Written by Ross Montgomery
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| © K. Robinson |
An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.
Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week a Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.
Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, settled in beside the fire with a box of tissues and glass of sherry, lets get this adventure under way . . .
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| © Image copyright K. Robinson |
AUTHOR: Ross Montgomery (Web page LINK click here.)
Illustrations by: Keith Robinson (Web page LINK click here.)
Published by: Walker Books (Web page LINK click here.)
Publication date Paperback: June 2024. OUT NOW
Paperback 13 digit ISBN: 978-152 950 2909
Paperback price on Amazon at time of posting: £7.35
UK Cover price for Paperback: £7.99
Amazon KINDLE price: £3.49
Audible available? YES, one credit.
Pages: 298
Age range: 8+
Any dogs or cats? Yes, both, and more. And much there is about life they do impart.
SPOILER ALERT
Some as to plot direction and characters.
Thank you to...
I am exceedingly grateful to Mrs Hudson for treating me from her pension so we can share this amazing canine story.
The plot
12-year-old Tom lives with his mum and dad on their sheep farm. It is a summer dawn, and Tom’s dog, Rebel, awakes beside his friend and, though he does not think of it that way, master. Life is good, and Rebel knows the day will be good, like all the days before since Tom rescued Rebel from the snow as a puppy.
Tom has never been beyond the nearby small town of Connick. He longs to travel and to climb the big nearby mountain and see the sights he has heard about. Tom sketches a lot with his charcoal and loves to do sketches of Rebel. They play and do all the things a dog and his boy do, games of stick and having tummies tickled. Rebel is a good dog and appreciates how lucky he is.
Later that same day, up in the top pasture tending the sheep, Tom spots the king’s guards patrolling the road. Villagers and farmers need permits to travel to market, to anywhere. The king has decreed that if they don’t pay the high taxes, they will have their permits to use the road removed. No permit or travel means no selling of livestock to earn the money to pay the high taxes. And so a downward spiral is created that sees the farmers turned out of their homes, their land salted, and buildings burned. They patrol at night and punish all who break the curfew, or speak against the new king. He wants it all, and lives on the other side of the mountain in a tall palace.
Then one day everything changes, and Rebel’s life becomes so different, unpredictable and dangerous.
Rebel awakes to raised voices in the kitchen below: two guardsmen have arrived and are demanding double taxes. Things get heated, and Tom shouts at the guards, who then smash his mother’s fine china set as they leave. They pass on a warning that the king is after a stranger to the parts, a man dressed in wolf skins. Anyone found harbouring him will be shot.
The huge injustice of it all and his dad’s acceptance of it, drives a wedge between Tom and his father that continues the next day. Tom is for action, but his father says they are farmers, not fighters. Up in the top pasture, a man dressed in wolf skin startles Tom and Rebel. Tom listens to what he has to say, and decides that he will join the revolutionaries, called the Reds, who wear a red neckerchief.
Now Rebel really does not trust the man, who goes by the name of Rider. Tom, however, is not afraid and goes off with him to a meeting of like-minded people. Rebel is a good dog and obeys his master despite his misgivings. Tom returns later, and far later than his parents would wish, and about his person his father spots a red neckerchief. The ensuing argument seems to have been resolved the following morning when Tom apologises for thinking of joining the Reds, and says he has burnt the neckerchief. Rebel is elated; life will once more be perfect.
But when Tom returns to tend the sheep that day, he orders Rebel to stay and not follow him as he ventures to join the gathering storm and uprising to topple the corrupt king. Before he leaves, he ties the red neckerchief around Rebel's neck.
So begins the true story of how Rebel learns he needs to break his master’s command and follow Tom’s trail before it disappears, no matter where it takes him. All so he can rescue his friend and keep him safe.
Pretty much everything that you could throw at a terrier happens in the ensuing tale. It is one of discovering his own inner dog, the truth and sometimes horrible and conflicting choices friendship and duty bring, and the hardships and brutality of war. Mix in also the uncertainty of what to do, who to trust and a need to get to Tom before war does, and you have a powerful combination. If I tell you more, where would the fun be in discovering an exceptional, heart-stopping and emotional story?
