A Great Read for the Younger Set
926196
Although this is a "boy loves dog" story in the truest sense of the term, "Shiloh" adds the dimension of animal abuse that is a contemporary concern of all that love animals.  Marty is a compassionate soul whose "hunting" is more of the investigative nature than the actual killing of an animal.  This aspect of the boy's character is one of the strengths especially in light of the stereotypical view of all young boys in rural America having a passion for killing.  Showing that it is just as "manly" to have concern for animals, as it to hunt them, is a concept that Ms. Naylor has cleverly presented.
By having the characters speak in the language and manner of the West Virginia hills, Naylor has added authenticity to her prose.  The conversations between the respective personalities are both insightful and entertaining.  As I read the book, I felt as if these were real people speaking to me in their natural manner.
Even though the principal is a boy, I am sure that all children, regardless of gender, can relate to this boy's courage and ingenuity.  Marty's devotion to the animal is certainly an attribute that all should aspire to have for others.
Because of the dog's presence in the family, there are subtle changes in the family.  Mother and father discover maturity in their son that hey had not seen before; the boy becomes closer to his younger sisters; and Marty realizes that he possesses perseverance and resourcefulness that would benefit him for the rest of his days.  Even an "enemy" of Marty becomes a respectful acquaintance.
When I first began reading the book, I thought that it would take me through familiar territory.  However, I was pleasantly surprised at its originality.
I cared for this boy and his dog.
Children will also have these same feelings.
3405708
It was a wonderful read. And there are many varying visuals to continue to entertain the children for multiple reads.
4030213
So the recommended reading age is grades 4-6 on this book and I wholeheartedly agree!! In fact I think this is perfect from my 3rd grader to take on and think she would like it.  I hesitate to think my 6th grader reluctant reader son would enjoy this. For that age group I think this is a fun, easy, engaging and kind of creative little read.  The characters are simple yet have a little depth to them. The story moves at a good pace and keeps information simple.  It would probably be a 4 star book from that age groups perspective.  I think it may be a great inspiration for this age group to read the REAL fables and fairy tales and not just think there is the Disney version available.
Now as an adult rating this I would give it more of a 2-3 star rating because I readily picked up some inconsistencies with the story, minor but definitely a few were peppered throughout.  It was very predictable from my perspective, and the main characters were kind of annoying.  But then I find my self easily annoyed by 11 almost 12 year old children lately (I can say this because one resides in my house at this moment.)  I am not rushing to pick up the next book.
4523041
A strong reader as young as 9 or 10 could enjoy this book.  I would hesitate to give or read it to a younger child because of the scary situations and terrifying monsters.  There are creatures like Dementors and goblins and other nameless horrors.  Children face execution and mutilation (although nothing like this actually happens), so a sensitive child could have a lot of trouble with this book.  Any child who can handle Harry Potter could handle this one, though the "feel" of it is more like a terrifying Narnia.

The Emerald Atlas is a wonderful start to a series.  Although it clearly draws from great children's fantasy  (Narnia among others), it manages to feel fresh and exciting.  It was funny, gripping, and surprising, and some of the dialogue was priceless.  Strong heroines and a strong, bookish boy.  Although the book  has time travel at its core, it has fun with the paradoxes and "cheats" that time-travel permits without going overboard.  The conflicts are resolved elegantly and interestingly.  Definitely one to recommend to young fans of perilous fantasy.
4784585
This book was truly welcome in our household as my daughter and I loved it and quickly moved on to book 2, and 3. It was also a great springboard for my 8 year old as she found herself enjoying this non-picture based book and this is a new stage for her reading. So, I can say it can captivate a young mind and a "slightly" older mind alike.
733594
A great addition to the series. This is really a great set of books for light reading for an adult or some more advanced stuff for a younger one.
2670281
My pun loving daughter loved this book. The format is so different from the usual fiction she reads. It has a conversational tone, like the narrator is a friend sharing secrets. Lots of very visually amusing illustrations.

Currently, young people's literature is very focussed on ghosts, vampires, ghouls and the ilk so this book gives the younger reader a taste of current literature's trends without being the least bit scary.

It is a quick little read - would have preferred a long book with a plot that had a little more meat but it is a fun read almost any kids between 8-11 would enjoy
1889591
I recommend this fun fantasy read for boys and girls as young as the 4th grade. There is plenty of action, and it never gets too violent or gruesome.

The characters are quirky and are more than one-dimensional.

