Anderson, Laurie Halse. Rebellion 1776. Atheneum /Caitlyn Dlouhy, 04/2025. 405pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-4169-6826-9. GRADES 5–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Just as the Patriots finally liberate British-occupied Boston in the spring of 1776, the city finds itself stricken by a deadly smallpox epidemic. As everyone around her is affected by these life-altering events, thirteen-year-old hired servant Elspeth Culpepper narrates her experiences and chronicles the class and gender disparities that are revealed through them. Halse depicts a wide range of believable and compelling characters, mostly white, from a variety of different economic, educational, and social statuses. Those looking for a more action-packed war story may be disappointed that the American Revolution does not feature as prominently as one might expect, but readers will find much to learn from this well-researched and detailed account of life during a Colonial epidemic. Additional pages include source materials and a map of Colonial Boston.
Jennifer Taylor—Palo Alto City Library