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Rebellion 1776
A historical fiction middle grade adventure about a girl struggling to survive amid a smallpox epidemic, the public’s fear of inoculation, and the seething Revolutionary War.
In the spring of 1776, thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper wakes to the sound of cannons. It’s the Siege of Boston, the Patriots’ massive drive to push the Loyalists out that turns the city into a chaotic war zone. Elsbeth’s father—her only living relative—has gone missing, leaving her alone and adrift in a broken town while desperately seeking employment to avoid the orphanage.
Just when things couldn’t feel worse, the smallpox epidemic sweeps across Boston. Now, Bostonians must fight for their lives against an invisible enemy in addition to the visible one. While a treatment is being frantically fine-tuned, thousands of people rush in from the countryside begging for inoculation. At the same time, others refuse protection, for the treatment is crude at best and at times more dangerous than the disease itself.
Elsbeth, who had smallpox as a small child and is now immune, finds work taking care of a large, wealthy family with discord of their own as they await a turn at inoculation, but as the epidemic and the revolution rage on, will she find her father?
In the spring of 1776, thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper wakes to the sound of cannons. It’s the Siege of Boston, the Patriots’ massive drive to push the Loyalists out that turns the city into a chaotic war zone. Elsbeth’s father—her only living relative—has gone missing, leaving her alone and adrift in a broken town while desperately seeking employment to avoid the orphanage.
Just when things couldn’t feel worse, the smallpox epidemic sweeps across Boston. Now, Bostonians must fight for their lives against an invisible enemy in addition to the visible one. While a treatment is being frantically fine-tuned, thousands of people rush in from the countryside begging for inoculation. At the same time, others refuse protection, for the treatment is crude at best and at times more dangerous than the disease itself.
Elsbeth, who had smallpox as a small child and is now immune, finds work taking care of a large, wealthy family with discord of their own as they await a turn at inoculation, but as the epidemic and the revolution rage on, will she find her father?
405 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2025
About the author
Laurie Halse Anderson
102 books17.6k followersUPDATE! Rebellion 1776 is out! The New York Times wrote, "Filled with immersive detail, expert delineations of complex characters, and both harsh and loving reality, Rebellion 1776 provides young readers with a true experience of a historic moment in time that resonates with today's world." Huzzah!
Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author of many award-winning books including the groundbreaking, modern classic Speak, a National Book Award finalist which has sold over 3.5 million copies and been translated into 35 languages.
In 2023, Anderson was named the Laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, long considered to be the de facto 'Nobel Prize for Children's Literature.'
A passionate spokesperson for the need to combat censorship, she has been honored for her battles for intellectual freedom by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives near Philadelphia. Go Birds!
Follow Laurie on Bluesky at @halseanderson.bsky.social, Instagram at halseanderson, and Facebook at lauriehalseanderson, or by visiting her website, madwomanintheforest.com.
Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author of many award-winning books including the groundbreaking, modern classic Speak, a National Book Award finalist which has sold over 3.5 million copies and been translated into 35 languages.
In 2023, Anderson was named the Laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, long considered to be the de facto 'Nobel Prize for Children's Literature.'
A passionate spokesperson for the need to combat censorship, she has been honored for her battles for intellectual freedom by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives near Philadelphia. Go Birds!
Follow Laurie on Bluesky at @halseanderson.bsky.social, Instagram at halseanderson, and Facebook at lauriehalseanderson, or by visiting her website, madwomanintheforest.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 497 reviews
April 18, 2025
So terribly disappointed in this one. How can Anderson write historical fiction for young readers SO brilliantly in Fever, 1793 and The Seeds of America trilogy and completely miss the mark on this one?! I didn’t develop any care toward Elsbeth and the narrative style of having her sometimes talk directly to the reader was disjointed and weird. (As was the use of period language.) All the historical bits were there but they could have had more of a staring role. There were a few positives, but overall, not my favorite.
December 5, 2024
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“Broken mirrors, broken towns, shattered nations; they could not ever be the same.
However, they could be made anew, crafted into a different object or a different sort of place.”
It's hard to believe that amidst the glorious revolution that was sweeping the thirteen colonies, so, too was the smallpox pandemic that claimed lives without remorse without hesitation. And perhaps it is fitting to see that it was a point of history that didn't catch my eye, when thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper was faxing her own form of peril of trying to stay alive and out of harm's way when the threats she faces are those that come from within, ones out of bounds, and those she cannot see. 😢 For when her Pappa suddenly disappears, leaving her to have to lie her way into staying hired as the house maid to captain Pike and his missus with their six children and their ward, sixteen year old Hannah, unwanted helpless Elsbeth will have to rely on her wit, determination, patience, and most of all courage to brave the storms that endanger her during the Rebellion 1776, that is more than just a liberation for a nation, but a fight for her to prove that she can find a way to survive amidst the fears and longing that come her way. 💪🏻
“One of the many advantages of being a practiced liar was that my ears were sharply tuned to the falsehoods of others.”
As the fate of America hung in the balance, it is easy to forget or even difficult to imagine that there were countless Bostonians who were facing their own form of rebellion that had nothing to do with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.. And yet, oddly enough, Elsbeth had to do very much that. And as much as at times I was frustrated and annoyed with her behavior, her frustration and annoyances felt all the more reasonable. 😤 I praised her for holding her tongue when a snarky retort was the only way those wretched souls needed to be treated, how they used her kindness towards them as a weapon. She was reproachful, spirited and calculated. It was awful to see that people she met in good faith took advantage of her. And it was here that Laurie Halse Anderson's latest historical middle grade fiction showed the different sides of the human spirit. During a time where young blood yearned to be a part of a nation's history, there were those fighting simply to survive the trials of their own personal history. 😔
So, the Goodread blurb is incorrect by stating it is Abigail Adams' family that Elsbeth is hired to work as a maid - a safe haven where despite the toils and troubles, it would be still easily convenient for her father to return to her - Abigail Adams does still warrant a mention, serving as the comparison that alludes to the malignant and turbulent time of the nation. 😟 And it is to those precedents that keeps the plot progressing forward at a steady pace, one which Elsbeth has to find a precarious balance between keeping her job, ensuring her safety, while also striking up a bond between Hannah - a kinship and camaraderie that likens them to being both in a similar state - 'unloved, unwanted, and helpless.' But, their pseudo-friendship truly laid the groundwork for the plot and the narrative. It was sincere and heartfelt - one which Elsbeth desperately aimed and hoped to protect and shelter from any harm. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“What cannot be cured, Hannah Sparhawk, must be endured.”
It is impossible not to note how the war of independence greatly hindered decisions and choices. Hannah was everything Elsbeth was not, and yet, the only one who truly understood her. Their stories mirror each other in a strange way, but fittingly so that made my heart ache. 😢 For the injustice of both riches stolen and a life wasted; there is tragedy and sadness that binds the two, but also loyalty and understanding. too. As well as the rush of youth and a dream to be free of control and constraints, no longer at the mercy of an unfair and cruel system that cheated them that made their relationship truly mean something. 🫶🏻
Elsbeth's greatest strength was despite the cruel spiteful insults she wished to hurl, she never forgot her place within the Pike family, no matter how kind they were to her, and even to recognize when to fold back or mold a situation to her favor. It was trying and taxing; not to mention, the swirl of emotions plaguing her - 'sorrow, hope, despair, frustration, gratitude, regret, pride (occasionally), and loneliness.' 😥 But, she still possessed a resilience far beyond her years - a violent patience that served as her strength at times. In her own way, she led a defiant rebellion of her own way to prove her place, as well as resist those wretched scoundrels who cheated and manipulated truth for their own twisted gain.
“But smallpox raised its monstrous head, and the events of our lives were forced onto an unexpected shadowy path.”
For when it does make its presence known, it reminded me of the COVID pandemic; there were those who scorned the vaccine, much like those back then disregarded the benefits of inoculation, while others shied away from treatment and prevailed in their symptoms. But nothing is for certain, life can be taken for granted. '... Smallpox interfered with death as much as life.' 🥺 And the six months that Elsbeth works for Pikes and Hannah, it reminds of her own family succumbing to the illness, how she tries everything in her capable hands to assist them, rebelling against Widow Nash and her supposed duties, in the efforts in trying to save as many lives as possible - believing that if even her own meager family back home in Philadelphia could have benefited from the luxuries and means offered to them - could there lives have been spared?
“As long as you want me,” Shubel said, leaning forward to whisper in my ear, “I shall always return to you, Culpepper.”
