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Rebel
Her name was Amanda Jane Keeling, but from the time she was two, everyone called her Rebel.
Rebel's first word was "No!" And it was downhill from there. As a toddler she resisted strained spinach and potty training. At five she refused to go to kindergarten. Now, at fourteen, she has toned down her rebellious streak somewhat, but whenever faced with a challenge, she still feels the need to confront it head on, despite the opinions or advice of others.
When Rebel and her friend Moses -- the only boy she's ever met who can match her in both wit and height -- witness some strange goings-on, instead of going straight to the police, they decide to investigate the matters themselves. A bizarre robbery, an open door in the middle of the night, muddy footprints...all these clues lead Rebel and Moses to more questions than answers. But still they won't go for help. Little do they know the danger that waits them...
Rebel's first word was "No!" And it was downhill from there. As a toddler she resisted strained spinach and potty training. At five she refused to go to kindergarten. Now, at fourteen, she has toned down her rebellious streak somewhat, but whenever faced with a challenge, she still feels the need to confront it head on, despite the opinions or advice of others.
When Rebel and her friend Moses -- the only boy she's ever met who can match her in both wit and height -- witness some strange goings-on, instead of going straight to the police, they decide to investigate the matters themselves. A bizarre robbery, an open door in the middle of the night, muddy footprints...all these clues lead Rebel and Moses to more questions than answers. But still they won't go for help. Little do they know the danger that waits them...
153 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2003
11 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Willo Davis Roberts
121 books136 followersWillo Davis Roberts was an American writer chiefly known for her mystery novels for children and young adults. She won Edgar Allan Poe awards in 1989, 1995, and 1997 for best juvenile and best young adult mysteries. Her books included The View from the Cherry Tree, Twisted Summer, Don't Hurt Laurie, Megan's Island, Baby-sitting is a Dangerous Job, Hostage, The Girl with Silver Eyes, The One Left Behind and Scared Stiff.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 10, 2016
Amanda is a young girl (14) who is sort of rebellious but not really “bad.” She's quite tall for a girl, though, and that has caused her problems at school where she's been made fun of a lot.
Her parents are going to Europe for a vacation and Rebel is due to join them after she has helped two older female relatives work on fixing up an old house to turn enable them to rent out rooms. While there she meets a boy named Moses who's even taller than she is.
Moses likes to use his video camera and while filming he catches a thief fleeing from a store. Things become complicated when it appears that someone tried to break into the house, or maybe even did and got away. Soon Rebel and Moses begin to find clues to what really happened, and before long they are involved in something that could easily end up in felony charges for the crook or crooks.
Rebel being a rebel, though, wants to try and handle things with just herself and Moses, whereas Moses thinks it's time to call his Uncle, who's a policeman. One thing leads to another and, in the end, calling the police becomes a critical necessity as they and the house become under siege to a gang of desperate criminals.
It's a pretty good story. Not an earth-shakingly important kind of story, but still a decent read.
Her parents are going to Europe for a vacation and Rebel is due to join them after she has helped two older female relatives work on fixing up an old house to turn enable them to rent out rooms. While there she meets a boy named Moses who's even taller than she is.
Moses likes to use his video camera and while filming he catches a thief fleeing from a store. Things become complicated when it appears that someone tried to break into the house, or maybe even did and got away. Soon Rebel and Moses begin to find clues to what really happened, and before long they are involved in something that could easily end up in felony charges for the crook or crooks.
Rebel being a rebel, though, wants to try and handle things with just herself and Moses, whereas Moses thinks it's time to call his Uncle, who's a policeman. One thing leads to another and, in the end, calling the police becomes a critical necessity as they and the house become under siege to a gang of desperate criminals.
It's a pretty good story. Not an earth-shakingly important kind of story, but still a decent read.
Read
December 9, 2012I haven't read this book in years!
I got it from First Book when I was in fourth or fifth grade and it sat on my shelf for almost two years before I read it.
It's really really good! Crime solving and a rather kick butt female character.
I loaned it out to someone and they're mum wouldn't let them read it because of the title.
