MAKING MEANING

About the Author

Hachiko:
The True Story of a Loyal Dog
Concept Vocabulary
You will encounter the following words as you read this work of historical
fiction. Before reading, note how familiar you are with each word. Then,
Pamela S. Turner (b. 1957) rank the words in order from most familiar (1) to least familiar (5).
grew up in Southern
California. She has always WORD YOUR RANKING
been interested in writing, timidly
and has said that the very
first thing she remembers anxiously
wanting to be was a
children’s author. Turner patiently
has lived all over the world.
While living in Japan, she thoughtfully
heard the story of Hachiko.
When she returned to the silently
United States, she wrote her
first book, Hachiko: The True
Story of a Loyal Dog. Since After completing the first read, come back to the concept vocabulary and
then, she has written many review your rankings. Mark changes to your original rankings as needed.
other books for children,
and has won numerous
awards for her writing.
First Read FICTION
Apply these strategies as you conduct your first read. You will have an
opportunity to complete the close-read notes after your first read.

Tool Kit First-Read

Guide and Model Annotation
NOTICE whom the story is ANNOTATE by marking
about, what happens, where vocabulary and key passages
and when it happens, and you want to revisit.
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why those involved react as
they do.

CONNECT ideas within RESPOND by completing

the selection to what you the Comprehension Check and
already know and what you by writing a brief summary of
have already read. the selection.

 STANDARDS
Reading Literature
By the end of the year, read and
comprehend literature, including
stories, dramas, and poems, in the
grades 6–8 text complexity band
proficiently, with scaffolding as
needed at the high end of the range.

118 UNIT 2 • ANIMAL ALLIES

 ANCHOR TEXT | HISTORICAL FICTION

Hachiko:
The True Story of
a Loyal Dog
Pamela S. Turner

W hen I was six years old, my family moved to a little house

in Tokyo near the Shibuya train station. At first the trains
frightened me. But after a while, I grew to enjoy their power and
NOTES

the furious noises they made. One day I begged Mama to take me
to meet Papa as he came home on the afternoon train. She laughed
and said, “Kentaro, you have become big and brave, just like a
samurai!” Together we walked to the station. Mama and I had
stopped near the station entrance when I noticed the dog.
2 He was sitting quietly, all alone, by a newspaper stand. He
had thick, cream-colored fur, small pointed ears, and a broad,
bushy tail that curved up over his back. I wondered if the dog
was a stray, but he was wearing a nice leather harness and looked
healthy and strong.
3 His brown eyes were fixed on the station entrance.
4 Just then, Papa appeared. He was chatting with an older man.
The dog bounded over to the man, his entire body wiggling and
quivering with delight. His eyes shone, and his mouth curled up
into something that looked, to me, just like a smile.
5 “Ah, Kentaro! You see, Dr. Ueno, you are not the only one who has
someone to welcome him,” said Papa. He introduced us to the older
man. “Dr. Ueno works with me at Tokyo Imperial University.”
6 “What is your dog’s name?” I asked timidly. The dog was timidly (TIHM ihd lee) adv.
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beautiful, but his sharp face reminded me of a wolf’s. I grabbed in a shy or fearful way;
cautiously
Mama’s kimono and stepped behind her, just in case.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” said Dr. Ueno kindly. “This is Hachiko. He is
CLOSE READ
big, but still a puppy. He walks me to the station every morning and
ANNOTATE: In paragraphs
waits for me to come home every afternoon. I think Hachiko stores
4 and 5, mark details that
up all his joy, all day long, and then lets it all out at once!” indicate Dr. Ueno’s age.
8 Hachiko stood wagging his tail next to Dr. Ueno. I reached to Mark details in paragraph 7
touch him, and he bounced forward and sniffed my face. I yelped that indicate Hachiko’s age.
and jumped back behind Mama. QUESTION: Why does
9 They all laughed. “Oh, Kentaro, don’t worry—he just wants to the author include these
get to know you,” said Dr. Ueno. “Dogs can tell a lot about people details?
just by smelling them. Why, Hachiko probably knows what you
CONCLUDE: How do
ate for lunch!” these details help set up
10 From that day on, I went to the train station almost every the situation that occurs
afternoon. But I no longer went to see the trains. I went to see in the story?