But, fret not, there is still a blissful light in her dismal struggle. There is still humor and life and the fight to ward off an illness that could consume them. There is also hope and love that quietly blooms amidst the eager, one that includes a beautiful and steadfast relationship between wayward waif and childhood friend, Shubel Kent and Elsbeth - one that stir within her those 'bewildering jumble of thoughts and sensations too confusing to sort through', ones which make her so very fervent and eager to keep him out of harm, yearn to be as close as she can to him, but unsure of what those feelings could possibly mean. 🤧 That gentle reminder of his appearance in her life & heart showed the softer side of her at how much she still wished for just a little more of a life that was simple and ordinary. Just a little chance to be happy and bereft of any fear or troubles. She and the turnip shared some tender and heart-warming moments that I could not help but smile at. 🥹
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“Broken mirrors, broken towns, shattered nations; they could not ever be the same.
However, they could be made anew, crafted into a different object or a different sort of place.”
It's hard to believe that amidst the glorious revolution that was sweeping the thirteen colonies, so, too was the smallpox pandemic that claimed lives without remorse without hesitation. And perhaps it is fitting to see that it was a point of history that didn't catch my eye, when thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper was faxing her own form of peril of trying to stay alive and out of harm's way when the threats she faces are those that come from within, ones out of bounds, and those she cannot see. 😢 For when her Pappa suddenly disappears, leaving her to have to lie her way into staying hired as the house maid to captain Pike and his missus with their six children and their ward, sixteen year old Hannah, unwanted helpless Elsbeth will have to rely on her wit, determination, patience, and most of all courage to brave the storms that endanger her during the Rebellion 1776, that is more than just a liberation for a nation, but a fight for her to prove that she can find a way to survive amidst the fears and longing that come her way. 💪🏻
“One of the many advantages of being a practiced liar was that my ears were sharply tuned to the falsehoods of others.”
As the fate of America hung in the balance, it is easy to forget or even difficult to imagine that there were countless Bostonians who were facing their own form of rebellion that had nothing to do with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.. And yet, oddly enough, Elsbeth had to do very much that. And as much as at times I was frustrated and annoyed with her behavior, her frustration and annoyances felt all the more reasonable. 😤 I praised her for holding her tongue when a snarky retort was the only way those wretched souls needed to be treated, how they used her kindness towards them as a weapon. She was reproachful, spirited and calculated. It was awful to see that people she met in good faith took advantage of her. And it was here that Laurie Halse Anderson's latest historical middle grade fiction showed the different sides of the human spirit. During a time where young blood yearned to be a part of a nation's history, there were those fighting simply to survive the trials of their own personal history. 😔
So, the Goodread blurb is incorrect by stating it is Abigail Adams' family that Elsbeth is hired to work as a maid - a safe haven where despite the toils and troubles, it would be still easily convenient for her father to return to her - Abigail Adams does still warrant a mention, serving as the comparison that alludes to the malignant and turbulent time of the nation. 😟 And it is to those precedents that keeps the plot progressing forward at a steady pace, one which Elsbeth has to find a precarious balance between keeping her job, ensuring her safety, while also striking up a bond between Hannah - a kinship and camaraderie that likens them to being both in a similar state - 'unloved, unwanted, and helpless.' But, their pseudo-friendship truly laid the groundwork for the plot and the narrative. It was sincere and heartfelt - one which Elsbeth desperately aimed and hoped to protect and shelter from any harm. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“What cannot be cured, Hannah Sparhawk, must be endured.”
It is impossible not to note how the war of independence greatly hindered decisions and choices. Hannah was everything Elsbeth was not, and yet, the only one who truly understood her. Their stories mirror each other in a strange way, but fittingly so that made my heart ache. 😢 For the injustice of both riches stolen and a life wasted; there is tragedy and sadness that binds the two, but also loyalty and understanding. too. As well as the rush of youth and a dream to be free of control and constraints, no longer at the mercy of an unfair and cruel system that cheated them that made their relationship truly mean something. 🫶🏻
Elsbeth's greatest strength was despite the cruel spiteful insults she wished to hurl, she never forgot her place within the Pike family, no matter how kind they were to her, and even to recognize when to fold back or mold a situation to her favor. It was trying and taxing; not to mention, the swirl of emotions plaguing her - 'sorrow, hope, despair, frustration, gratitude, regret, pride (occasionally), and loneliness.' 😥 But, she still possessed a resilience far beyond her years - a violent patience that served as her strength at times. In her own way, she led a defiant rebellion of her own way to prove her place, as well as resist those wretched scoundrels who cheated and manipulated truth for their own twisted gain.
“But smallpox raised its monstrous head, and the events of our lives were forced onto an unexpected shadowy path.”
For when it does make its presence known, it reminded me of the COVID pandemic; there were those who scorned the vaccine, much like those back then disregarded the benefits of inoculation, while others shied away from treatment and prevailed in their symptoms. But nothing is for certain, life can be taken for granted. '... Smallpox interfered with death as much as life.' 🥺 And the six months that Elsbeth works for Pikes and Hannah, it reminds of her own family succumbing to the illness, how she tries everything in her capable hands to assist them, rebelling against Widow Nash and her supposed duties, in the efforts in trying to save as many lives as possible - believing that if even her own meager family back home in Philadelphia could have benefited from the luxuries and means offered to them - could there lives have been spared?
“As long as you want me,” Shubel said, leaning forward to whisper in my ear, “I shall always return to you, Culpepper.”
But, fret not, there is still a blissful light in her dismal struggle. There is still humor and life and the fight to ward off an illness that could consume them. There is also hope and love that quietly blooms amidst the eager, one that includes a beautiful and steadfast relationship between wayward waif and childhood friend, Shubel Kent and Elsbeth - one that stir within her those 'bewildering jumble of thoughts and sensations too confusing to sort through', ones which make her so very fervent and eager to keep him out of harm, yearn to be as close as she can to him, but unsure of what those feelings could possibly mean. 🤧 That gentle reminder of his appearance in her life & heart showed the softer side of her at how much she still wished for just a little more of a life that was simple and ordinary. Just a little chance to be happy and bereft of any fear or troubles. She and the turnip shared some tender and heart-warming moments that I could not help but smile at. 🥹
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2025
Wow! This outstanding work of historical fiction is packed with details about life in Boston in 1776.
Elsbeth Cunningham is a rather tough 13-year-old child. She’s had to harden herself, because she has suffered much trouble and sorrow in her young life. As the tensions between the British and the American Patriots began to heat up in the spring and summer of 1776, Elsbeth finds employment as a housemaid to the large Pike family. As the months pass of waiting to hear from her father, who disappeared suddenly during the Siege of Boston, she grows quite fond of the family. When a smallpox epidemic breaks out in the town, Elsbeth’s testimony about the horror of losing her own family to the illness convinces Missus Pike to have her loved ones inoculated, preventing further needless tragedy in their lives…
This novel was researched and written about events that occurred decades ago. Eerily, however, in today’s society, the medical practice of vaccination against contagious diseases has come under fire. The author did a truly masterful job of detailing the origins of this practice to protect against smallpox, a dreadful virus that killed thousands, agonizingly, before doctors began convince people to inoculate their loved ones.
This book should be in every middle-grade and young adult classroom, everywhere.
* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
Elsbeth Cunningham is a rather tough 13-year-old child. She’s had to harden herself, because she has suffered much trouble and sorrow in her young life. As the tensions between the British and the American Patriots began to heat up in the spring and summer of 1776, Elsbeth finds employment as a housemaid to the large Pike family. As the months pass of waiting to hear from her father, who disappeared suddenly during the Siege of Boston, she grows quite fond of the family. When a smallpox epidemic breaks out in the town, Elsbeth’s testimony about the horror of losing her own family to the illness convinces Missus Pike to have her loved ones inoculated, preventing further needless tragedy in their lives…
This novel was researched and written about events that occurred decades ago. Eerily, however, in today’s society, the medical practice of vaccination against contagious diseases has come under fire. The author did a truly masterful job of detailing the origins of this practice to protect against smallpox, a dreadful virus that killed thousands, agonizingly, before doctors began convince people to inoculate their loved ones.
This book should be in every middle-grade and young adult classroom, everywhere.
* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
July 20, 2026
3.5 Stars.
Laurie Halse Anderson had me wrapped around her finger when she published Fever 1793 in 2000. Imagine my excitement when I realized she was publishing another historical fiction title during the same time period. While I enjoyed Rebellion 1776 for the most part, there were some elements that were lacking causing it to be rate lower than anticipated.