Seriously.
I never saw the book again *sad face*.
For the longest time I couldn't find it because I didn't know the authors name, but here it is!
I'll have to find a copy and read it again.
I got it from First Book when I was in fourth or fifth grade and it sat on my shelf for almost two years before I read it.
It's really really good! Crime solving and a rather kick butt female character.
I loaned it out to someone and they're mum wouldn't let them read it because of the title.
Seriously.
I never saw the book again *sad face*.
For the longest time I couldn't find it because I didn't know the authors name, but here it is!
I'll have to find a copy and read it again.
March 15, 2014
Rebel, age 14, spends a few weeks helping her grandma fix up an old house. She meets Moses, age 15, and can't help liking him. As they are out walking their dogs and as Moses is filming everything in sight, a man runs out of the deli and runs right into them. That night someone tries to break into their house, and soon Rebel and Moses are playing detective and trying to solve the mystery.
It's a cute book. Probably for 4th-5th graders. I thought it was kind of slow. Wasn't my favorite Roberts book.
It's a cute book. Probably for 4th-5th graders. I thought it was kind of slow. Wasn't my favorite Roberts book.
September 22, 2015
This books moves so slowly. Rebel isn't a rebel at all. There is too much time devoted to cleaning up after dogs and not enough time spent on the story.
May 19, 2014
***SPOILER ALERT***
Have you ever been or solved a part of a mystery? Well in this book Rebel and a boy named Moses are part of one. I think this book is realistic fiction because it can happen to any person. The reason i gave this book 4 stars its because it is a good book because there is parts where it makes you want to read more to find out what happens. I will tell you all about the book in my Book Review.
The setting takes place mostly in Rebel's Grandmas house or as they call her Old'Vi. Rebel is a very tall girl and is taller than people in her school and she cant seem to fit in very well. So one day Rebel's grandmother goes to her house because Rebel's grandmother is taking care of her because her family is going on a trip. Rebel was always bad as a child so her mother worried but then she agreed for Old'Vi to take care of Rebel. So old'Vi took Rebel to her house where she was going to stay and Rebel met a taller boy and was glad because most boys where shorter than her. Then they started talking and decided to take the Pookie and Tiger for a walk but they didnt know a surprise that was coming. So when they were walking Moses the boy was filming because he wanted to make a horror film and then they came across a guy running and the man had knocked down a old lady and since Moses had the camera the man ran into Moses trying to knock the camera down. The store owner came out and told them that the man had robbed 20$ and a chocolate bar. So they left after and they were walking till the night and they heard bushes in a back yard move and the home owner thought it was the dogs but it wasnt. The dogs started barking and whining because they sensed something that Moses and Rebel had not. So that night Rebel picked her room and fell asleep until she heard Pookie her grandmas dog barking loud. She came downstairs and found the front door open. Then the others came and found out Tiger was missing. The searched for him in the morning and Rebel found him caught in branches along with some footprints. A man helped Rebel to take out Tiger from the branches and Rebel immediatly called Moses and he showed up. They found a jacket and a wallet and they checked the jacket which had a chocolate bar. The wallet had four 20$ bills. They started to exam en the money and they found red marks on it. But one day some guy who smelled like tabaco came and asked for the rooms for rent in the house but they had not put up the signs yet. Tiger started acting up with the guy and when the guy left they smelled the jacket and it smelled like tabaco. This creates the Person vs Person because they are trying to find out who is behind this. So they put up the sign for rent and more people come. After they leave Moses and Rebel can only find the wallet and Moses thinks they should call the police so Moses calls his Uncle Glen who is a police officer and his uncle went fishing but later his wife calls and says he will go and see whats going on. So Moses and Rebel wait until its midnight and they hear a window break. Rebel immediately calls the police and then Moses Uncle come running in. The Robbers are the people who came to look for the rooms for rent and the man who stole the 20$. The robbers where tripping over the paint cans and the police finally came and caught them. Uncle Glen told Rebel that they might give them court so they can explain what happend but in the meantime they wont let her leave town but Rebel is supposed to go to Europe with her family. Now she had to stay.
