I Am Rebel
I Am Rebel is the story of a dog separated from his boy, Tom, and determined to bring him home. Rebel is a good boy—he stays when Tom tells him to, even though it means being left behind. What Rebel doesn’t initially know is that Tom has joined a band of actual rebels marching to overthrow the king. Convinced Tom is in danger, Rebel sets off to save him.
The journey takes this small, unprepared dog through cities where a stray can vanish, forests filled with wolves, and lands terrorized by men with muskets. I didn’t expect to enjoy a middle grade novel this much, but you’d have to be a heartless monster not to be moved by this sweet, surprisingly wise story.
Along the way, Rebel makes friends—a gruff feral dog, a brave little mouse, a gentle donkey—and learns what it means to be brave, to live without humans (even though he’d rather not), and how love and loyalty shape us. He observes, in a way only dogs can, how small nothings often turn out to be the most important things. And that not everyone is lucky enough to have people to love and who love them back. It’s a powerful reminder to practice gratitude, no matter your age.
The themes of independence and resilience are well suited to younger readers. The short chapters and fast pace make it an easy, engaging read—for young readers, and for old people like me. My only gripe is the lack of setting details. We don’t know when or where this story takes place, though that fits, since Rebel wouldn’t know either. In my mind, it’s somewhere around the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
All in all, I Am Rebel is a heartfelt adventure, and I recommend it warmly for ages 9-12.