Rebellion 1776 isn't what most people will anticipate in terms of subject matter. Though it appears that it will solely focus on the Revolutionary War, it mainly serves as a backdrop to the plight of the main character. The book is character driven instead of plot driven, so younger readers looking for a lot of action will find themselves disappointed. I personally found the beginning of the book to be rather slow and tedious especially with the usage of old English; however, the conversations about the smallpox epidemic were absolutely fascinating. In some ways, I think that this text does work well as a link between epidemics/pandemics faced in the past and the COVID pandemic of 2020. Making those connections for children can be extremely vital to their understanding of various topics. And as someone who is fascinated by etymology, parts of this book were particularly rewarding. Rebellion as it pertains to the position of women in society was brilliantly woven into the text and really captures the idea that while there was a physical rebellion occurring across the colonies, there was also a societal one happening at the same time.
To be honest, I would recommend this for an older middle grade/younger YA audience. I think that they could appreciate the journey of the characters and the themes of rebellion as it pertains to the station of a woman in a better way.
Overall, this was a solid read. I'm not sure that it can be considered a new favorite of mine, but I definitely do think it's worth giving a try.
Laurie Halse Anderson had me wrapped around her finger when she published Fever 1793 in 2000. Imagine my excitement when I realized she was publishing another historical fiction title during the same time period. While I enjoyed Rebellion 1776 for the most part, there were some elements that were lacking causing it to be rate lower than anticipated.
Rebellion 1776 isn't what most people will anticipate in terms of subject matter. Though it appears that it will solely focus on the Revolutionary War, it mainly serves as a backdrop to the plight of the main character. The book is character driven instead of plot driven, so younger readers looking for a lot of action will find themselves disappointed. I personally found the beginning of the book to be rather slow and tedious especially with the usage of old English; however, the conversations about the smallpox epidemic were absolutely fascinating. In some ways, I think that this text does work well as a link between epidemics/pandemics faced in the past and the COVID pandemic of 2020. Making those connections for children can be extremely vital to their understanding of various topics. And as someone who is fascinated by etymology, parts of this book were particularly rewarding. Rebellion as it pertains to the position of women in society was brilliantly woven into the text and really captures the idea that while there was a physical rebellion occurring across the colonies, there was also a societal one happening at the same time.
To be honest, I would recommend this for an older middle grade/younger YA audience. I think that they could appreciate the journey of the characters and the themes of rebellion as it pertains to the station of a woman in a better way.
Overall, this was a solid read. I'm not sure that it can be considered a new favorite of mine, but I definitely do think it's worth giving a try.
July 31, 2025
It kind of felt like nothing much was happening. It was a good slice of life novel, but I wanted a bigger/more involved conflict because I just kept waiting for something to happen.
February 12, 2026
Some of Laurie Halse Anderson's most wondrous successes—including Fever 1793 and the Seeds of America trilogy—are set in and around the American Revolution. Rebellion 1776 added to that tradition in 2025, nearly a decade after Ms. Anderson's final Seeds of America novel. Thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper is a serving girl to cantankerous Judge Bellingham in Boston as rumors of war with the British put the city on edge. Massachusetts isn't the only colony weary of British rule, but key Patriots have clustered in Boston to inspire revolt against King George. Elsbeth looks forward to it, but her father orders that she evacuate America with him until the dogs of war have settled down. After Elsbeth tricks him into departing alone, part of her worries she'll never see her father again. How will she handle being alone in Boston?
Elsbeth isn't truly by herself. Her friend Shube Kent, who lives on the streets, earns money however he can. Elsbeth needs more stability than that, so when working for the judge becomes impossible, she lands employment with Mister and Missus Pike, who require a serving girl for their home and children. The Window Nash, in charge of the house staff, makes the job stressful, but Elsbeth garners favor with Hannah Sparhawk, a teenager entrusted to the Pikes' legal custody while her own family is indisposed. Hannah is a kindred spirit for Elsbeth, but no one can predict the tumult when a smallpox plague hits Boston.
Missus Pike opposes inoculations, but smallpox has such a high fatality rate, she has to let her children be vaccinated. Elsbeth is immune, having survived the infection as a child, though her mother did not. Hannah, too, reports having recovered from smallpox as a youth. Caring for the Pike children as they linger in post-vaccine delirium bring Elsbeth closer to them, but as months go by, she despairs that her father probably has met death on the high seas running from the British. Shube keeps an ear out for word about him, but has his own problems, being a teenager at a time when the colonies want every able-bodied male to join the coming war. Elsbeth is repeatedly harassed by Billy Rawdon, a violent man who cons her into revealing damaging secrets. The days ahead portend tragedy for Elsbeth, but also hope of a better future if the newborn United States survives. Should her father return, Elsbeth will be a young lady quite changed by her experience.
"'Tis one thing to declare independence...Quite another to achieve it."
—Rebellion 1776, P. 219
No matter when in history you are, life presents challenges that eventually form a theme you'll struggle to solve for all of your days. You need luck, but more important are good habits, values, and indefatigable resolve that however badly things turn, you are winning as long as you draw breath. You mustn't expect much more; that way, you are prepared for every ugly attack that imperils your will to continue another day. How many loved ones can you lose, how many opportunities be ripped away by cruel people, before death feels easier? Elsbeth is learning the nasty side of life, which we all eventually encounter. Buoyancy is key to crossing the swamp without drowning; if you make it, you'll find that life holds unique beauty for you after all, and your appreciation of it is richer for the trials you endured.
Rebellion 1776 isn't Laurie Halse Anderson's most compelling story about the American Revolution, but it isn't far off. The textured, authentic writing brings to mind Esther Forbes and Gary D. Schmidt, two other novelists with a penchant for history that captivates attentive readers. I hoped Rebellion 1776 might win Ms. Anderson a 2026 Newbery award, and though that was not to be, the book is an artistic success. You won't likely make it through without being affected.
Elsbeth isn't truly by herself. Her friend Shube Kent, who lives on the streets, earns money however he can. Elsbeth needs more stability than that, so when working for the judge becomes impossible, she lands employment with Mister and Missus Pike, who require a serving girl for their home and children. The Window Nash, in charge of the house staff, makes the job stressful, but Elsbeth garners favor with Hannah Sparhawk, a teenager entrusted to the Pikes' legal custody while her own family is indisposed. Hannah is a kindred spirit for Elsbeth, but no one can predict the tumult when a smallpox plague hits Boston.
Missus Pike opposes inoculations, but smallpox has such a high fatality rate, she has to let her children be vaccinated. Elsbeth is immune, having survived the infection as a child, though her mother did not. Hannah, too, reports having recovered from smallpox as a youth. Caring for the Pike children as they linger in post-vaccine delirium bring Elsbeth closer to them, but as months go by, she despairs that her father probably has met death on the high seas running from the British. Shube keeps an ear out for word about him, but has his own problems, being a teenager at a time when the colonies want every able-bodied male to join the coming war. Elsbeth is repeatedly harassed by Billy Rawdon, a violent man who cons her into revealing damaging secrets. The days ahead portend tragedy for Elsbeth, but also hope of a better future if the newborn United States survives. Should her father return, Elsbeth will be a young lady quite changed by her experience.
"'Tis one thing to declare independence...Quite another to achieve it."
—Rebellion 1776, P. 219
No matter when in history you are, life presents challenges that eventually form a theme you'll struggle to solve for all of your days. You need luck, but more important are good habits, values, and indefatigable resolve that however badly things turn, you are winning as long as you draw breath. You mustn't expect much more; that way, you are prepared for every ugly attack that imperils your will to continue another day. How many loved ones can you lose, how many opportunities be ripped away by cruel people, before death feels easier? Elsbeth is learning the nasty side of life, which we all eventually encounter. Buoyancy is key to crossing the swamp without drowning; if you make it, you'll find that life holds unique beauty for you after all, and your appreciation of it is richer for the trials you endured.
Rebellion 1776 isn't Laurie Halse Anderson's most compelling story about the American Revolution, but it isn't far off. The textured, authentic writing brings to mind Esther Forbes and Gary D. Schmidt, two other novelists with a penchant for history that captivates attentive readers. I hoped Rebellion 1776 might win Ms. Anderson a 2026 Newbery award, and though that was not to be, the book is an artistic success. You won't likely make it through without being affected.
Read
April 11, 2025*NO RATING*
While I commend the author's research for this book [and it was extensive; see the author's note at the end of the book], and the look into the smallpox epidemic that was both interesting *AND* timely [given recent events with the current measles outbreak and people's hesitation around vaccinations], overall, this book just did not work for me [nor, do I think it would keep the attention of many middle-graders I know], and I spent much of wishing I was reading somethiing else, ALL while hoping it would get better [I will say that the last hour of the book was the best of the whole experience and left me wishing the whole book had been this good]. I didn't enjoy the narration much either and that added to the disconnect I already felt with the writing.