I think this book was also creepy because a person goes into the house and trys to rob. I like this book also because it made you want to read more because it made me want to see what happened after they caught the robbers. The theme of this book is Mystery because they are trying to solve one. Also the point if view of this story is 3rd person point of view because it doesnt say i or me and also the characters arent telling the story. I agree that Moses said to call the police because i would have done the same thing because i would freak out. The main character Rebel is like me because i dont fit in that much like other kids do sometimes. I would compare this author to Lemony Snicket because he makes Mystery books.
I did like this book and from a scale from 1-10 i would give it a 7 because it really great but some parts confused me in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read mystery books. Thank you for reading my book review and hope you might check this book out! Bye!
Have you ever been or solved a part of a mystery? Well in this book Rebel and a boy named Moses are part of one. I think this book is realistic fiction because it can happen to any person. The reason i gave this book 4 stars its because it is a good book because there is parts where it makes you want to read more to find out what happens. I will tell you all about the book in my Book Review.
The setting takes place mostly in Rebel's Grandmas house or as they call her Old'Vi. Rebel is a very tall girl and is taller than people in her school and she cant seem to fit in very well. So one day Rebel's grandmother goes to her house because Rebel's grandmother is taking care of her because her family is going on a trip. Rebel was always bad as a child so her mother worried but then she agreed for Old'Vi to take care of Rebel. So old'Vi took Rebel to her house where she was going to stay and Rebel met a taller boy and was glad because most boys where shorter than her. Then they started talking and decided to take the Pookie and Tiger for a walk but they didnt know a surprise that was coming. So when they were walking Moses the boy was filming because he wanted to make a horror film and then they came across a guy running and the man had knocked down a old lady and since Moses had the camera the man ran into Moses trying to knock the camera down. The store owner came out and told them that the man had robbed 20$ and a chocolate bar. So they left after and they were walking till the night and they heard bushes in a back yard move and the home owner thought it was the dogs but it wasnt. The dogs started barking and whining because they sensed something that Moses and Rebel had not. So that night Rebel picked her room and fell asleep until she heard Pookie her grandmas dog barking loud. She came downstairs and found the front door open. Then the others came and found out Tiger was missing. The searched for him in the morning and Rebel found him caught in branches along with some footprints. A man helped Rebel to take out Tiger from the branches and Rebel immediatly called Moses and he showed up. They found a jacket and a wallet and they checked the jacket which had a chocolate bar. The wallet had four 20$ bills. They started to exam en the money and they found red marks on it. But one day some guy who smelled like tabaco came and asked for the rooms for rent in the house but they had not put up the signs yet. Tiger started acting up with the guy and when the guy left they smelled the jacket and it smelled like tabaco. This creates the Person vs Person because they are trying to find out who is behind this. So they put up the sign for rent and more people come. After they leave Moses and Rebel can only find the wallet and Moses thinks they should call the police so Moses calls his Uncle Glen who is a police officer and his uncle went fishing but later his wife calls and says he will go and see whats going on. So Moses and Rebel wait until its midnight and they hear a window break. Rebel immediately calls the police and then Moses Uncle come running in. The Robbers are the people who came to look for the rooms for rent and the man who stole the 20$. The robbers where tripping over the paint cans and the police finally came and caught them. Uncle Glen told Rebel that they might give them court so they can explain what happend but in the meantime they wont let her leave town but Rebel is supposed to go to Europe with her family. Now she had to stay.
I think this book was also creepy because a person goes into the house and trys to rob. I like this book also because it made you want to read more because it made me want to see what happened after they caught the robbers. The theme of this book is Mystery because they are trying to solve one. Also the point if view of this story is 3rd person point of view because it doesnt say i or me and also the characters arent telling the story. I agree that Moses said to call the police because i would have done the same thing because i would freak out. The main character Rebel is like me because i dont fit in that much like other kids do sometimes. I would compare this author to Lemony Snicket because he makes Mystery books.
I did like this book and from a scale from 1-10 i would give it a 7 because it really great but some parts confused me in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read mystery books. Thank you for reading my book review and hope you might check this book out! Bye!
