I am Rebel

Somewhere, in a land whose political geography might be recognised by Zorro or Robin Hood, anywhere where tyrants lord it over the poor, lives farm boy, Tom, and his faithful dog Rebel. They live a life of rural tranquility, except for the occasional intimidating visits of the King’s Guards. But rebellion is in the air and one day 13-year-old Tom leaves the farm to follow Rider, a mysterious leather-clad agitator who is gathering the people for a final reckoning. Left behind, Rebel feels deserted and betrayed but determines to seek Tom and to stand beside him in the battle. This is his story of his search and the animals he meets along the way, told in his own voice. He is reluctantly befriended by Jaxon, an older dog who lives alone and wild in the hills and has a poor view of humanity. It is the story of the challenges and dangers the two dogs face together, including a near fatal wolf attack and how their relationship grows. Theirs is a dialogue about freedom and loyalty. Rebel is a simple-hearted and trusting creature, proud to be a ‘good dog,’ whose faith in love and friendship even wins over the world-weary Jaxon. When they find Tom, it is in the midst of the final battle, in which Rebel unknowingly plays a decisive part. Ross Montgomery tells the story with humour and introduces us to some appealing characters. His description of the battle and the rebels triumph aims to thrill, yet also to acknowledge the human cost of conflict.