Having read [with several others sitting staring at me from my physical book pile] this author before [Fever 1793 was absolutely stunning and shows that the author is a magnificent writer], my expectations were very high, and unfortunately, I was left very disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing/Antheneum/Caitlin Dloughey Book for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I commend the author's research for this book [and it was extensive; see the author's note at the end of the book], and the look into the smallpox epidemic that was both interesting *AND* timely [given recent events with the current measles outbreak and people's hesitation around vaccinations], overall, this book just did not work for me [nor, do I think it would keep the attention of many middle-graders I know], and I spent much of wishing I was reading somethiing else, ALL while hoping it would get better [I will say that the last hour of the book was the best of the whole experience and left me wishing the whole book had been this good]. I didn't enjoy the narration much either and that added to the disconnect I already felt with the writing.
Having read [with several others sitting staring at me from my physical book pile] this author before [Fever 1793 was absolutely stunning and shows that the author is a magnificent writer], my expectations were very high, and unfortunately, I was left very disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing/Antheneum/Caitlin Dloughey Book for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2025
A 10 hour audio middle school historical novel well suited to holiday listening time. Elspeth is a 13 year old, newly arrived in Boston from Philadelphia. Her father, a sail maker, wanted to leave the memories of their Philadelphia life after Elspeth’s mother and younger siblings die in the beginning of the great smallpox epidemic that crossed the American contingent 1775-1782. Elspeth works as a maid, first for a British loyalist judge and then for the family of a newly released patriot when the British evacuate (and kidnap her father). The main plot of the story revolves more around the inoculation of the family against smallpox — at that time inoculation was a new and scary practice in America since its milder version of smallpox was still led to sickness and a rare death. Elspeth is a smallpox survivor and helps nurse the family. Hannah, the lively 16 year wealthy orphan ward of family, thinks she too survived smallpox as a small child but instead comes down with the community spread full version of the disease and her suffering emphasizes what a truly dangerous disease smallpox was.
Excellent author’s note at end of book described the extensive sources used and how the idea of novel began from perusing the letters of Abigail Adams who came to Boston with her sister to have all their children inoculated during this period. Each chapter begins with a quote from a primary source and the story itself seems well grounded in history. Elspeth and Hannah seem a bit too feisty thinking for their times but story shows how confined the expectations were for them during these times. I read this for my own enjoyment and to learn more about Boston’s Revolutionary War history. 3.5
Excellent author’s note at end of book described the extensive sources used and how the idea of novel began from perusing the letters of Abigail Adams who came to Boston with her sister to have all their children inoculated during this period. Each chapter begins with a quote from a primary source and the story itself seems well grounded in history. Elspeth and Hannah seem a bit too feisty thinking for their times but story shows how confined the expectations were for them during these times. I read this for my own enjoyment and to learn more about Boston’s Revolutionary War history. 3.5
July 8, 2025
A rebellion has begun...
✏️ Review ✏️
'Twas a struggle to get into this story at first. The characters are average, the plot is ok, the writing style's decent enough. The narration did feel somewhat disjointed at times due to the FMC directly addressing the reader.
Alas, what made Rebellion 1776 mediocre and hard to get into was the fact that the FMC lies so many times without even thinking about it. Ugh! Although near the end she chides herself a bit for lying so much.... Yeah, so that that's. Don't get me wrong, though. I still think this story appropriately and effectively depicts the many facets of this time period; I just would be hesitant to recommend it to MG readers because of the FMC lying so much. Rebellion 1776 still is an interesting historical read.
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📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The effective depiction of this historical time period.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The disjointed narration (a few time it's really jarring).
• The FMC's constant lying.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy middle grade historical fiction reads that effectively depict their historical setting.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
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📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👥 Characters: 2.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language:
• A few instances of mildly crude humor.
• Several uses of mild swear words (vocabulary mostly used during the 1700s).
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Trigger warning: A scene of death and subsequent grief.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
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📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content notes: (1) One of the minor characters is mentioned as visiting a soothsayer. (2) One of the minor characters proclaims that "Owls take messages to the dead." (3) As I mentioned in my review, the FMC tells falsehoods repeatedly throughout the story. The only time she regrets lying is towards the end of the story.
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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
✏️ Review ✏️
'Twas a struggle to get into this story at first. The characters are average, the plot is ok, the writing style's decent enough. The narration did feel somewhat disjointed at times due to the FMC directly addressing the reader.
Alas, what made Rebellion 1776 mediocre and hard to get into was the fact that the FMC lies so many times without even thinking about it. Ugh! Although near the end she chides herself a bit for lying so much.... Yeah, so that that's. Don't get me wrong, though. I still think this story appropriately and effectively depicts the many facets of this time period; I just would be hesitant to recommend it to MG readers because of the FMC lying so much. Rebellion 1776 still is an interesting historical read.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The effective depiction of this historical time period.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The disjointed narration (a few time it's really jarring).
• The FMC's constant lying.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy middle grade historical fiction reads that effectively depict their historical setting.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👥 Characters: 2.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language:
• A few instances of mildly crude humor.
• Several uses of mild swear words (vocabulary mostly used during the 1700s).
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• Trigger warning: A scene of death and subsequent grief.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content notes: (1) One of the minor characters is mentioned as visiting a soothsayer. (2) One of the minor characters proclaims that "Owls take messages to the dead." (3) As I mentioned in my review, the FMC tells falsehoods repeatedly throughout the story. The only time she regrets lying is towards the end of the story.
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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
January 7, 2025
Stellar historical fiction for grades 5 and up, set in Boston, Massachusetts just prior to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Focus is on the survival and culture of families and individuals during this tumultuous time with a bit of wartime weaponry and tactics and the effect of the Declaration on the spirits of Patriots in the city.
Elsbeth Culpepper and her sail-making father have relocated to Boston after the loss of mom and all her siblings to smallpox. Elsbeth is in her teens and is acting as live in maid to a well to do Loyalist while her dad works long hours stitching sails and sleeps in a run down boarding house. But Elsbeth has dreams of apprenticeship to a seamstress and the gumption to get there if only things would break her way, however, times are tough and about to get worse.
Readers will warm to plucky Elsbeth quickly and wish for her luck to change, but every time life seems to be headed in a positive direction, a new challenge arises-her father disappears after they have a disagreement, Loyalists are evacuated from Boston leaving Elsbeth jobless, her best friend joins Washington’s army, plus smallpox and difficult inoculation procedures strike hard among the townspeople and those she loves. As always, Anderson combines a wonderful story with real life events into a narrative that is sure to engage those interested in history as well as readers who enjoy a character-driven tale with a strong female lead.
Text is free of profanity and sexual content with very little violence. High page count means that younger middle grade readers may have a difficult time finishing, but the vocabulary should not be daunting. With the history, a bit of romance and well-developed characters, junior high and even high school students will find something to love.
Thanks for the print ARC, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum Books.
Elsbeth Culpepper and her sail-making father have relocated to Boston after the loss of mom and all her siblings to smallpox. Elsbeth is in her teens and is acting as live in maid to a well to do Loyalist while her dad works long hours stitching sails and sleeps in a run down boarding house. But Elsbeth has dreams of apprenticeship to a seamstress and the gumption to get there if only things would break her way, however, times are tough and about to get worse.
Readers will warm to plucky Elsbeth quickly and wish for her luck to change, but every time life seems to be headed in a positive direction, a new challenge arises-her father disappears after they have a disagreement, Loyalists are evacuated from Boston leaving Elsbeth jobless, her best friend joins Washington’s army, plus smallpox and difficult inoculation procedures strike hard among the townspeople and those she loves. As always, Anderson combines a wonderful story with real life events into a narrative that is sure to engage those interested in history as well as readers who enjoy a character-driven tale with a strong female lead.
Text is free of profanity and sexual content with very little violence. High page count means that younger middle grade readers may have a difficult time finishing, but the vocabulary should not be daunting. With the history, a bit of romance and well-developed characters, junior high and even high school students will find something to love.
Thanks for the print ARC, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum Books.
December 2, 2025
Wow. I never thought I would rate a LHA book so low. Honestly what a disappointment and a slog. For a book set during an iconic war and a smallpox pandemic, there was little to no conflict. Absolutely nothing happened. It was 400 pages of disjointed mess, with a leading lady lacking emotion and depth and drive. Frankly, none of the characters were interesting. And the historical bits were subpar, if even there. It seemed like she scraped this one out of the bottom of a barrel and slapped the words to the page—nothing like her usual work at all. She couldn’t seem to decide whether to focus on war or disease—instead of choosing one and committing, she sloppily combined both.