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog 119

Why did he make it a habit to go to the station daily instead of going occasionally? To see Hachiko
 Hachiko. He was always there, waiting near the newspaper stand. I
NOTES often saved a morsel from my lunch and hid it in one of my pockets.
11 Hachiko would sniff me all over, wagging his tail, until he found
a sticky bit of fish or soybean cake. Then he would nudge me with
his nose, as if to say, “Give me my prize!” When it was cold, I
would bury my face in the thick ruff of creamy fur around his neck.
12 One day in May, I was waiting at the station with Hachiko. The
moment I saw Papa, I knew something was wrong. He was alone,
and he walked hunched over, staring sadly at the gray pavement
under his feet.
anxiously (ANGK shuhs lee) 13 “What’s the matter, Papa?” I asked him anxiously, standing with
adv. in a worried, uneasy one hand on Hachiko’s broad head. He sighed. “Kentaro, let’s go
manner; nervously
home.” Hachiko’s bright brown eyes followed us as we walked
away, but he stayed behind, waiting for Dr. Ueno.
14 When we got home, Papa told us that Dr. Ueno had died that
morning at the university. I was stunned. “But what will happen to
Hachiko?” I asked, blinking hard to keep the tears back. “What will
he do?”
15 The next day, I went back to check on Hachiko, but he was not
there. Papa told me that Hachiko had been taken several miles
away to live with some of Dr. Ueno’s relatives. “But I’ll never see
him again!” I cried. “Why can’t he live with us?”
16 ”We don’t have room for a dog,” protested Papa. “And Hachiko
really belongs to Dr. Ueno’s relatives, now that Dr. Ueno is dead.
Hachiko is better off having a home than sitting in a train station.”
17 But Hachiko had other ideas. A few days later he was back at
patiently (PAY shuhnt lee) Shibuya Station, patiently waiting, his brown eyes fixed on the
adv. bearing annoyance, entrance. Hachiko had run back to his old home, and from there to
hardship, or pain calmly
Shibuya Station.
and without complaint or
anger 18 Mama and Papa let me take food and water to Hachiko every
day. Other people at the station took an interest in Hachiko. Men
and women who rode Papa and Dr. Ueno’s train stopped by to
scratch his ears and say a few kind words. One day I saw an old
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man filling Hachiko’s water bowl as Hachiko licked his hand. The
old man’s hair was streaked with gray, and he was stooped, as if he
had spent most of his life bent over the ground. But his eyes were as
sharp and bright as Hachiko’s.
19 “Are you young Kentaro?” the old man asked. I nodded. “I am
Mr. Kobayashi. I was Dr. Ueno’s gardener.
20 “Dr. Ueno told me that you and Hachiko often wait for the
afternoon train together.”
21 “Do you still take care of the house where Dr. Ueno lived?”
I asked.
22 “Yes,” said Mr. Kobayashi. “Hachiko comes back to the house
every night to sleep on the porch. But in the morning, he walks to
the station just like he did with Dr. Ueno. When the last train leaves
the station, he returns home.”

120 UNIT 2 • ANIMAL ALLIES

 23 We were both silent. Then I asked, “Do you think Hachiko knows
NOTES
that Dr. Ueno died?”
24 Mr. Kobayashi said thoughtfully, “I don’t know, Kentaro. Perhaps thoughtfully (THAWT fuhl
lee) adv. showing careful
he still hopes that Dr. Ueno will return someday. Or perhaps he
consideration or attention
knows Dr. Ueno is dead, but he waits at the station to honor his
master’s memory.”
25 As the years passed and Hachiko got older, he became very stiff
and could barely walk to Shibuya Station. But still he went, every
day. People began collecting money to build a statue of Hachiko at
the station. Papa, Mama, and I all gave money, and we were very
happy when the statue was placed next to the spot where Hachiko
had waited for so many years.
26 One chilly morning I woke to the sound of Mama crying. “What’s
wrong?” I asked as I stumbled into the kitchen. Papa sat silently at silently (SY luhnt lee) adv.
without noise
the table, and Mama turned her tear-stained face to me. “Hachiko
died last night at Shibuya Station,” she choked. “Still waiting for
Dr. Ueno.” MEDIA CONNECTION
27 Later that day we all went to the station. To our great
surprise, Hachiko’s spot near the newspaper stand was
covered in flowers placed there by his many friends.
28 Old Mr. Kobayashi was there. He shuffled over to me and
put a hand on my shoulder.
29 “Hachiko didn’t come back to the house last night,” he
said quietly. “I walked to the station and found him. I think
his spirit is with Dr. Ueno’s, don’t you?”
The Secret Life of the Dog
30 “Yes,” I whispered.
31 The big bronze statue of Hachiko is a very famous Discuss It How does
meeting place. Shibuya Station is enormous now, and viewing this video add to
hundreds of thousands of people travel through it every your understanding of the
day. People always say to each other, “Let’s meet at relationship between dogs and
Hachiko.” Today Hachiko is a place where friends and people? Write your response
before sharing your ideas.
family long separated come together again. ❧
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Comprehension Check
Complete the following items after you finish your first read.

