Laurie Halse Anderson once again proves that history isn’t so different from the present in Rebellion 1776. Her latest novel focuses on topics that we still wrestle with today, such as inoculations, and some people’s fear of them, the divide between the rich and the poor in many areas, and the way that stress and difficulties can affect our mental health. In this newest novel, Anderson introduces us to Elsbeth, a young lady who is trying to figure out the world around her and where she fits into it. Smallpox has taken her family, except for her father, and they are separated as he is trying to find work in Boston and she has to do the same. After a series of different events, she ends up being a servant in a wealthy household. She is treated differently because of her societal status, and she is also struggling because her father has disappeared, and she does not know where he is located. During this time, the American revolution is consuming people’s lives, but a sudden outbreak of smallpox has caused a lot of worry among the people of Boston. Given the opportunity to be inoculated against the disease, Boston has pretty much shut down as families must endure having light cases of it after being inoculated with a live virus. Elsbeth finds herself in a difficult situation as she is nursing the family she works with, having had smallpox as a child and therefore, being immune to it. This book shows that people in the 1700s weren’t that much different than we are now. Many of them, including the matriarch of the family she works for, figure the inoculation might actually kill them. This is a sentiment that I know people still sound the alarm over today, despite many years of research and data. I found myself feeling very enlightened about this period of history, while being sympathetic towards this main character. Once again, Anderson takes a moment in history that many people think they know quite a bit about, and teaches us something we were not aware of. Sprinkled with humor and suspense, this is a book that I believe middle grade readers will be drawn into. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I loved the characters in this book. I've read many books set during the American Revolution and set in Boston, but adding the smallpox epidemic was a new twist. I think students will find it fascinating, having lived through an the Covid restrictions, to compare the two events.

I was waiting for more talk about the Colonies rebellion against the British, and while there was some talk about those events and characters, I liked the realization the the rebellion was Elsbeth's in finding her own way to solve her problems.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson is a gripping historical fiction novel for middle grade readers. Set during the American Revolution, it follows thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper as she navigates a war-torn Boston and searches for her missing father. With the added danger of a smallpox epidemic, Elsbeth’s resilience shines through. Anderson vividly brings the historical setting to life, making this a great read for young readers interested in history. It’s a strong addition to any collection.

Anderson has been a pioneer in fiction for children and young adults for years. I was incredibly excited to see what she would do witht this time period and she does not dissapoint. Instead of focusing completly on war Anderson takes a different approach focusing on epidemics specifically the smallpox epidemic. The parallels to today with Covid are noticeable but where Anderson shines is how she takes the opportunity to educate as well as entertain. A wonderful book that should be required reading for young teens.

13-year-old Elsbeth and her father have left Philadelphia for Boston following the death of her mother and siblings from smallpox. Her father is a sail maker and has found employment near the wharves. Elsbeth is given a placement with an old cantankerous judge as his maid but when the judge leaves town with the rest of the loyalists during the siege of Boston, Elsbeth is left on her own. When a patriot family moves into the judge's home with their seven children, it is Elsbeth who must learn to hold her tongue and serve the family lest they find out that her father is missing and she isn't sixteen like she's told them. To avoid being sent to the poorhouse she nurses the family through smallpox while desperately seeking information about her father.

Anderson has created an historical novel which places the reader squarely into Boston during the revolution. Giving readers a view of the war for independence through the eyes of the local citizens and what it was like to suffer through a smallpox outbreak in the days when medical professionals had little relief to offer their patients. Using the perspective of a 13-year-old housemaid shines a light on how the "common" folk lived during those turbulent times.

Laurie Anderson has become a favorite and well trusted author in my arsenal. This one is no different as she takes us back in time to a time of uncertainly. As always, well written and bring you right in.