I really really hope it does NOT win the Newbery.
I really really hope it does NOT win the Newbery.
May 11, 2025
I was completely engrossed in Elsbeth's story. This was the best historical fiction I've read about smallpox. Just reading the symptoms doesn't always give you a sense of what it was really like. This book does, which is so important now that we live in a time when people dismiss horrifying diseases as "not so bad." I love Anderson's historical fiction. It feels so real and lived-in.
October 19, 2025
The Revolutionary War was my favorite historical period as a kiddo, and this only reinforced that, lol. The second half was definitely stronger than the first, but I enjoyed it overall. 4 stars from me!
November 26, 2025
I would have enjoyed this book when I was younger, but it’s obviously hard to listen to and judge a book written for early middle school readers (that’s not to say that I don’t read kids books, because I so do, but these jokes felt very juvenile and I knew the whole plot). I will say I did learn a lot about the siege of Boston and the smallpox epidemic. The old English was silly, “mayhaps” was my fav and I might need to incorporate that in my normal vocab. There were some interesting themes about women’s independence but then her dad (the real villain, he was my opp) came back and it felt deflated.
July 10, 2026
Normally books that I read for school are automatically books I don't like, but this was great; Elsbeth was pretty funny
May 31, 2025
*audiobook
July 14, 2026
Thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper is living in Boston, a servant in Judge Bellingham's household while Boston is under siege from the British redcoats. Elspeth is terrified and just wants the British to go away and life to return to normal where she and her father can live together in peace, something they haven't done since Mama and Elspeth's little siblings succumbed to smallpox back in Philadelphia. When Elspeth awakens the morning after the siege, her best friend Shubel shows her how the American patriots have set up canons in Dorchester and people cheered! She rushes to tell her father and share her plans for their future but he disagrees. In fact, Pappa plans to evacuate with the Loyalists and take Elspeth to live with her mother's kin in Scotland! Elspeth knows her mother barely has any family left and her mother had a low opinion of her country cousins. Elspeth has plans to become an apprentice to a seamstress and one day open her own shop. She can only do that if she stays in Boston. When evacuation day approaches, Elspeth formulates a plan to hide from Pappa so they will miss the sailing. Her plan backfires spectacularly and now Pappa is missing. Elspeth searches for her Pappa at his boarding house where she comes across her Pappa's tools and a man suffering from smallpox, but no Pappa. After helping the sick man, she returns to Judge Bellingham's house only to discover it's been taken over by a Patriot spy recently released from prison and seeking restoration of his money and property. Mister Pike allows Elspeth to stay on. He'll need her when his family joins them. Grateful she can stay in one place where Pappa can find her, Elspeth vows never to stop searching for him. As the weeks go on, she becomes mired in the fortunes of the very large Pike family and their wealthy ward, Miss Hannah Sparhawk, a kindred spirit. Her friend Shubel also seeks his place in the world, preferably with Washington's army. As more people crowd into Boston after the siege, the city sees an increase in population and the number of people dying from smallpox grows every day. The city's response is to lock down and inoculate everyone. As the weeks turn into months and Pappa is still missing, Elspeth has to find a way to avoid the poorhouse. It means dodging unruly children, soggy babies, emptying chamber pots, scrubbing floors, avoiding the wrath of a cantankerous servant, learning to milk cows and not giving up on her dreams. Will she ever find Pappa again? Will Shubel survive whatever comes his way? Will they ever be free to run around together again? How many more people will the dreaded pox kill before Boston is truly free?
I didn't love this book as much as the The Seeds of America Trilogy: Chains / Forge / Ashes. The subject matter isn't as new or surprising. I have read other servant girl books before and it's too soon to read about an epidemic. The plot went on too long. I kept skipping ahead to see what happened to Pappa. I did suspect it was something like what actually happened. I thought What happened makes sense.
I know too much about New England history as well. Unlike my beloved tween favorites The Secret of Sarah Revere: A Revolutionary War Novel for Children (Ages 10-12) About Family Secrets and The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre, I don't feel as immersed in 18th century Boston. A lot of the story is told as if Elspeth is writing a diary or memoir. (The epilogue does indicate she's writing her memoir). I have no idea where in Boston she lives, even with a map. There are a few places I recognize of course, stops of the Freedom Trail. I'm going to be SUPER nitpicky and say in Boston we have the Old South Meeting House not church. We had churches too (the Old North CHURCH) but Puritans talked about going to meeting as a cover for their illegal religious activities. Hannah Sparrowhawk is nowhere near a Rhode Island name. Her parents' names are not Rhode Island names either. There were a handful of families in Providence and you can walk past their houses today and read the names on the plaque. You can see their names on the street signs and buildings, you know their names and their legacies, you visit the house museum. Hannah should have been from Connecticut. Especially when she runs into Mistress Crandall! THAT is a Connecticut name! Alternately, she could have been from another part of Rhode Island (but again their names are known). Or you know... just call her Smith. Elspeth's name isn't very Bostonian either but her mother was from Scotland so her name makes sense, and she's from Philadelphia.
One NEW thing I learned was how long it took for the news of the Declaration of Independence to read us here in New England from Philadelphia and how. It took two weeks and the news came via newspaper. It's not like today when everyone stands around on the 4th of July reading the Declaration of Independence. The epigraphs at the start of each chapter were taken from newspapers of the day. History nerds will enjoy those but I'm not sure the general YA reader will appreciate reading them. There are also quotes from letters from and to Abigail Adams. She's mostly known for her "remember the ladies" letter but really, there was more to her feminism than that. I enjoyed those quotes immensely.
At first I thought Elspeth's father was politically neutral. He didn't care whether the British or the Americans controlled Boston. That sounded like an interesting angle for the story when most books are about Patriots and Patriots vs. evil Loyalists is the prevailing narrative. Elspeth just wants the British to leave so everything returns to normal. She doesn't seem to be on one side or the other but as the story continues, she desires independence for herself and sees herself as a true American patriot.
The details about smallpox are especially gruesome and tough to read. I have seen HBO's John Adams mini series so I had an idea of what inoculation looked like and I have read accounts from the inoculation hospitals but I wasn't prepared for so much body fluid and other nasty details. I also wasn't prepared for a character I really liked to get smallpox. There's no herd immunity for smallpox and putting the live virus in someone's arm gives them a greater chance for survival. Without it, the disease is primarily fatal. I was surprised that character hadn't had cowpox though. They must not have milked a cow often enough. I was also horrified that the inoculation had to be done two or three times before it "took." I guess better safe than sorry not to assume they have immunity?
I wasn't crazy about Elspeth. She's 13 but acts a lot younger. She THINKS she's mature but her argument with her father lacks sense. I agreed with him even knowing history but didn't think they should set sail for Scotland but maybe Nova Scotia would work out. Her father is a sailmaker and I think he could be happy in Nova Scotia or at least find work. He's her father and she's arguing with him the way I would in the 20th century. She's really sassy to all the adults and when she's being extra sassy she pretends to speak high and mighty. Children didn't do that. They were obedient. I LOVED spunky, sassy heroines when I was a kid and I probably would have loved Elspeth and purchased this book to lug around Boston. As an adult reader, I'm torn because she's supposed to be likable and relatable. I didn't like how often she lies. Sometimes it's necessary but I think in the case of her Pappa she could have told the Pikes the truth. Or a version of it. Elspeth also enjoys teasing her friend and calling him names. She puts a huge burden on him and is constantly almost getting him into trouble. She cares for him and doesn't want to see him hurt so she should pay attention and look at his body language and hear him when he tells her something. While she has freedom to roam around, he does not. She is not a good friend. I liked Shubel and wanted him to succeed but I think in reality there would be no happy ending for him. The /revelation in the epilogue came out of nowhere. Aren't they like 13? Shubel has a hard life and his cheeky, joyous, independent spirit is nearly crushed out of him because he's a poor orphan.
Judge Bellingham is old, mean, ornery and cranky. He's downright abusive to those he considers beneath him. Elspeth makes allowances for the man because he's elderly and seems to be exhibiting signs of dementia. He would surely kill Elspeth if he stayed. I feel a LITTLE bit sorry for him because he's an old man who has to pack and uproot his life to sail to a new location when he should be allowed to stay in his home under the care of a doctor and nurse. Mister Pike is a better employer because he doesn't lose him temper, he's fair but he's also naive. It's unclear why people in Boston shun him. Maybe because he was a spy who got caught? (Why was he not executed?) Or maybe they think he was a double agent spying for the British on the Patriots? Or is it just because he's lost all his money and property? Don't be fooled- Bostonians are class conscious too. Freedom and liberty mean different things to the Pikes and the wealthy Bostonians than they do to Elspeth and especially to Curzon Forge who is briefly mentioned. (His father was enslaved by Judge Bellingham and Curzon is enslaved by Judge Bellingham's son.)