1. How does Kentaro first meet Hachiko? RESEARCH

Kentaro first met Hachiko at the train station when he went with his mom Research to Clarify
to see his father. Hachiko was waiting for Dr.Ueno (his master). Formulate a research
question that you might use
2. According to the story, what do people say today when they
to find out more about the
want to meet at Shibuya Station?
real-life Hachiko.
People today meet at Hachiko's statue in the station since
everyone knows it.
3. Notebook Write a three-sentence summary of the selection.

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog 121

 MAKING MEANING

Close Read the Text

1. This model, from paragraph 4, shows two sample annotations, along
with questions and conclusions. Close read the passage, and find
another detail to annotate. Then, write a question and conclusion.
HACHIKO: THE TRUE STORY OF
A LOYAL DOG

1-It symbolizes ANNOTATE: The author uses vivid

language to describe Hachiko’s
loyalty and movements.
represents QUESTION: Why does the author choose
reuniting with these words to describe Hachiko’s ANNOTATE:
movements? Thie idea of a
friends and the dog smiling is
CONCLUDE: These vivid words create a
loved ones. interesting.
word picture of Hachiko’s joy.
QUESTION:
2-Both Hachiko and Why does the
Just then, Papa appeared. He was author describe
Kentaro grew some chatting with an older man. The Hachiko in this
sense of attachment. dog bounded over to the man, his way?

Hachiko would wait for entire body wiggling and quivering CONCLUDE: This

Dr. Ueno daily in the with delight. His eyes shone, and his description makes
mouth curled up into something that Hachiko’s feelings
station, and Kentaro looked, to me, just like a smile.
seem like strong
human emotions.
would go there too in
order to see his dog
friend.
Tool Kit 2. For more practice, go back into the text and complete the
Close-Read Guide and close-read note.
Model Annotation
3. Revisit a section of the text you found important during your
first read. Read this section closely and annotate what you
notice. Ask yourself questions such as “Why did the author
make this choice?” What can you conclude?

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 STANDARDS CITE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

Reading Literature
Analyze the Text to support your answers.
• Determine a theme or central idea
of a text and how it is conveyed
Notebook Respond to these questions.
through particular details; provide 1. Interpret What does the statue of Hachiko symbolize, or represent,
a summary of the text distinct from
personal opinions or judgments. to the people of Japan?
• Describe how a particular story’s 2. Compare and Contrast How does Kentaro’s loyalty to Hachiko
or drama’s plot unfolds in a series
of episodes as well as how the
compare with Hachiko’s loyalty to Dr. Ueno?
characters respond or change as the 3. Essential Question: How can people and animals relate to each
plot moves toward a resolution.
other? What have you learned about the connection between people
• Analyze how a particular sentence,
chapter, scene, or stanza fits into and animals from reading this selection?
the overall structure of a text and
contributes to the development of I learned that animals get attached to people (their
the theme, setting, or plot.
owners) and that they have feelings just like us.
122 UNIT 2 • ANIMAL ALLIES They would form a really strong and long lasting
relationship with their masters.
 essential question : How can people and animals relate to one another?

Analyze Craft and Structure

Historical Fiction When writers base fictional stories on real events
from the past, it is called historical fiction. Historical fiction uses facts,
but blends them with elements from the author’s imagination. Historical
fiction shows what the past might have been like. Certain literary
elements are especially important in this type of fiction:

• Setting is the time and place in which a story occurs. In historical

fiction, the setting must accurately show real places. In addition,
made-up places have to be believable.
• Conflict is the struggle or problem characters face. A story shows
how a conflict begins, increases, and ends. In historical fiction, the
conflict may show how a situation or character (such as a dog)
became famous or important.
• Theme is a message about life or human nature that a story reveals.
Historical fiction combines real and imaginative elements to express
a theme.
In this story, Hachiko and Dr. Ueno are real. They lived in Tokyo, Japan,
in the early twentieth-century. Shibuya Station is also a real place. Dr.
Ueno’s death and Hachiko’s actions really happened. However, Kentaro
and his parents are fictional. Their actions are also fictional, although they
are likely based on things real people felt and did.