April 17, 2015
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
This was a book swap find, which I only picked up because it was free. It provided an entertaining hour or two but was not a groundbreaker in any sense of the word.
Roberts does an excellent job of simply "dropping" us into the lives of the people we're reading about. They feel just like real people - a little smart, a little naiive, a little awkward, and a little insecure.
Rebel is really tall for a girl (5"10') and doesn't like to admit that her height makes her nervous about ever finding a spouse (you know, down the road. Like any fourteen-year-old, she wants to get a head's start on picking a mate). She comes across extremely pushy in the teaser, and lives up to her nickname in the first chapter or two. Rebel quickly mellows out into a fairly normal MC by the time the action really picks up speed; she definitely speaks her mind, but is not nearly as obnoxiously rebellious as you'd expect from the synopsis. She's actually a bit insecure because of her height, and is really happy that Moses is taller than her. What I enjoyed about her is that she is so excellently characterized that it doesn't even feel like it should be labelled "characterization."
Moses, or Mo for short, is also very tall and often feels oppressed by his business-minded father. He's not a dramatic hero, or a lone rebel. He's just a teenager with a passion for something not very financially secure, with parents who don't support it. He did annoy me sometimes with his constant obsessing over his video camera, but then again, I've been known to obsess over things too. And I'm sure it annoyed my parents far more than Mo annoyed me.
Praises aside, this is not going on my top-ten favorites list. In fact, I doubt I'll ever read it again. I liked Rebel and Mo, and I enjoyed watching them solve the mystery (slow as they may sometimes have been at it), but Rebel is nothing to go back and re-read. It's the kind of book you read because you're sick of unrealistic, idealistic heroes you could never live up to. I didn't even realize I needed a break from them until I read Rebel! If you see a used copy of this at a thrift store, then I definitely suggest taking it home to read. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother hunting for it.
This was a book swap find, which I only picked up because it was free. It provided an entertaining hour or two but was not a groundbreaker in any sense of the word.
Roberts does an excellent job of simply "dropping" us into the lives of the people we're reading about. They feel just like real people - a little smart, a little naiive, a little awkward, and a little insecure.
Rebel is really tall for a girl (5"10') and doesn't like to admit that her height makes her nervous about ever finding a spouse (you know, down the road. Like any fourteen-year-old, she wants to get a head's start on picking a mate). She comes across extremely pushy in the teaser, and lives up to her nickname in the first chapter or two. Rebel quickly mellows out into a fairly normal MC by the time the action really picks up speed; she definitely speaks her mind, but is not nearly as obnoxiously rebellious as you'd expect from the synopsis. She's actually a bit insecure because of her height, and is really happy that Moses is taller than her. What I enjoyed about her is that she is so excellently characterized that it doesn't even feel like it should be labelled "characterization."
Moses, or Mo for short, is also very tall and often feels oppressed by his business-minded father. He's not a dramatic hero, or a lone rebel. He's just a teenager with a passion for something not very financially secure, with parents who don't support it. He did annoy me sometimes with his constant obsessing over his video camera, but then again, I've been known to obsess over things too. And I'm sure it annoyed my parents far more than Mo annoyed me.
Praises aside, this is not going on my top-ten favorites list. In fact, I doubt I'll ever read it again. I liked Rebel and Mo, and I enjoyed watching them solve the mystery (slow as they may sometimes have been at it), but Rebel is nothing to go back and re-read. It's the kind of book you read because you're sick of unrealistic, idealistic heroes you could never live up to. I didn't even realize I needed a break from them until I read Rebel! If you see a used copy of this at a thrift store, then I definitely suggest taking it home to read. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother hunting for it.
