I am Rebel

Montgomery, Ross. I Am Rebel

June 27, 2025 by Candlewick Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rebel lives an idyllic life on a farm with his boy, Tom, who is twelve. They sleep in a cozy bed, have bacon for breakfast, and spend the days in the fields with the sheep. When the King's Guardsman show up at the house demanding double the taxes, Tom's Mum and Dad say that they will try to gather the money, but Tom thinks they should stand up against this treatment. In the woods, he meets Rider, an outlaw who is organizing a rebellion against the King in the High Tower. He gives Tom a red piece of cloth, but when Tom's parents find this, they are most unhappy. Tom runs away to join the rebellion, leaving the red cloth on Rebel's neck. Rebel is bereft and runs after his beloved owner. Eating some sorrell in the fields, he becomes very ill and is helped by Jaxon, a Masterless Dog. Rebel pleads with him to take him to Drulter, where a pig he has met mentioned the rebels are meeting, but when they get to the town, all they find is a picture Tom has drawn. A pub dog, Rollo, says that he can get them more information, but instead turns them over to Guardsmen. This catapults the two unlikely friends on an epic journey to reunite with Tom that takes them to a bothy where the rebels have stored guns (and where they meet Felix, a mouse whose wife was mistakenly taken a long with them), to the besieged city of Unsk, across a river, to the home of Pol, a shepherdess, and eventually onto the field of battle, where Rebel leads a charge that helps the Red Army defeat the king. On the way back, Rebel, Jaxon, and Tom have to decide what their roles will be after their adventures. 

Strengths: This had the feel of a classic animal adventure like Burnford's 1961 The Incredible Journey, but with a historical twist. Rebel is an endearing character who adores his boy and doesn't want to be separated from him. Jaxon is an irascible but good hearted wild dog who reluctantly helps the clueless Rebel from perishing, even though Rebel saves Jaxon twice, tethering the two together. There are a number of other animals as well, whom the pair meet on their way to the High Castle, but also on the way back home. There are a few humans as well, like Pol and her Grandad, who win Jaxon's trust and fix his injured paw. This are some philosophical moments, when Rebel meets the Companion and goes briefly to something like heaven before deciding he needs to stay to find Tom. While he makes it to the field of battle, Tom is injured, and the two sit out the worst of the fighting. Despite the sadness of the setting, this is a warm hearted tale of devotion and gratefulness that dog loving readers will adore. 
Weaknesses: This is set in an indeterminate place and time, although it has a pre-1800s feel to it. I personally prefer to know the setting of books, especially when they feel historical, but this doesn't seem to be referencing any particular king or military conflict. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Pennypacker's Pax or the animal tales of Sam Angus or Michael Morpurgo. 

The blurb on Amazon for this compares it to Dragt's 1962 Letter for the King, which was just rereleased by Pushkin Children's Books. Has anyone this title? It hadn't been on my radar at all.