Sidekick Review: I Am Rebel (2025) by Ross Montgomery

cover image of I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery, published by Candlewick Press, 2025.

The Basics

Page Length: 240

Audiobook Length: ~5.5 hours

Grade Reading Level: 4+

Target Audience Age: 9-12+

Goodreads Score: 4.24 out of 5

Buy it HERE

Setting: Psuedo-Civil War Britain (1600s). The book takes place on farmlands ruled by a tyrannical king.

Genre: Middle Grade Adventure

Topics: Dogs, Adventure, Freedom, Courage, War, Rebellion, Loyalty, Love, Survival

Plot: Rebel is a dog with a perfect life. He lives on a charming farm, eats lamb stew every night, and sleeps in a warm bed. His boy, Tom, is his favorite person in the whole world. Rebel belongs to Tom and is always by his side, happily obeying his every command. As far as Rebel is concerned, there is nothing better than being Tom's dog.

But that's not true for Tom. He and his family live under the rule of a cruel king—one who steals, taxes, and makes it impossible to live freely. So, much to his parents' chagrin, Tom joins a resistance group in the mountains called the "Reds." When Tom sneaks away, he orders Rebel to stay behind. Rebel obeys, of course. But when he realizes Tom may be in serious danger, Rebel knows exactly what he has to do: find his boy.

And so, begins the journey of a lifetime for Rebel. Alone for the first time and facing a dangerous wilderness filled with poisonous plants, terrifying wolves, and the King's Guard, Rebel must learn how to survive—and how to be brave. Along the way, he meets unexpected friends, learns about the mysterious "Companion," and begins to discover his "true dog." But as Rebel gets closer to Tom, he must face a difficult question: does being Tom's dog mean following his master, or finding his own way?

You might like this book if you like:

• Animals, especially if you are a dog person

• Exploring nature, hiking, camping

• Drawing/sketching

• Books like: A Dog's Way Home (a movie too), The One and Only Ivan (also a movie), Dogtown, The Last Bear, Because of Winn-Dixie (also a movie), Pax

• Shows like: Lost Ollie, Dog Squad, Hilda, The Dragon Prince

• Movies like: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Togo, The Call of the Wild (also a book), Eight Below

Other books written by this author: The Midnight Guardians, The Chime Seekers, Christmas Dinner of Souls, Max and the Millions, Spellstone, Perijee and Me

Teaching I Am Rebel in Class

Content

• Language: None

• Sex/Romance: None

• Violence/Scariness: There is war, battle scenes, and some injury. But no graphic descriptions or death of main characters.

• Drinking/Smoking/Drugs: None

Book Talk Read Aloud Section

*What is a book talk? (Watch a how to video here. Read my blog post here)

If you have the physical book, read pages 1-2 (through paragraph "I knew that today was going to be perfect.")

If you don't, read the same pages (locations 53-62) in the Kindle reading sample here.

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Used this book in your classroom? Tell us how in the comments!

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