Shiloh is the story about a boy named Marty who ends up befriending an abused beagle. This beagle finds Marty when he runs away from Judd (his owner.) The dog gets his name Shiloh when Marty finds him near the old schoolhouse that's called “the old Shiloh Schoolhouse.” The bond in this book displays a love between a boy and a dog. Judd can be explained as a rude hunting type man who is aggressive with his dogs. Marty has such a connection with this dog that he tries to purchase Shiloh off of Judd. He struggles to come up with enough money to buy the dog. Shiloh ends up running away again from Judd, most likely because of the fact that he is being beaten and kicked all the time. Marty ends up trying to hide Shiloh in a pen but a crazed dog ends up jumping into the pen and attacking the poor beagle. Shiloh ends up going to a vets office. When he comes back the vet drops of the dog back with Marty and his parents. This is when the family starts to be more supportive of Marty keeping the dog. At the end of the book Marty starts to connect and understand why Judd is so cruel and mean. Marty ends up seeing Judd hunting outside of deer season so he pretty much uses that to his advantage. He does some more for Judd in exchange for Shiloh to be his. 

The Agony of Alice is about 6th grade girl who is struggling with her self identity going into teen years. She struggles because her mother has passed away and she has no other strong females to look up to as a role model. What she does have is a father figure who loves her a lot but calls her “Al” instead of her name which is Alice. then she has an older brother who is nineteen years old. She does not exactly look up to him but she does think he is gross, but she still loves him. In school is where she meets the role model she has been looking for which is Miss Cole. She is a teacher at the school and Alice was hoping to have her as her teacher this year. But unfortunately she gets stuck with a different teacher Mrs.Plotkins. This teacher challenges her students to keep a journal that they can record thoughts and feelings. Alice uses this journal to record more of the embarrassing moments of her life. Such as her period, purchasing a bra, and boy drama with a boy she likes named Patrick. We get to see Alice change the way she thinks about herself. At first she was really insecure with who she was but then at the end she learns being herself and seeing the good in everyone is what is important. She also develops a strong bond to her teacher Mrs.Plotkins, or maybe it's really the teacher who develops a big heart for Alice. Alice is gifted a family ring from Mrs.Plotkins which is how the book ends. 

Going Where It's Dark is about a thirteen year old boy named Buck. Buck has a stutter and the kids at his school tend to bully him because of his speech issue. This book takes place in Virgina and follows Bucks need for self discovery and empowerment. I would describe Buck as an adrenaline junky. He likes the challenge himself to explore caves on his own without his best friend David. He moves away so now it's up to Buck to continue to go caving. We also get to meet Bucks family and learn about the family dynamic he is brought up in. He struggles with the changes his twin sister is going through. She ends up getting a boyfriend and he never sees her anymore. Their family also owns a lumberyard which he helps out their a lot. He also makes a connection to an older man named Jacob and does some work with him in exchange for speech therapy to help his stutter. The book ends with the bullies pushing Buck down into the “pit” as he calls it and is stuck down their for three days discovers a new part of a cave that has not been discovered. He becomes famous once he gets out and is in the newspaper. The virginia Cavers Association end up asking Buck to go with them. He wants to name the caverns after the man who had help him to overcome so much; Jacobs chair.

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June. Is about two girls who participate in an exchange type program at their school were they both live with each other and record their findings about what it was like to live in each others homes. This was all taken place in a two week exchange program. Ivy June and Catherine are the two main characters, however this book we are introduced to lots of outside family members that play an important roles in each of the girls lives. The girls worry about what is going to happen because a major flood takes place in Thunder Creek Kentucky. Trapping their local minors in the area. This is when the families all have to stay in a nearby church. Ivy Junes family was very upset because they did not know whether or not their family members working in the mines were okay. This was the turning point in the book were both girls lean on each other for comfort and support. At the end of the book all is okay. Ivy June’s Pawpaw is saved by the rescue team. Catherine ends up receiving the lucky rock from Ivy June, which sybloses their friendship will never end and it's something to remember her by. 

This photo is of her back in 1991 doing her acceptance speech for the Newbery award.