara Lynn, but Marty and Ma fight the dogs off. The dogs race away. The police and animal shelter need to check the dogs for evidence of rabies, and Dara Lynn might need to get shots. Judd accuses Marty’s family of freeing his dogs and demands that Marty return Shiloh so that he can use the dog to go hunting. Shiloh hides under the porch, terrified. Marty’s family denies Judd’s claims and refuse to let him take Shiloh.

Marty makes an appointment with the local vet, John Collins, who examines Shiloh for the first time and concludes that the beagle is strong and healthy. Marty interviews John for his report; he wants to know if chained dogs are mean, and asks if it is possible to tame dogs that run in wild packs. Later on, Marty calls John several times to ask more questions. John teaches him that chained dogs are often scared and feel threatened because they cannot escape from danger. He also recommends separating dogs who run in packs and domesticating them one-on-one. John emphasizes that patience is necessary to build dogs’ trust.

One day, Marty and Shiloh head to Doc’s house. While they linger in the woods along the road, bullets suddenly hit a stump that they were sitting on. Marty sees Judd’s truck driving away and is stunned to realize that Judd actually shot at him and Shiloh. Later, Marty tells Doc Murphy the truth about blackmailing Judd and blames himself for Judd’s bad behavior. Marty reasons that if Judd still had Shiloh, maybe he wouldn’t be drinking so much and causing chaos. Marty asks if what he did was right, but Doc explains that not every problem has a clear right or wrong answer. He also tells Marty that Judd grew up in an abusive home. Marty realizes that Judd treats his dogs terribly because he doesn’t understand kindness.

One night, Marty wakes up to a giant crashing sound and hears Shiloh whining and barking. Dad and Marty race outside and find Shiloh by the creek’s bridge. Shiloh leads them to Judd, who has crashed his truck. They call for emergency services. Judd sustains many injuries, including a broken leg and skull fracture.

Marty finally tells his Dad that he blackmailed Judd and that Judd later shot at him and Shiloh. Dad is not as upset as Marty predicted he would be; he is more worried about Marty’s safety. He makes Marty promise to stop keeping secrets.

While Judd recovers, the community supports him by doing favors such as leaving him food and mowing his lawn, but he becomes even more withdrawn and mean-tempered. Marty keeps trying to make friendly overtures and get on Judd’s good side. He starts sending food and letters about Shiloh. In one letter, he explains that Shiloh saved Judd’s life by making noise after Judd crashed his car. Marty believes that Judd is like a mean dog, and that he and his family will have to earn Judd’s trust and teach him kindness.

After few weeks, Marty asks Dad to bring him and Shiloh to Judd’s house for a visit. Upon arriving at Judd’s house, Shiloh is shaking with fear. Marty holds the beagle and calms him down. Judd admires Shiloh and is amazed that the dog saved his life. Judd pets Shiloh nicely for the next few minutes. He finally learns to be gentle, and Shiloh relaxes and licks Judd’s hand for the first time ever.