It's a great read for kids to see that you don't have to be perfect to get the job done and have rich friendships.
4920258
What can I say it's the hobbit - a fun read for younger readers no doubt, and still mostly fun for older readers. Good for anyone looking for a kindler gentler sort of story. I actually like this one much more than any of his others.
699996
I enjoyed reading this book, and think it works best with young readers, around 12-16. As an adult, I had some issues, but in the realm of YA fiction, it is a great fit. The story has some simple metaphors that can easily be understood by the earlier mentioned age range, and I think it has a good introduction of those for them. Understanding intuition versus reason is important for those going through that time period and growing up in general. Will definitely recommend to the mid-scene reader. I also liked the pacing.
2147323
My daughter and I read this book together and really enjoyed it.  The plot is well developed and the book is educational as well.  A great book for young readers.
32001
The book was quite interesting and realistic, especially being that the story was designed for a very young reader. The story could be very relevant for young girls. The illustrations were also well done.
4767951
So far have just read the first book, my six year old enjoyed it during parts and was bored at parts. Overall I found it to be a great story with plenty of opportunities to tie in life lessons, plenty of action and well written, but easy to understand. Great junior fiction.
1627155
These books are a nice read for a bed time story. Some words can be advanced depending on the age of the child. The books are definitely meant for parents to read to the kids to enjoy together. A delight for the young and the young at heart!
2502060
This book reads like a very young middle grade book, something a 4th-5th grader may read. With that being said, I did find it very interesting and quick to read. Definitely a recommended book for younger readers, not for those who prefer young adult books as it does read a lot younger. But this is definitely a great book for kids to learn something from, lots of great lessons from this book. Its looking into the adventures of three young kids, Mort, Nihlus and Tesa in their home, Hamlet. They are faced with an attack by the neighboring village of Goblins and find themselves on an adventure to figure out why the men of Hamlet have not come back. Its a great book to start off kids with reading, I found the writing style to be really easy to follow. Throughout the book, you see the relationships between these three friends, a lot of arguing, but also a lot of great times where they protect each other. I found Mort to be my favorite character, he was a great friend to both Tesa and Nihlus in that not only was he protective of them when it came to the danger they found themselves in, but he was very comforting to them. Its clear from the beginning, when Nihlus hits a bit of a funk, and Mort knows that sometimes he just gets sad and he already knows what to say to make his friend feel better instead of just making fun of him or ignoring him. I really enjoyed this and as a parent would love my son to read this story. The characters learn a lot of lessons, they learn they can be brave and make a difference but they also have to learn that not everything ends up the way you plan. That sometimes your actions can have consequences no matter your intentions.
2958117
A great book for youngsters, highly recommended!
926802
I read  a few of Ron Roy's "A to Z" mysteries and was so impressed that I grabbed the first two from the Calendar series for younger readers. I'm happy to report that those volumes were just as entertaining.

Roy has three sets of mysteries. The "A to Z" mysteries, (26 volumes for the 26 letters and then three bonus volumes), are for older chapter book readers. The "Calendar" mysteries, (surprise - 12 volumes), are for younger readers and, in a clever twist, feature the younger siblings of the protagonists from the "A to Z" set. The third series features mysteries that take place at various national landmarks in Washington, D.C.

Both the "A to Z" books and the "Calendar" books feature an appealing set of characters, fair mystery plots, a bit of action and decent secondary characters. The Calendar books are like junior junior junior versions of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries. They have younger heroes, they are shorter, there are fewer twists and turns, there's very little danger, and the mysteries are a lot tamer.

But that said, they have many of the same strengths. The four heroes, (first graders Bradley, Brian, Nate and Lucy), play equal roles, with no apparent bias between boys and girls. There is the same authentic and mutually supportive friendship among them. Adults are generally patient, resourceful and dependable, (when they aren't the villain in disguise). There is a good balance between clue hunting and figuring things out. Probably the biggest difference between these books and the sets for older kids is that there is very little adventure, in that the kids are rarely chased or trapped or threatened or menaced. These are much milder on that score.

The mysteries are conventional, but I mean that in a good way - clues are fair, red herrings are fair, and the resolutions are logical. There are some convenient coincidences, but that's par for the course, especially in a relatively short chapter book. But even then the emphasis is on logical thinking and deductive reasoning, which is something that is often wanting in more fanciful and less thoughtfully plotted books for this age group.

In the "January" volume the kids get an alien invasion scare. Is it real or a prank?  The kids are very clever in gathering clues and thinking things through, although there is a bit of a thrill behind the idea that the invasion might be real. This one is less about detecting and solving and more about pranking.

In the "February" book we have a full blown mystery. Who abandoned a pet rabbit in the classroom, for adoption by the class? The kids follow clues and do actual detective legwork, and while everything falls conveniently into place, the solid bones of a decent mystery for new readers are clearly in place.

So, these are kids' books, but they aren't silly, and there is no hint of fart/booger humor, which may have its place, but not necessarily here. The writer treats the young chapter book reader with a lot of respect and I would expect that these stories would be a satisfying read for a youngster. I doubt you can ask for much more than that at this level and I could see a kid just eating up these tales and this likable cast of characters.

Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.