The Thonkers are an exclusive club of three third-grade boys. To become a member, each exhibited a feat of macho bravery--Jimmy had a knee operation and the two others had, respectively, a broken arm and a near-miss car accident. Tough Jimmy is embarrassed when his wimpy cousin, David, arrives for the summer. Determined to keep his distance from David, Jimmy and his friends have many wild and dangerous adventures. But when Jimmy's father has a serious accident, Jimmy learns the true meaning of bravery from an unlikely source.

The final entry in the trilogy about young Marty Preston and his beloved dog, Shiloh. Here Marty and his family attempt to help Shiloh's previous owner, Judd Travers, redeem himself after the near-fatal truck accident depicted in "Shiloh Season". Marty and his family give Judd the benefit of the doubt, believing that he can change his evil ways, but the rest of the community is convinced that Judd can never change. Hoping to save Judd's other dogs the way he saved Shiloh, Marty begins helping Judd care for the animals. However, when Judd is suspected of murdering a man who has disappeared, Marty fears he has put himself, and Shiloh, in a dangerous situation.

Set in the hills of rural West Virginia, this is the story of 11-year-old Marty Preston and the dog he sets out to rescue from its abusive owner. Although Marty knows better than to do battle with the foul-tempered Judd Travers, he is unable to stop himself when he discovers that the gentle but frightened beagle he found roaming in the woods has run away from Judd. Although Marty initially returns the dog, he is unable to do so when the dog escapes from him a second time and returns to Marty's gentle care. Knowing that his parents will send the dog right back, Marty builds a pen for his new pet, whom he names Shiloh, and secretly cares for him--hoping, in the meantime, to raise enough money to buy the dog from Judd. However, caring for Shiloh means lying to his friends and family, a situation that causes Marty great pain. A study of human nature, sacrifice, ethics, and the eternal bond between boy and dog, SHILOH won the 1992 Newbery Medal.