Mr. Pike loves his family and wants them to join him back in Boston when the city reopens. His wife comes across as a nasty fortune hunter at first. She doesn't want to return to Boston since their mansion was burned to the ground. She seems snooty and unloving. Then when she and the children arrive in Boston, she is revealed to be a loving but exasperated and exhausted mother of a rambunctious family and a caring wife. She doesn't ONLY care about appearances and material things. She is a strong woman who knows her own mind and argues with her husband. He's kind but really, really blind. Even the teenage girls can spot a villain and plot when they see one. Surely a grown man wouldn't be so trusting of someone who looks like a rogue! Missus Pike can see it, I think, but is helpless because she's left out of her husband's business affairs. She gives the girls some really bad advice about making the most of a bad situation. She isn't trying to change things the way Abigail Adams is. Missus Pike is also an anti-vaxxer. Or anti-inoculation, to be precise. Sure you get smallpox with the inoculation but the death rate is insanely lower with it than without it. It's not new - it's been around for a 55 years in Boston and sickness is not God's will! (Not even Puritan minister Cotton Mather believed THAT nonsense! Of course he had his enslaved man inoculated first to see if it worked.) Is it like chicken pox that adults get more sick? If so, I understand why she would be hesitant to be inoculated herself go ahead and do the children! I would think that if Abigail Adams is having her children inoculated, then the other society ladies would want to do it too.
The Pike children are absolutely ghastly! Most of them. Too many boys for me. The eldest, Tom, is quiet and the second son, Alexander, enjoys precision. He is studious and has the makings of an awesome doctor. I was impressed by how he was documenting the smallpox. He's good with his younger brothers too. Benjamin and is rowdy and he frequently argues and fights with his siblings. Little Gilbert, age 4, is kind of bratty and spoiled. He's cute if you like whiny, wet tots. Howler, the baby, (now he's the one with a Rhode Island name, Tillinghast), cries a lot but he's a baby and the household is chaotic and the city is as well. Poor thing is growing up at a stressful time and may not survive past his first birthday. I like Tabitha, the only girl, a lot. She's smart, wise and knows her own mind. She's kind to Elspeth even if she doesn't quite "see" Elspeth. Only Hannah gets Elspeth's longing for independence. Hannah desires independence as well. She only wants to go back to Providence and be with her beloved grandmother. Her grandmother fell ill and sent her away. Surely she's well by now or Hannah should be the one caring for her grandmother. Hannah is instead under the care of well-meaning but clueless guardians and her fortune is controlled by a man she neither likes nor respects. Captain Hunter only respects money and he'll marry her off to the highest bidder and ignore her wishes.
Nyott Doubt, a doctor in training, comes from an upper class family and puts on airs because of it. He's helpful when it benefits himself. He doesn't go out of his way to be friendly or kind. He's itching to social climb back to his rightful place and seems to do a lot of sucking up to important people to get back to where he wants to be. He's not a good friend. However, I felt sorry for the way Hannah treats him. I'm not sure she feels the same way about him as he does about her. For her, he's a means to an end. Widow Nash, the housekeeper, is horrid. Why does this old woman have so much hate in her heart? Is she a good New England Puritan/Congregationalist? Is it because she's elderly and fears being tossed out on the street destitute so she drives away all the other maids? She's largely a two-dimensional character until near the end of the story. She does nothing but scheme to get Elspeth turned out on the street and is constantly yelling, belittling and calling Elspeth names. She refuses to follow Elspeth's suggestion for an easier quarantine set up just because she's evil. The real villain of the story is . This person is a rogue, an opportunist, a liar and a thief but sneaky about it. It's obvious to me Mister Pike's money has been stolen and Hannah's as well. Billy Rowdon at least is honest about his villainy which is more petty thievery. Is he desperate or did he somehow orchestrate what happened to Elspeth's Papa? I'm not sure he could have but he's taken advantage of the opportunity.
While I didn't love this book, it's a good addition to the story of the Revolutionary War.
I didn't love this book as much as the The Seeds of America Trilogy: Chains / Forge / Ashes. The subject matter isn't as new or surprising. I have read other servant girl books before and it's too soon to read about an epidemic. The plot went on too long. I kept skipping ahead to see what happened to Pappa. I did suspect it was something like what actually happened. I thought What happened makes sense.
I know too much about New England history as well. Unlike my beloved tween favorites The Secret of Sarah Revere: A Revolutionary War Novel for Children (Ages 10-12) About Family Secrets and The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre, I don't feel as immersed in 18th century Boston. A lot of the story is told as if Elspeth is writing a diary or memoir. (The epilogue does indicate she's writing her memoir). I have no idea where in Boston she lives, even with a map. There are a few places I recognize of course, stops of the Freedom Trail. I'm going to be SUPER nitpicky and say in Boston we have the Old South Meeting House not church. We had churches too (the Old North CHURCH) but Puritans talked about going to meeting as a cover for their illegal religious activities. Hannah Sparrowhawk is nowhere near a Rhode Island name. Her parents' names are not Rhode Island names either. There were a handful of families in Providence and you can walk past their houses today and read the names on the plaque. You can see their names on the street signs and buildings, you know their names and their legacies, you visit the house museum. Hannah should have been from Connecticut. Especially when she runs into Mistress Crandall! THAT is a Connecticut name! Alternately, she could have been from another part of Rhode Island (but again their names are known). Or you know... just call her Smith. Elspeth's name isn't very Bostonian either but her mother was from Scotland so her name makes sense, and she's from Philadelphia.
One NEW thing I learned was how long it took for the news of the Declaration of Independence to read us here in New England from Philadelphia and how. It took two weeks and the news came via newspaper. It's not like today when everyone stands around on the 4th of July reading the Declaration of Independence. The epigraphs at the start of each chapter were taken from newspapers of the day. History nerds will enjoy those but I'm not sure the general YA reader will appreciate reading them. There are also quotes from letters from and to Abigail Adams. She's mostly known for her "remember the ladies" letter but really, there was more to her feminism than that. I enjoyed those quotes immensely.
At first I thought Elspeth's father was politically neutral. He didn't care whether the British or the Americans controlled Boston. That sounded like an interesting angle for the story when most books are about Patriots and Patriots vs. evil Loyalists is the prevailing narrative. Elspeth just wants the British to leave so everything returns to normal. She doesn't seem to be on one side or the other but as the story continues, she desires independence for herself and sees herself as a true American patriot.
The details about smallpox are especially gruesome and tough to read. I have seen HBO's John Adams mini series so I had an idea of what inoculation looked like and I have read accounts from the inoculation hospitals but I wasn't prepared for so much body fluid and other nasty details. I also wasn't prepared for a character I really liked to get smallpox. There's no herd immunity for smallpox and putting the live virus in someone's arm gives them a greater chance for survival. Without it, the disease is primarily fatal. I was surprised that character hadn't had cowpox though. They must not have milked a cow often enough. I was also horrified that the inoculation had to be done two or three times before it "took." I guess better safe than sorry not to assume they have immunity?
I wasn't crazy about Elspeth. She's 13 but acts a lot younger. She THINKS she's mature but her argument with her father lacks sense. I agreed with him even knowing history but didn't think they should set sail for Scotland but maybe Nova Scotia would work out. Her father is a sailmaker and I think he could be happy in Nova Scotia or at least find work. He's her father and she's arguing with him the way I would in the 20th century. She's really sassy to all the adults and when she's being extra sassy she pretends to speak high and mighty. Children didn't do that. They were obedient. I LOVED spunky, sassy heroines when I was a kid and I probably would have loved Elspeth and purchased this book to lug around Boston. As an adult reader, I'm torn because she's supposed to be likable and relatable. I didn't like how often she lies. Sometimes it's necessary but I think in the case of her Pappa she could have told the Pikes the truth. Or a version of it. Elspeth also enjoys teasing her friend and calling him names. She puts a huge burden on him and is constantly almost getting him into trouble. She cares for him and doesn't want to see him hurt so she should pay attention and look at his body language and hear him when he tells her something. While she has freedom to roam around, he does not. She is not a good friend. I liked Shubel and wanted him to succeed but I think in reality there would be no happy ending for him. The /revelation in the epilogue came out of nowhere. Aren't they like 13? Shubel has a hard life and his cheeky, joyous, independent spirit is nearly crushed out of him because he's a poor orphan.
