I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery

I Am Rebel is a timeless story of friendship, loyalty and the freedom that comes with true love. Charming and insightful, it’s a story of laughter and tears – of peril, loss and unwavering hope.

Rebel is Tom’s dog and Tom is his boy. With an unbreakable bond, they spend every moment together on Tom’s family sheep farm. Each part of the day is Rebel’s favourite – as long as he’s with Tom. He knows he’s a “good boy” and that they are meant to be together.

It’s a happy life until the King’s Guardsmen start demanding more rent. There’s no way the people will be able to pay but the alternative is unimaginable. Tom wants to resist but his parents forbid it. There’s too much at stake. With news of an uprising forming, Tom decides to run away leaving Rebel behind. What’s a dog to do when everything he’s ever known is gone?

Full of determination, Rebel sets off on an epic adventure to find his boy. He pushes himself beyond anything he thought possible in his quest to be brave for Tom. As Rebel’s strength, confidence and assertiveness grow, he realises what is truly important to him and how much he’s willing to risk to find it.

Along the way, Rebel meets the most wonderful animal characters. Seamus the pig, Felix the dormouse and Pearl the injured donkey all offer their own wisdom and support in challenging moments. But it’s Jaxon, the wild, masterless dog who helps Rebel find his true self. Questions of ownership, loyalty, duty and love are traced through the pair’s incredible journey and their growing relationship.

Told from Rebel’s innocent yet insightful point of view, this is a beautifully inspiring story. There’s nothing “twee” about the text – very real peril, heartbreaking loss and complex themes will challenge young readers right from the start. This would make a fantastic bedtime or class read for children age 9+ when there are opportunities to pause and discuss the big ideas of the story.

Rebel is the most delightful pup whose “loyalty really is worth more than all the gold in the world.”

Thank you to Rebecca Oram and Walker Books for a copy of this outstanding book.

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