CITE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

Practice to support your answers.

Notebook Respond to these questions. 1-At the beginning, the

setting(station) was as
1. How does the setting at the beginning of the story compare with the random and anonymous
description of Shibuya Station at the end? Explain how this change shows as any other. However,
the importance of Hachiko’s story to the people of Tokyo. the focus shifted from
2. (a) In the chart, record details that show the loyalty shown between Hachikobeing a general train
and other characters in the story. (b) What possible theme do these details station to the one with
suggest? Hachiko's statue.
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LOYALTY TO HACHIKO LOYALTY FROM HACHIKO

Dr. Ueno
Kentaro
Mr. Kobayashi
others
THEME

3. Both Hachiko and Kentaro face conflicts following Dr. Ueno’s death.
(a) How do they deal with these conflicts? (b) What results from their efforts?
Explain.
4. Focus on paragraphs 18–24, in which Kentaro meets Mr. Kobayashi. How does
this scene relate to the story as a whole?

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog 123

 LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Concept Vocabulary
timidly anxiously patiently
thoughtfully silently
HACHIKO: The True Story of
a Loyal Dog
Why These Words? The five concept vocabulary words all show how
people act and react to one another. For example, when Kentaro first
meets Hachiko, he asks the dog’s name timidly, with shyness and caution.

1. How does the concept vocabulary convey the characters’ emotional

responses to important events in the story?

The words tell the way the characters do

things or how they react to each other or to
the situations.
2. What other words in the selection relate to this concept?

Practice
 WORD NETWORK Notebook The concept vocabulary words appear in the selection.
Add words related to people Use a thesaurus to find at least one synonym, or word with a similar
and animals from the text to meaning, and one antonym, or word with an opposite meaning, for
your Word Network. each concept vocabulary word. Then, use a dictionary to determine the
precise meaning of each synonym and antonym.
It is letters that we add to the end of the word to change its
meaning or its part of speech (for example from verb into
Word Study adverb)
Anglo-Saxon Suffix: -ly Each of the concept vocabulary words ends
with -ly. The Anglo-Saxon suffix -ly can be added to an adjective to
 STANDARDS
form an adverb that modifies a verb. An adverb ending in -ly is called an
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Language
• Demonstrate command of the adverb of manner because it describes the manner or way in which an
conventions of standard English action takes place.
capitalization, punctuation, and
spelling when writing.
b. Spell correctly.
1. Review each concept vocabulary word as Turner uses it in the
• Determine or clarify the meaning selection. Identify the verb each concept word modifies by showing
of unknown and multiple-meaning the way in which it takes place.
words and phrases based on grade 6
reading and content, choosing
flexibly from a range of strategies.
d. Verify the preliminary
determination of the meaning of a
word or phrase.
• Demonstrate understanding
of figurative language, word
2. Scan paragraphs 2 and 7, and find two more words with the suffix -ly.
relationships, and nuances in word Then, write a definition for each word that shows your understanding
meanings. of the suffix -ly.
b. Use the relationship between
particular words to better
understand each of the words.

124 UNIT 2 • ANIMAL ALLIES

 essential question : How can people and animals relate to each other?

Conventions
Spelling and Capitalization Most nouns follow straightforward
spelling rules when changing from singular to plural. For example, you
simply add -s or -es to the end of the singular word. The nouns train,
watch, and hero are singular. The plural forms are trains, watches, and
heroes. Other nouns need additional spelling changes to go from singular
to plural. For these irregular plurals, follow these rules.

SPELLING OF SINGULAR NOUN RULE EXAMPLES

Ends with a consonant plus -y Change the y to i and add -es story, stories
memory, memories

Ends in -f or -fe Change the f to v and add -es or -s life, lives

yourself, yourselves

It is also important to follow rules for correct capitalization. Here are some
capitalization rules to use:

CAPITALIZE EXAMPLE
the first word in a sentence Just then, Papa appeared.

the first word in a line of dialogue “But what will happen to Hachiko?” I asked.

the pronoun I I went to see Hachiko.

a proper noun or adjective Shibuya Station is enormous now.

a person’s title if used as part of the name Dr. Ueno said, “His name is Hachiko.”

