Not that the abuse appeals to them, but it's something that in Shiloh , the boy is up against a crude, insensitive adult and in one way or another, children always meet up with similar characteristics in some adults. And it's the helplessness they feel in dealing with an adult that has all the control over them. I was delighted that Shiloh won 25 state awards. I think it appeals to different children for different reasons. Smaller children just want the boy to get the dog.
Older children see the moral dilemma.
And I think it's good to realize that there are many areas in life where it's very difficult to figure out exactly what is the right thing and what is the wrong thing to do. Sometimes we have to compromise. Sometimes it's not a clear-cut decision. So Marty has to strike out on his own and figure out what is the right thing to do. This makes the story complex, but I think it also makes it interesting for discussions in school classrooms and around the family dinner table.