Shiloh

Keeping Shiloh hidden means lying to his parents and friends, and Marty struggles with his conscience as each lie leads to another. He tries to earn money to buy the dog, but the family is poor and has little to spare. When something terrible happens to Shiloh and the secret comes out, Marty must face Judd himself and find a way to protect the dog without breaking his own sense of fairness.

The story is told in Marty's own voice, with the speech patterns of the West Virginia hills, which gives it warmth and authenticity. It deals honestly with animal mistreatment and with an adult who is unkind, but nothing is described in a graphic way, and Judd is shown as a complicated person rather than a simple villain. The book raises good questions about right and wrong, rules and kindness, and it has been loved by young readers for decades.

Moving, honest and gripping, followed by three sequels. It is an excellent book for reading aloud and talking about honesty, kindness to animals and standing up for what is right. About 144 pages in the Atheneum paperback.