Citation:
Armstrong, W. H. (1969). Sounder. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers.
Naylor, P.R. (2000). Shiloh. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Shiloh and Sounder are both stories about a boy and his dog and the love they have for each other.
Summary of Sounder: In Sounder, a young boy must watch as his father is arrested for stealing a pig to feed his family. The family dog, Sounder is almost killed trying to stop his master from being arrested. Sounder who is severely wounded disappears for what seems like forever until one day he returns to the boy who never gave up hope. Unfortunately, Sounder is never quite the same, just like when the father returns home maimed from an explosion that almost killed him. The father will eventually succumb to his wounds and Sounder dies shortly after.
Summary of Shiloh: In Shiloh, Marty befriends a dog who has wandered off from his owner and found his way to the local schoolhouse. It is love at first sight. Marty wants to keep the dog but knows his parents won’t allow it. Once the dad realizes who the owner is; he and Marty promptly return the dog to him. Marty realizes that the owner, Judd mistreats his dogs and makes it his mission to save this dog he has grown attached to. Marty does everything in his power to save the dog he has named Shiloh.
Review of Shiloh:
Horn Book starred (March, 1992)
“A young boy saves a mistreated dog by facing down a bullying adult and standing on principles he knows are right - in the face of laws that may be wrong. Narrated in a believable rural southern voice, the reminiscence engages the reader's sympathy. Credible plot and characters, a well-drawn setting, and nicely paced narration” (Horn Book, 1992).
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review“Sounder is no beauty. But as a coon dog, this loyal mongrel with his cavernous bark is unmatched. When the African American sharecropper who has raised Sounder from a pup is hauled off to jail for stealing a hog, his family must suffer their humiliation and crushing loss with no recourse. To make matters worse, in the fracas, Sounder is shot and disappears. The eventual return of a tattered and emaciated Sounder doesn't change the fact that the sharecropper's oldest son is forced to take on man's work to help support the family. His transition to adulthood is paved by the rocks and taunts hurled at him by convicts and guards as he searches for his father. But along this rough road he ultimately finds salvation as well” (Amazon, n.d.).
William H. Armstrong's Newbery Award-winning novel quickly became a classic as a moving portrayal of resilience and hope in the face of profound human tragedy. Decades later, the bittersweet story still rings true, as strong-spirited individuals continue to battle the evil of prejudice. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter
Review"The power of the writing lies in its combination of subtlety and strength." -- -- H.
"The writing is simple, timeless and extraordinarily moving. An outstanding book." -- -- Commonweal
Impression of SounderThis book almost made me cry several times. I can only imagine how that little boy felt losing his father and his dog in the same day. Both return to him but they are never quite the same. I admire the little’s boy courage and how he never gave up on his dad or his dog.
Impression of ShilohThis is my favorite book thus far in our readings. I couldn’t put it down. It took my a day to read it and I read it every chance I got. I wanted to believe that Marty and Shiloh would become a family. I kept thinking something bad was going to happen to him and was so relieved when it concluded with a happy ending. Many a time, I brought home a stray kitty or puppy and my mother always allowed me to keep them, as long as I took care of them. I can empathize with Marty and how he felt he had to save Shiloh, who hasn’t felt that way before? I think this is a book adults and children alike will enjoy.
Library Setting I would collaborate with the language arts teacher to have students keep a reading journal about both books. Since Shiloh and Sounder are both stories about a boy and his dog and the love they have for each other; I would have students use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast both books. There are several similarities between the two books. I would then have students write about their own experiences that they might have had with their own pets or animals in general.
Horn Book. (1992). [ Review for the book Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]. Horn Book. Referenced from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=5096d38439b4cc3077cc944defc81541
Amazon Books. (n.d.). [Review for the book Sounder by William H. Armstrong]. Amazon Books. Referenced from
http://www.amazon.com/Sounder-William-H-Armstrong/dp/product-description/0060201436/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
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