Judge Bellingham is old, mean, ornery and cranky. He's downright abusive to those he considers beneath him. Elspeth makes allowances for the man because he's elderly and seems to be exhibiting signs of dementia. He would surely kill Elspeth if he stayed. I feel a LITTLE bit sorry for him because he's an old man who has to pack and uproot his life to sail to a new location when he should be allowed to stay in his home under the care of a doctor and nurse. Mister Pike is a better employer because he doesn't lose him temper, he's fair but he's also naive. It's unclear why people in Boston shun him. Maybe because he was a spy who got caught? (Why was he not executed?) Or maybe they think he was a double agent spying for the British on the Patriots? Or is it just because he's lost all his money and property? Don't be fooled- Bostonians are class conscious too. Freedom and liberty mean different things to the Pikes and the wealthy Bostonians than they do to Elspeth and especially to Curzon Forge who is briefly mentioned. (His father was enslaved by Judge Bellingham and Curzon is enslaved by Judge Bellingham's son.)
Mr. Pike loves his family and wants them to join him back in Boston when the city reopens. His wife comes across as a nasty fortune hunter at first. She doesn't want to return to Boston since their mansion was burned to the ground. She seems snooty and unloving. Then when she and the children arrive in Boston, she is revealed to be a loving but exasperated and exhausted mother of a rambunctious family and a caring wife. She doesn't ONLY care about appearances and material things. She is a strong woman who knows her own mind and argues with her husband. He's kind but really, really blind. Even the teenage girls can spot a villain and plot when they see one. Surely a grown man wouldn't be so trusting of someone who looks like a rogue! Missus Pike can see it, I think, but is helpless because she's left out of her husband's business affairs. She gives the girls some really bad advice about making the most of a bad situation. She isn't trying to change things the way Abigail Adams is. Missus Pike is also an anti-vaxxer. Or anti-inoculation, to be precise. Sure you get smallpox with the inoculation but the death rate is insanely lower with it than without it. It's not new - it's been around for a 55 years in Boston and sickness is not God's will! (Not even Puritan minister Cotton Mather believed THAT nonsense! Of course he had his enslaved man inoculated first to see if it worked.) Is it like chicken pox that adults get more sick? If so, I understand why she would be hesitant to be inoculated herself go ahead and do the children! I would think that if Abigail Adams is having her children inoculated, then the other society ladies would want to do it too.
The Pike children are absolutely ghastly! Most of them. Too many boys for me. The eldest, Tom, is quiet and the second son, Alexander, enjoys precision. He is studious and has the makings of an awesome doctor. I was impressed by how he was documenting the smallpox. He's good with his younger brothers too. Benjamin and is rowdy and he frequently argues and fights with his siblings. Little Gilbert, age 4, is kind of bratty and spoiled. He's cute if you like whiny, wet tots. Howler, the baby, (now he's the one with a Rhode Island name, Tillinghast), cries a lot but he's a baby and the household is chaotic and the city is as well. Poor thing is growing up at a stressful time and may not survive past his first birthday. I like Tabitha, the only girl, a lot. She's smart, wise and knows her own mind. She's kind to Elspeth even if she doesn't quite "see" Elspeth. Only Hannah gets Elspeth's longing for independence. Hannah desires independence as well. She only wants to go back to Providence and be with her beloved grandmother. Her grandmother fell ill and sent her away. Surely she's well by now or Hannah should be the one caring for her grandmother. Hannah is instead under the care of well-meaning but clueless guardians and her fortune is controlled by a man she neither likes nor respects. Captain Hunter only respects money and he'll marry her off to the highest bidder and ignore her wishes.
Nyott Doubt, a doctor in training, comes from an upper class family and puts on airs because of it. He's helpful when it benefits himself. He doesn't go out of his way to be friendly or kind. He's itching to social climb back to his rightful place and seems to do a lot of sucking up to important people to get back to where he wants to be. He's not a good friend. However, I felt sorry for the way Hannah treats him. I'm not sure she feels the same way about him as he does about her. For her, he's a means to an end. Widow Nash, the housekeeper, is horrid. Why does this old woman have so much hate in her heart? Is she a good New England Puritan/Congregationalist? Is it because she's elderly and fears being tossed out on the street destitute so she drives away all the other maids? She's largely a two-dimensional character until near the end of the story. She does nothing but scheme to get Elspeth turned out on the street and is constantly yelling, belittling and calling Elspeth names. She refuses to follow Elspeth's suggestion for an easier quarantine set up just because she's evil. The real villain of the story is . This person is a rogue, an opportunist, a liar and a thief but sneaky about it. It's obvious to me Mister Pike's money has been stolen and Hannah's as well. Billy Rowdon at least is honest about his villainy which is more petty thievery. Is he desperate or did he somehow orchestrate what happened to Elspeth's Papa? I'm not sure he could have but he's taken advantage of the opportunity.
While I didn't love this book, it's a good addition to the story of the Revolutionary War.
October 16, 2025
Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson (2025) is a fictional middle grade (ages 10 to 14) historical tale. The main character, thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper, is a diligent kitchen helper who eventually takes on the role of nanny. Elsbeth stands out for her resourcefulness and quick-thinking, relying on her intelligence and determination to navigate the dangers of wartime while caring for those around her. As she faces the turmoil of the era, her resilience and compassion make her a compelling and relatable protagonist.
The story takes a time rich in Boston’s history. In April of 1775, the British began a long siege on Boston try to take control. Fighting a war in 1775 and 1776 across the ocean from their homeland made it so the British soldiers were often without food, fuel, and supplies. The American colonists to a lesser and were close to other colonists. Thus, in March of 1776 the British gave up on fighting for Boston and boarded ships to return to England and burnt much of Boston as the left.
Elsbeth worked in the kitchen for a Judge until the British left in March of 1776. The Judge was a loyalist - those were the 20% of Americans who were loyal to the British – and he left with this British. At the same time Elsbeth’s father went missing. Elsbeth was a child alone in a war torn and burnt city. A city where there were very few jobs.
Elsbeth said she was sixteen and got hired in the home of the Pike family with five children and a wealthy ward.
A smallpox pandemic and the smallpox vaccine also were present in Boston.
This novel tells of Elsbeth’s journey during these challenging times as she focuses on surviving and attempts to learn the circumstances of her father’s disappearance.
Anderson is accomplished in both in developing great characters and putting them into a time and setting that is historically rich. If the idea of reading a story with a deep plot, strong characters and full of American history sounds good to you - I recommend this book to you.
The story takes a time rich in Boston’s history. In April of 1775, the British began a long siege on Boston try to take control. Fighting a war in 1775 and 1776 across the ocean from their homeland made it so the British soldiers were often without food, fuel, and supplies. The American colonists to a lesser and were close to other colonists. Thus, in March of 1776 the British gave up on fighting for Boston and boarded ships to return to England and burnt much of Boston as the left.
Elsbeth worked in the kitchen for a Judge until the British left in March of 1776. The Judge was a loyalist - those were the 20% of Americans who were loyal to the British – and he left with this British. At the same time Elsbeth’s father went missing. Elsbeth was a child alone in a war torn and burnt city. A city where there were very few jobs.
Elsbeth said she was sixteen and got hired in the home of the Pike family with five children and a wealthy ward.
A smallpox pandemic and the smallpox vaccine also were present in Boston.
This novel tells of Elsbeth’s journey during these challenging times as she focuses on surviving and attempts to learn the circumstances of her father’s disappearance.
Anderson is accomplished in both in developing great characters and putting them into a time and setting that is historically rich. If the idea of reading a story with a deep plot, strong characters and full of American history sounds good to you - I recommend this book to you.
May 22, 2025
Elspeth Culpepper is a 13-year-old girl living in Boston during the Revolutionary War, who survived the smallpox epidemic that killed her mother and siblings. Her father, a sailmaker, wants to send her to overseas relatives, but mysteriously disappears, leaving Elspeth to survive on her own. She manages to work for a Patriot family because of her ability to get along with the numerous kids, while battling a long-tenured housekeeper who does not like her at all. Elspeth befriends a ward of the family, as her grandmother recuperates from an illness. I liked Elspeth relationship with another boy without a family as they looked out for each other. However, I was disappointed that the book was more about the smallpox epidemic than about the war for independence.