So, what did we think? Spoiler alert!
Very much like the storytelling in ‘Small Wonder’, the latest middle grade story by Ross Montgomery, I Am Rebel is incredibly well written. It is the distillation and concentration of an emotional, heart-tugging, action adventure.
I was totally locked in to this from early on, and would have read it from cover to cover given the opportunity, but other things got in the way. It wasn’t until Mrs H and I hit the home straight that we had the opportunity to read on to the end. I have to say it tugged at the heartstrings, and even Mrs H had the handkerchief out a few times and had to take a break.
It would be fair to say that every Lassie movie, and every dog and doggedly determined (and that is a most apt turn of phrase) that has hit the big and small screen since, carries an element of the magic in this tale, as this does of those. Whilst it is unfair to compare different entertainment formats, this is the most rounded, most vivid, and accomplished adventure to date.
The characters are well defined, lovable, and also easily disliked. There are challenges for the young Tom, confrontations, and decisions to be made and risks, mostly unknown, to endure.
Rebel’s journey is much the same, arguably much worse and with unique challenges. Though Mrs H said that, if you look closely, you can see Rebel and Tom’s journeys are actually very similar. Tom heads off with the wild and rough stranger, Rider, and Rebel journeys with Jaxon, a dog of the wilds and no master. Seeing through Rebel’s eyes, achieved very well by the author who clearly knows canines, as well as cats, made this an exceptionally involving tale.
The cover is very tactile. The title is raised from the page and seems very much a thick white paint has been used. Rebel, too, is embossed and adds an extra sense and dimension to the already wonderful work from the artist, Keith Robinson. Do click the link to his website to enjoy some more of his brilliant book-size art masterpieces. We both found there was a brief statement made periodically through the adventure that spoiled the flow of things for us slightly by dropping us out of our stride, engrossment, and investment in the characters. Maybe you will spot this or read through and not notice it at all. That said, this does not diminish the drama, the emotional ending, or the huge amount of glee we got from journeying along with Rebel and Jaxon in this tale.
Whilst Tom’s part in this journey is technically rather small, it provides a lot of motivation and action opportunities. What we can draw from this tale, as an aside, is maybe how dogs and masters trust each other. This, at the end of the day, is a tale, but brave dogs have existed throughout time and endured many hardships alongside humans. In its own way, this tale is a tribute to them all.
Also, if you wish to analyse these things, the meaning of the red neckerchief that Rebel wears, could be a symbol of belonging as well as belonging to another; of servant and servitude, as well as liberation. It is an interesting thought to conclude this review, and one that we will ponder for a while yet.
Crunch time.
A most worthy wearer of the crowning title of Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2024. And an amazing treat for animal adventure readers of any age who enjoy a well-crafted tale.
As a holiday season is almost upon us, I can recommend ‘I Am Rebel’ as well as ‘Small Wonder’ as perfect gift ideas. Click HERE, to read our review of SMALL WONDER. I hope you enjoyed those adventures.
Before we get on with the selfies, we just wanted to announce that our first adventure book, 'Chumley and Hudson Investigates. The King Herod's Mystery', is now available in a dyslexia friendly font format for readers almost everywhere!
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And now for something completely different . . .
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| ©Image Copyright |
If you look closely at this week's selfie, you can see near perfect whisker alignment. Mrs H says I spend far too much time whisker aligning and grooming. I say for good results, copious amounts of time in the bedroom straightening them (aka asleep) pays dividends!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that adventure, and will dip your toes into the amazing world of Middle Grade literature. Whilst most are quite short by comparison to adult reads, as they are for some of the most discerning of readers, they can be incredibly fulfilling.
Now that is likely to be last review of the year. We have a ton of editing to do and so little daylight and time to do it in. We have some great books to read, not least the third adventure for the Freddie, the Buddhist cat, (written by Julian Worker) which is entitled: Tree-Hugging Cats.
More on that next year.
If you comer across any good cat books, and or middle grade books, why not share them on the hops. After all, a good read can transport you anywhere and everywhere, and all your friends can share in the journey too.
Till laters!
ERin
