• Select two or three sentences from the first chapter that illustrate the author's use of dialect. Rewrite them in standard English and compare the effect of both versions.

• What do you think Marty means when he says, "Don't have to mark a dog to hurt him"?

• What is shown about Marty in the first chapter? Begin a character map to identify his significant traits.

•What major conflict of the novel is revealed in this chapter? How does this conflict lead to other conflicts?

• What do you think Marty will do if he finds Shiloh again? Why do you think so?

• Select some interesting words from Chapter 3. If any words or phrases are unfamiliar, use context clues to define them.

• What can you conclude from the fact that Judd does not name his dogs?

• In what ways do Marty and his dad disagree about Shiloh? In what ways do they agree?

• Try a new response type in your reading log. Refer to Think Sheet 1 for ideas.

• At the end of the chapter, Marty says, "I go home and sleep a full night, first time in a long while." Explain Marty's peace of mind.

• What do Marty's actions and words tell you about him?

• What do you learn about Marty's parents from what they say and do?

• In Chapter 4, what additional details do you learn about Marty's home?

• How is Marty's secret growing? Why does he have to keep telling more lies?

• Is Marty an honest person? Explain the reasons for your answer in a persuasive paragraph.

• Does Marty feel sorry for Judd? Do you? Why?

• What are Marty's choices at the end of Chapter 6? What do you think he is going to do?

• What new conflicts result from Marty's decision to hide Shiloh from Judd? Make a chart to show how the conflicts are related.

• How is David's family different from Marty's? How do these differences affect your understanding of Marty's dilemma?

• Choose a response option from Think Sheet 1. Review previous log entries to find one that you have not used recently.

• How would you describe the Prestons' community? What does all the food that Mr. Preston finds in the mailboxes show about the community? Add these details to your setting chart.

• Marty says that his secret about Shiloh is "like a time bomb waiting to go off." What do you think he means?

• How does the author end this chapter and why?

• Identify a major conflict faced by Jackson in Cracker Jackson, Jerry in "President Cleveland, Where Are You?" or a character in another story. Compare and contrast the way Marty and the other character try to solve their problems.

• Why do you think Marty's mother agrees not to tell his father about Shiloh for one day? Is she happy about her decision? Why or why not?

• What is ironic about the ending of this chapter?

• How does Marty's father feel when he finds out that Marty has been lying? How would you feel in his place?

• Revisit the character map of Marty. Add new information from the chapters you've read since you last added to it. Use a different color pen or a different style of writing for your new information.

• How do you think Marty feels about sharing Shiloh with his family and friends?

• How does Judd feel when he finds out that Marty has had his dog all along?

• What do you think Marty will do once Shiloh is healed and must go back to Judd?

• Rewrite a scene from Shiloh from the point of view of another character besides Marty.

• Do you think Marty is "crazy" for talking to Judd the way he does? What makes him feel brave?

• Is making a deal with Judd the right thing for Marty to do? Why do you think so? What is ironic about Marty's first job?

• Do you predict that Judd will honor his agreement with Marty? Why or why not?

• Why do you think Judd makes Marty work so hard? What do you think finally causes Judd to honor his agreement?

• How did you feel at the end of this book? Were your feelings anything like Marty's?

• What lessons do you think Marty has learned from his experiences?