October 28, 2010
Rebel, written by Willo Davis Roberts was an extraordianry book! Rebel's first word was "No" and from there it was all downhill. Growing up she had a very hard time following rules and always rebeled against everything. Rebel took life as a farce and made everyone's lives around her miserable. At the age of fourteen she is becoming a women and her body is changing, this in a way scares her, and she tries to run away from the truth. Rebel and her best friend Moses witness a numerous amount of strange incidents. A robbery, is one they focus one the most. Instead of going to the police, they decide to handle it themselves. Little did they know though, danger awaited them. This is when their close friendship and trust in other came into play. They ran into one man inparticular that was not the nicest man they ever met, somehow though, they get trapped in his house, with no way to get out. Soon enough because of their deep relationship they work together and find a way out. The moral that Rebel learned was to always obey her parents, just like she was taught but yet rebeled against growing up, and to always have trust in her closest friends.
In my opinion this was a great book, a little too young for me though. But, I would definitely recommend this novel to someone a little younger than I. Rebel, was a great book because you got to watch her grow into a stronger more dependent version of herself. Friendship is one of the main focuses in the book. Roberts shows the readers that friendship is an asset in life, which is the theme of the novel. Along with showing the audience that friendship is the most important thing in life, he emphasizes that trust is the backbone to each relationship/friendship. One must be able to trust eachother to have a healthy relationship. This is exactly what Roberts purpose was in writing this book, to emphasizes the importance of friendship, and how you can not go through life alone.
In my opinion this was a great book, a little too young for me though. But, I would definitely recommend this novel to someone a little younger than I. Rebel, was a great book because you got to watch her grow into a stronger more dependent version of herself. Friendship is one of the main focuses in the book. Roberts shows the readers that friendship is an asset in life, which is the theme of the novel. Along with showing the audience that friendship is the most important thing in life, he emphasizes that trust is the backbone to each relationship/friendship. One must be able to trust eachother to have a healthy relationship. This is exactly what Roberts purpose was in writing this book, to emphasizes the importance of friendship, and how you can not go through life alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2015
This has got to be one of the most misleading covers ever, and there's no blurb on the back or inside the front cover. I've had this for a few years and been vaguely worried it was edgy, but it definitely is not. The writing is poor...tell don't show all about how "rebellious" the girl nicknamed "Rebel" has been...even though it really is only that she was a strong-willed little girl. At 14 in the book, she is actually quite obedient and compliant with her parents and grandmother, only having occasional vague thoughts that she wishes her parents didn't worry so much.
She so rebelliously decides to help her grandma paint an old house so she can rent out the rooms and meets the cute grandson of her grandmother's friend. She constantly evaluates him against her mental checklist of characteristics of what she wants in a husband. The two of them try to figure out who broke into their house and also stole from a nearby store. In the end, they get chastised for not telling the adults earlier, and they totally agree with the criticism. Her running internal dialogue about the kind of guy she wants to marry is the second most important plot point. It's harmless, if not really well-written, but it's not "rebellious" at all. More like the opposite. Meh.
She so rebelliously decides to help her grandma paint an old house so she can rent out the rooms and meets the cute grandson of her grandmother's friend. She constantly evaluates him against her mental checklist of characteristics of what she wants in a husband. The two of them try to figure out who broke into their house and also stole from a nearby store. In the end, they get chastised for not telling the adults earlier, and they totally agree with the criticism. Her running internal dialogue about the kind of guy she wants to marry is the second most important plot point. It's harmless, if not really well-written, but it's not "rebellious" at all. More like the opposite. Meh.
May 11, 2008
Rebel was a good book, if not extremely compelling. At times the plot could get a little slow, but all in all, I really enjoyed reading it.
Rebel follows the adventure of a girl nicknamed Rebel, who goes to spend a few weeks fixing up a huge house for her grandma. Her grandma is planning to rent out the rooms to college students, and is working together with a friend. Enter Moses, that friends grandson. (confused yet? XD) Rebel and Moses hit it off right away, and after a casual dog-walking through the neighborhood, they are soon intertwined in something more than either of them could have imagined.
Originality: 6
Interest: 5
Difficulty: 3
*Note: My copy of the book is NOT in great shape. All the pages are there and the cover is still on and everything, but the pages are worn from many reads.
