Erin the Literary Cat : Walker books

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Sunday, 30 November 2025

I AM REBEL

Written by Ross Montgomery

Small copy of book cover. The cover, done in a painted fashion, shows the head and shoulders of a dog, Rebel, who is the central character in this story. He has typical flopped over triangular ears, and brown eyes. He occupies the middle bottom three fifths of the page. His fur is blend of is a blend of light and dark browns. Around his neck is a red neckerchief. His head points to his right. Behind him to neck height is a mountain range in dark brown, purples and black. Above that is a sunset/sunrise of white and yellow set above the mountains and below a pale blue and dark cloud scattered sky. The title "I AM REBEL is given a white paint brush effect, that because of the way the cover is embossed from behind, raises it and gives an almost 3D appeal. Rebel the dog, and the authors name along the bottom of the page, are also raised and textured. To the right hand side at shoulder height there seems to be a structure burning, and a red/purple smoke can be seen palling into the sky and off the cover.

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 . . .

Large copy of book cover. The cover, done in a painted fashion, shows the head and shoulders of a dog, Rebel, who is the central character in this story. He has typical flopped over triangular ears, and brown eyes. He occupies the middle bottom three fifths of the page. His fur is blend of is a blend of light and dark browns. Around his neck is a red neckerchief. His head points to his right. Behind him to neck height is a mountain range in dark brown, purples and black. Above that is a sunset/sunrise of white and yellow set above the mountains and below a pale blue and dark cloud scattered sky. The title "I AM REBEL is given a white paint brush effect, that because of the way the cover is embossed from behind, raises it and gives an almost 3D appeal. Rebel the dog, and the authors name along the bottom of the page, are also raised and textured. To the right hand side at shoulder height there seems to be a structure burning, and a red/purple smoke can be seen palling into the sky and off the cover.

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.

Against a wintery grey sky, with leaves flying all-around, Tick, protagonist, rides a grey horse bareback and reinless, his arm around its neck. The horse, bears from left to right, with its neck bent towards the cover middle. Tick wears a white shirt with waistcoat on top, a red scarf around his neck and a small pouch flaps near his waist. Author's name in white at top, & the title in bold yellow brush strokes at bottom, with"If you have one chance, make it count" is written in white below.

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!

Front book cover of Chumley and Hudson Investigate, the King Herod's Mystery. Book sits on a blue background.

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And now for something completely different . . .

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. CLICK THIS LINK to visit their site and to get the LATEST code to add to your own blog . . .

Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

Erin lays curled up, her feet and face pointing left. Her whiskers on her left face are nearly all straight.She lays on her short-pile grey fleece bedspread, which occupies the top four fifths of the image. The bottom fifth is the pink duvet cover. Her tail is looped over her hind feet, and her forearms extend slightly and her nose rests on them part way down. She sleeps easily.

©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.

Sunday, 17 August 2025

SMALL WONDER

Written by ROSS MONTGOMERY

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, checking our emergency equipment bags, lets head to the land of Ellia and the wood by the coast, for what has to be a brand new classic.

AUTHOR: Ross Montgomery (Click to link to their site)

Cover Illustrated by: Keith Robinson (Click to link to their site)

Published by: Walker Books (Click to link to their site)

Publication date Paperback: 28th August 2025

Paperback 13 digit ISBN: 978-152 952 6127

UK Cover price for Paperback: £7.99

Amazon KINDLE price: £7.21

Pages: 277

Age range: 9 - 12 and up.

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

Thank you to...

We are exceedingly grateful to Rebecca Oram and Walker Books, Publishers, for offering us a chance to Read & Review this story.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

Tick, age ten, and his younger brother, Leaf, about five, have lived with their grandpa on the farthest edge of the forest of Ellia, right by the sea.

Tick recalls the stormy night when someone brought a baby to his grandfather’s cottage. The baby soon became known as Leaf, and the three had lived happily for years, right until grandfather died. Now Tick has to be the man of the cottage. They were out collecting wood before the snows came, when Tick spotted the black sails of the Drene warships massed across the horizon. The war-hungry, bloodthirsty emperor of the Drene is invading. Tick had been warned that this day might come, and knows they must now flee to the Ellian stronghold called King’s Keep. Set far inland, it is an impregnable fortress at the end of a valley. Ideal for defending, and for holding out against a siege.