I just finished Rebellion 1776 by one of my favorites, Laurie Halse Anderson! I was really excited to read this because I love her Seeds of America series so much. This novel is historical fiction and revolves around Boston, MA in 1776. It follows a young girl, Elsbeth who is a kitchen maid for a Loyalist judge. Elsbeth moved to Boston with her dad after they survived the small pox epidemic in Philadelphia. However, they lost Elsbeth's mother and all of her siblings to the disease. When the Patriots take over Boston and run all of the Loyalists out of town, she ends up working for a family whose father was imprisoned by the British during the war. Additionally, Elsbeth's dad goes missing in the evacuation of Loyalists. Throughout the novel, Elsbeth struggles to adapt to a new family and new "coworkers" all while trying to find out what happened to her father. As if that isn't tough enough, now small pox is running rampant in Boston, and it's on Elsbeth to help her host family cope.

Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Seeds of America series will love this novel as it mentions a few characters from the series. It is also very similar to her other historical fiction novel Fever 1793. As in the other novels, Anderson does an amazing job creating a character that the reader is constantly rooting for. Additionally, the way in which she intertwines beautifully crafted language and facts makes the novel a classic for literature lovers and history buffs combined! As always, LHA never disappoints!

The beginning of Rebellion reminded me so much of Fever 1793. Set just fifteen years prior though, this book fills a need for our historical fiction libraries.
I wish that the author had spent just a little more time explaining to young readers the tension of the time period.
Overall though, as I read Elsbeth’s story, it became more and more compelling.
This will be a great addition to my middle grade library!
Thank you, NetGallery, for the eARC.

I know I can trust Laurie Halse Anderson and her research. She writes a compelling story that I can use to complement my student's study of the American Revolution. I like that the book shows all of the events that were happening before the Declaration of Independence was even signed. I read this as soon as I downloaded it because the author has been sharing posts about the real people and events of the Revolution on social media. I needed to see how her posts tied in with the book!

This was a captivating story that gives insight into life during the American Revolution. In addition to learning about living during the times of a war, readers will also gain knowledge of the smallpox epidemic. Personally, I did not know much about the smallpox inoculations that occurred during the war. Elsbeth is a resilient and clever character and her story of survival is engrossing. Laurie Halse Anderson does a remarkable job immersing readers in what life may have been like in 1776. As there aren't many books that take place during the American Revolution for upper elementary readers, this will nicely help to fill that gap.

Laurie Halse Anderson writes historical fiction that is perfect for middle schoolers and this novel about the revolutionary war and small pox is no exception.

Elsbeth is thirteen years old when the Patriots take Boston to drive out the loyalists. As smallpox breaks out among the city, her father goes missing. She has already survived smallpox but must take a job to avoid the orphanage.

Given the age of Elsbeth (13) and the fact that she is acting and taken for being older than that, I feel that this book is better suited for middle school than upper elementary. I do think it should be added to middle school and public libraries.

Thank you to Atheneum, Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and Net Galley for the DRC. All opinion are my own.

I can't wait to add this text to my 5th grade curriculum! This book is a high interest and accessible way for students to engage with the American Revolution through a historical fiction lens. This would be perfect for a whole class read aloud or book clubs (mostly likely for more advanced students). Students will definitely need some background knowledge to fully understand this text, so this would ideally be paired with a unit about the American Revolution!

Elsbeth is truly the heart of the story. She was spirited, determined, and resilient - I was rooting her from the first page. The characters and story are sure to capture the hearts of adults and students alike. Once I got halfway through the book, I couldn't put it down - I needed to know what was going to happen next. This is an exemplary piece of historical fiction for middle grades! This will truly be an asset to my 5th grade curriculum.

This is a unique look at the history of Revolutionary Boston as told by a teenager simply trying to live her life. It is an enjoyable novel for middle grade students, even high school students interested in the American Revolution or historical fiction in general.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Thank you so much for the ability to give this book a read before release. Laurie has such a way with words that causes the reader to really immerse themselves into her story telling. I really enjoyed the setting of this.