Read It
1. Correct the capitalization in each of the following sentences.
Explain the reasons for your corrections.
a. hachiko was born in japan in november of 1923.
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b. the loyal dog walked from his home to shibuya station each day.

c. “are you kentaro?” the old man asked. “i am mr. kobayashi.”

2. Reread paragraph 5 of “Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog.”

Mark the proper nouns.

Write It
Notebook Write a paragraph about Hachiko. Spell plural nouns
correctly, and observe the rules of capitalization.

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog 125

 EFFECTIVE EXPRESSION

Writing to Sources
“Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog” tells the story of a boy and a
dog. This story is narrated by Kentaro, a character in the story. Readers
get to learn about Hachiko through Kentaro’s eyes.
HACHIKO: The True Story of
a Loyal Dog Assignment
Write your own version, or story adaptation, of “Hachiko: The True
Story of a Loyal Dog.” In your adaptation, change the narrator, and tell
the story through Hachiko’s eyes. Follow these steps:
• Reread the story, and identify main plot events.
• Take careful note of Hachiko’s actions. Also, note his relationships
with Dr. Ueno, Mr. Kobayashi, and other human beings in the story.
• Then, relate the story from Hachiko’s point of view. As Hachiko
tells the story, use details that show what he saw, smelled, heard,
and felt as he lived through his experiences.
 STANDARDS
Writing Vocabulary and Conventions Connection Consider including several
• Write narratives to convey real
or imagined experiences or of the concept vocabulary words. Also, remember to follow spelling and
events using effective technique, capitalization rules when writing.
relevant descriptive details, and
well-structured event sequences.
a. Engage and orient the reader timidly anxiously patiently
by establishing a context and
introducing a narrator and/or thoughtfully silently
characters; organize an event
sequence that unfolds naturally
and logically.
• Draw evidence from literary or
informational texts to support Reflect on Your Writing
analysis, reflection, and research. After you have written your story adaptation, answer the following
a. Apply grade 6 Reading standards
to literature. questions.
Speaking and Listening
• Engage effectively in a range of 1. What was the most challenging part of the assignment?
collaborative discussions with diverse
partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and
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issues, building on others’ ideas and
expressing their own clearly.
a. Come to discussions prepared, 2. How might you revise your story to improve it?
having read or studied required
material; explicitly draw on
that preparation by referring to
evidence on the topic, text, or issue
to probe and reflect on ideas under
discussion. 3. Why These Words? The words you choose make a difference in your
b. Follow rules for collegial writing. Which words did you specifically choose to bring your narrator
discussions, set specific goals and
deadlines, and define individual
to life?
roles as needed.
• Present claims and findings,
sequencing ideas logically and using
pertinent descriptions, facts, and
details to accentuate main ideas
or themes; use appropriate eye
contact, adequate volume, and clear
pronunciation

126 UNIT 2 • ANIMAL ALLIES

 essential question : How can people and animals relate to each other?

Speaking and Listening

The unique relationship between dogs and people is important in many
stories you may have heard or read.

Assignment
Briefly research a real-life account of a dog who performed a heroic
act. Then, hold a partner discussion with a classmate. During the
discussion, share the story you researched, and discuss similarities and
differences between the dog heroes you learned about and Hachiko.

Follow these steps as a guide.

1. Perform Research Locate a story of a heroic dog that you enjoy. If

you are researching online, choose specific keywords to narrow your
search. For example, you might use the keywords “dog” and “hero.”
When you find a story you like, make a copy of it.
2. Read Your Stories Aloud Choose a partner, and take turns reading
your stories aloud to each other. Read clearly, and vary your tone to
give expression to the reading.
3. Listen Closely Listen attentively as your partner reads aloud. Take
notes as you listen to use in your discussion.
4. Discuss Your Observations Once you have finished reading your
stories aloud, talk about the similarities and differences you see
between the dogs you researched and Hachiko.
5. Evaluate Use an evaluation guide like the one shown to evaluate
your partner discussion.

DISCUSSION Evaluation Guide

Rate each statement on a scale of 1 (not demonstrated)  EVIDENCE LOG

to 5 (demonstrated).
Before moving on to a
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new selection, go to your

Each partner was prepared to share stories, information, and
Evidence Log and record
observations.
what you learned from
“Hachiko: The True Story
Each partner presented a story and related ideas in a focused way.
of a Loyal Dog.”
Each partner listened closely and provided feedback and comments.

Partners took turns speaking, and built on each other’s ideas.

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog 127