Winter is coming, and Tick knows that in such an emergency he has only six moons to get there before they raise the drawbridge. With snow already forming inland and around the mountain pass to the the Keep, they need to travel quickly. Their grandfathers horse is called Pebble a mighty sixteen hand dapple grey mare. And even though she is almost twenty she has the stamina and fight of a far younger horse, will carry both boys and he will be their salvation. They need to get supplies from their home before the flee. Dashing back to the cabin, Tick discovers there is someone there, a man dressed all in black. He is advance guard for the Drene army who can clear the way of locals; despatching them in the night as they sleep. They are called Hunters, ride a black horse, and use big hawks to hunt as well as carry messages.

With no way of getting the provisions and equipment they need for the journey, Tick steals from the Hunter’s saddlebag. In his hurry to search the bag for anything useful, he stuffs some of the mans papers from the bag into his pocket.

But when the Hunter returns, they flee the scene and head for the hills and safety.

This is where the adventure snowballs. Along his path, guided by Pebble, who is both mount and guide and nanny, the boys will encounter bandits, knights with unknown loyalty, strangers who may or may not be what they seem, and increasingly threatening weather.

It soon becomes a life or death chase when the hunter and his black hawk come after them. But surely nothing Tick took could be worth the pursuit? Checking the pieces of paper he took, he realises they contain precious information that will affect King Cass, the ruler of Ellia, as well as the safety of all in the Keep.

Has Tick bitten off more than he can handle? Will the snow or the hunter get to them before they make King’s Keep, and will they be welcomed at the Keep when they arrive? Can he keep young Leaf alive and well through the ordeal and cold that awaits? Whatever happens now, with thousands of Drene warriors behind them, there is NO turning back.

So, what did we think?

Mrs H read The Lord of the Rings many (many) moons ago, under the covers and late into the night. She also read T. H. White’s Arthurian saga. Again at a very young age. He wrote The Sword in the Stone (1938), and later, The Once and Future King series (1958). I think this is why this adventure resonates with Mrs H so much.

In those days, she says there were few good books for children; you jumped from Janet and John early learning books to Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven (or the Famous Five) and then on to adult books. Or that is how it seemed in retrospect.

What a joy it is to read and review so many brilliantly creative, compelling and well-executed reads. This adventure hits the mark in every way. The author says he set out to create a story that was not overly complicated, had knights and an evil army intent on overthrowing good. And a horse that would fight to the bitter end to protect him and his brother. Apparently, the horse role was going to be taken by an enormous dog. Frankly, the story works brilliantly with a horse. As a horse lady herself, Mrs H would have loved a steed such as Pebble. Our own steed would balk at such a task as Tick had set for them all. But this is a fantasy adventure, and the ups, downs, joys and sadness work well.

The author has achieved all that they set out to do and more, and created the perfect contender for an instant classic. One that Mrs H and I would dearly have loved to have growing up.

The author wrote Tick in the very best way. Being ten years old means that his innocence feels genuine. His desire to do good, to care, to put others first, and above all to fulfil his now dead grandfather’s wish that he look after his five-year-old brother, all feel so very tangible and unforced by the writer.

It very much feels like it is Tick’s story that drives the tale rather than a plot formula. There is a difference in our eyes, and we feel this raises this tale to classic status. Some lovely twists also caught us off guard when they were revealed at the end.

And if all that is not enough, we fell in love with the artwork on the cover. It is so captivating, powerful and expressive. It certainly is memorable.

So, crunch time.

An Arthurian and Tolkienesque epic masterpiece of middle-grade adventure. A distillation of everything a young reader could wish for in a form that carries you faultlessly through an emotional range to the climatic and even heartwarming conclusion. An avalanche of creativity, fantasy, action and adventure that is huge fun to read.

Why, oh why were such books not there in our youth? But they are here now, and this one is a cracker. AND, it has a map!

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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 for Kindle users and Kindle Unlimited users almost everywhere!

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And now for something completely different . . .

Here is yours truly desperately trying to hold back the dawn Mrs H let in one day last week. I just wasn't at all ready, even thought it was past 7am and Mrs H had been up since 4:30 and done her morning chores.

What books have you all been reading, and would you recommend them to your blogging friends and the wider world?

Till laters!

ERin