January 29, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I have loved Anderson’s books on similar historical events so I was excited to have a chance to read this book about the revolution in Boston. It started right in the middle of the action and hooked me immediately. I absolutely fell in love with the characters, especially the main character Elsbeth. She was fiesty and smart. This book had everything for me- fighting, romance, close relationships, and wholesome life lessons. Absolutely a must read.
I have loved Anderson’s books on similar historical events so I was excited to have a chance to read this book about the revolution in Boston. It started right in the middle of the action and hooked me immediately. I absolutely fell in love with the characters, especially the main character Elsbeth. She was fiesty and smart. This book had everything for me- fighting, romance, close relationships, and wholesome life lessons. Absolutely a must read.
May 12, 2025
3.5 Enjoyable, good writing, interesting but not compelling. I never felt excited about getting back into it and rather read it because I felt I should finish. The Smallpox epidemic was a fresh topic to read about, and Elsbeth's life as a non-enslaved, technically, servant interested me some. Readers will learn about medical practices of the Rev War (although not so much of the really interesting crazy home-remedies that I learned about in Salem, MA), how unfairly women were treated during that time, and will be entertained by a story. It wasn't my favorite of Anderson's, and I think I enjoyed Chains much more. Author's Note worth reading!
July 4, 2025
I had to read this on July 4th. I adore Laurie’s historical middle grades because they are filled with history and life lessons.
July 2, 2025
Laurie Halse Anderson is such a wonderful writer, it is a joy just to sit within the words.
Elspeth is on her own in Revolutionary-War era Boston. Her mother and siblings died of smallpox. Her father disappeared with the British evacuation of the city. And Elspeth's employer--a Tory judge--has evacuated himself.
Now you might think this would leave a working-class teenage girl in dire straits, but really not so much more that the rest of Boston. So when Elspeth is hired on by a formerly well-to-do couple now scraping by and trying to wrangle a passel of uncooperative children, she knows her worth and steps into the breach. A good thing too because the father--a released prisoner of war--is soon off to sea, the housekeeper is a regular tyrant, and the city is about to go into quarantine as the bulk of the populace tackles wartime inoculations in the face of an epidemic.
Plus the children really need someone with a sense of humor.
A strong spunky heroine in the midst of Revolutionary-War Boston, sign me up. Combine that with Anderson's writing, and there was probably zero chance that I would not love this book.
In addition, this was one of those wonderful historical fiction books that made me research for more information.
As a child in school, I had learned that the early smallpox vaccine used a sample of cowpox--a more mild disease--in order to protect people. Watching the John Adams mini-series, I also learned about the smallpox epidemic & inoculations in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War. But I did not realize that the inoculations during the Revolutionary War occurred prior to the discovery of the cowpox vaccine. Instead, people of the time had inoculations using the actual smallpox virus. (A small sample was scraped into the skin). This reduced the death rate from 30% to only 2%. However, it required a lengthy period of quarantine as recipients did develop a typically milder form of the disease and could spread that disease to others who were not protected. Also people afraid of getting smallpox would sometimes inoculate themselves and fail to quarantine, which could be very dangerous for others. Hence, Boston elected to tackle the problem as a city, inoculating everyone who wished to be so all at once and likewise quarantining them all at once. People from the country moved into the city in order to be inoculated, and those who did not wish to be or who were already protected and did not wish to be quarantined moved out for the duration. Interesting.
Elspeth is on her own in Revolutionary-War era Boston. Her mother and siblings died of smallpox. Her father disappeared with the British evacuation of the city. And Elspeth's employer--a Tory judge--has evacuated himself.
Now you might think this would leave a working-class teenage girl in dire straits, but really not so much more that the rest of Boston. So when Elspeth is hired on by a formerly well-to-do couple now scraping by and trying to wrangle a passel of uncooperative children, she knows her worth and steps into the breach. A good thing too because the father--a released prisoner of war--is soon off to sea, the housekeeper is a regular tyrant, and the city is about to go into quarantine as the bulk of the populace tackles wartime inoculations in the face of an epidemic.
Plus the children really need someone with a sense of humor.
A strong spunky heroine in the midst of Revolutionary-War Boston, sign me up. Combine that with Anderson's writing, and there was probably zero chance that I would not love this book.
In addition, this was one of those wonderful historical fiction books that made me research for more information.
As a child in school, I had learned that the early smallpox vaccine used a sample of cowpox--a more mild disease--in order to protect people. Watching the John Adams mini-series, I also learned about the smallpox epidemic & inoculations in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War. But I did not realize that the inoculations during the Revolutionary War occurred prior to the discovery of the cowpox vaccine. Instead, people of the time had inoculations using the actual smallpox virus. (A small sample was scraped into the skin). This reduced the death rate from 30% to only 2%. However, it required a lengthy period of quarantine as recipients did develop a typically milder form of the disease and could spread that disease to others who were not protected. Also people afraid of getting smallpox would sometimes inoculate themselves and fail to quarantine, which could be very dangerous for others. Hence, Boston elected to tackle the problem as a city, inoculating everyone who wished to be so all at once and likewise quarantining them all at once. People from the country moved into the city in order to be inoculated, and those who did not wish to be or who were already protected and did not wish to be quarantined moved out for the duration. Interesting.
May 2, 2026
2026 ATY #28. A book related to a resistance, rebellion or revolution
Interesting view of the American Revolution which focuses on the summer of 1776 and the epidemic of smallpox that swept through Boston at the same time the war with Britain was heating up and America declared her independence. We follow Elsbeth who has found herself alone as her father disappeared and she is working as a servant in the Pike home. Her life is not easy but she is plucky and has a clever mind...also she is now immune from smallpox because she is the sole survivor of an earlier outbreak in her family. Great detail about the early innocluations and the difficulties of trying to survive the disease. I was so frustrated on her behalf at the injustice of her situation. And loved how she stood up.for herself and fought for the life she wanted, not just the life that was being offered to her.
Interesting view of the American Revolution which focuses on the summer of 1776 and the epidemic of smallpox that swept through Boston at the same time the war with Britain was heating up and America declared her independence. We follow Elsbeth who has found herself alone as her father disappeared and she is working as a servant in the Pike home. Her life is not easy but she is plucky and has a clever mind...also she is now immune from smallpox because she is the sole survivor of an earlier outbreak in her family. Great detail about the early innocluations and the difficulties of trying to survive the disease. I was so frustrated on her behalf at the injustice of her situation. And loved how she stood up.for herself and fought for the life she wanted, not just the life that was being offered to her.
May 30, 2025
3.5 stars
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews...
An interesting and insightful read that taught me a lot about what life was like in Boston in 1776 as the tide turned in favor of the Patriots in the Revolutionary War and the smallpox epidemic swept the city. I really enjoyed following Elsbeth and the Pike family through the unpredictable ups and downs of the time. As always, Laurie Halse Anderson does an excellent job creating well rounded characters you can connect with, and she maintains good pacing and manages the many plot threads well. There was a moment that, while honestly inevitable, still emotionally gut punched me. All in all, a great historical read that will embed you in the time period.
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews...
An interesting and insightful read that taught me a lot about what life was like in Boston in 1776 as the tide turned in favor of the Patriots in the Revolutionary War and the smallpox epidemic swept the city. I really enjoyed following Elsbeth and the Pike family through the unpredictable ups and downs of the time. As always, Laurie Halse Anderson does an excellent job creating well rounded characters you can connect with, and she maintains good pacing and manages the many plot threads well. There was a moment that, while honestly inevitable, still emotionally gut punched me. All in all, a great historical read that will embed you in the time period.
July 20, 2025
As always, incredible. Love Anderson's historical fiction!!!
August 10, 2026
Great book!
August 30, 2026
Like the author’s other books Fever 1793 and Chains mixed together, but not as interesting or unique as either of those.
July 9, 2025
I don't think I've read any other books that were set around not only the fighting and revolution but also while smallpox was also raging and how communities were trying to get ahead of it. Although this book was middle grade it did not gloss over the brutality of the disease in any way. This book would be an excellent addition to any history lesson set around the 1770s.
May 7, 2025
I love Laurie Halse Anderson so much! This read was a different journey for me as I don’t typically gravitate towards historical fiction but I carried on. I think the story paced ok and I liked Elspeth as a main voice for the story. The chapter starter pages with the title, date and a quote was lovely and helped me keep track of where and when we were! I found myself checking the map during the read which was fun! I appreciated the added visual aid. Overall the story was gritty and hopeful as most stories involving smallpox, war, and a young protagonist tend to be.
Finally, thank you so much for this ARC copy to read and review!
Finally, thank you so much for this ARC copy to read and review!
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