Rebel follows the adventure of a girl nicknamed Rebel, who goes to spend a few weeks fixing up a huge house for her grandma. Her grandma is planning to rent out the rooms to college students, and is working together with a friend. Enter Moses, that friends grandson. (confused yet? XD) Rebel and Moses hit it off right away, and after a casual dog-walking through the neighborhood, they are soon intertwined in something more than either of them could have imagined.
Originality: 6
Interest: 5
Difficulty: 3
*Note: My copy of the book is NOT in great shape. All the pages are there and the cover is still on and everything, but the pages are worn from many reads.
November 7, 2014
Rebel was an overall okay book. I did get bored during most parts of the book and wanted to fall asleep. Most of the book was a mystery and at some parts, it kept me wondering.
Rebel is about a girl who is super tall for a fourteen year old and has always had the nickname "Rebel" every since she was two. Over the summer, she goes to help her grandma movie into a new house. While doing this, she comes across some major mysteries with theifs and intruders. She and Moses, her grandmothers roommate's grandson, solve the problem together. They use many clues and detect many things in the process. Rebel and Moses made a very good team!
I would recommend this book to boys and girls of all ages mostly who like to read mysteries. If you like Nancy Drew books, this book would be good for you, as well. It is interesting and makes you think. Don't miss out on this book!
Rebel is about a girl who is super tall for a fourteen year old and has always had the nickname "Rebel" every since she was two. Over the summer, she goes to help her grandma movie into a new house. While doing this, she comes across some major mysteries with theifs and intruders. She and Moses, her grandmothers roommate's grandson, solve the problem together. They use many clues and detect many things in the process. Rebel and Moses made a very good team!
I would recommend this book to boys and girls of all ages mostly who like to read mysteries. If you like Nancy Drew books, this book would be good for you, as well. It is interesting and makes you think. Don't miss out on this book!
July 2, 2014
I must say I was sadly disappointed with this book! Robert's mysteries are usually fast paced - this was sloooow. A 14-year-old lives with her grandmother for a few weeks while her parents take off for Europe. She is pleasantly surprised that her grandmother's friend and co-house owner is taller that she is and the 2 become friends and uncover a counterfeiting mystery. Her obsession with finding a perfect husband was quite irritating, as was the undercover plot the kids concocted. All around less than satisfying! Try View from the Cherry Tree - much more gripping!
November 16, 2012
I kept walking past this in the library and I never picked it up. I finally did after eyeing it for so long but I was a little let down. It was a decent book but nothing made me want to jump up and recommend it.
April 30, 2010
i liked it. much different adventure than i thought it would be. interesting enough to keep me going though.
October 2, 2012
Rebel goes to her grandma's house until her family picks her up to go to Europe. she meets her gram's friend's grandson, and they solve and inportanat mystery.
June 25, 2015
The plot was interesting, but the book was slow-paced and the characters talked a LOT!
At the beginning of the book, I loved Rebel's personality, but towards the middle, she became pathetic.
At the beginning of the book, I loved Rebel's personality, but towards the middle, she became pathetic.
June 28, 2017
Good book, except the fact that the mystery wasn't very important in the book. The book isn't completely about the mystery.
September 1, 2019
Short, but lovely. I really liked it
June 19, 2009
pretty good, except for two things that kind of ruined the whole book:
1) too many lucky coincidences. normal people aren't this lucky. there are 0 false leads, 0 things go wrong.
2) the ending is terrible. the book was clearly written by an adult who wanted to give it a moral. in this case: don't be a hero.
1) too many lucky coincidences. normal people aren't this lucky. there are 0 false leads, 0 things go wrong.
2) the ending is terrible. the book was clearly written by an adult who wanted to give it a moral. in this case: don't be a hero.
Read
February 19, 2009JAR5-Rob
May 25, 2009
Rebel is an amazing book! I love mystery books!It has lots of Adventure and strong words!
May 17, 2012
It was good, a little slow in parts though.
Want to read
September 2, 2012Another for my Marigrace!
December 1, 2012
it was ok.
June 29, 2009
Another book I read a really long time ago, for young adults. It was okay.
February 29, 2012
The book was one of my favorites I have read.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews