This is the story of 13 year old Elsbeth during the Siege of Boston and the smallpox epidemic. Through a turn of events she ends up working for a wealthy family and her father disappears. I really love the past historical fiction books by Laurie Halse Anderson. I found this one a bit hard to follow. I learned a lot and definitely wanted to find out what happened with all the characters.

4 stars

If you, like me, are still a little wary of books set in times of medical crises, don't let that pull you away from this one. There's a lot to like about this new effort from Anderson, even for those of us with pandemic fatigue.

Elsbeth is 13, and she is seemingly all alone in the world since her immediate family has been taken out by the smallpox epidemic (maybe this is extra useful info now since it seems like the federal government wants us to experience this in the modern era, too...?). One person aside from Elsbeth escaped this terrible fate: her father. However, he goes missing, leaving Elsbeth to find a way forward with little resources.

For me, Elsbeth is a bit underdeveloped. I really enjoyed getting a view of her society, but I found myself wanting to get deeper into her head in the process. Like all middle grade, this one wraps with a nice, tidy bow, so be prepared for an outcome that is a little bit smoother than we might expect in reality.

Overall, this is a solid read that is engaging and highlights historical information that will be useful to readers of all ages.

Rebellion 1776 is a middle-grade historical fiction novel, featuring the life of a young house servant living in Boston in 1776. She’s witness to the city's change from the loyalists to the patriots, destruction, and the horror of the smallpox epidemic. Elsbeth and her father, a sailmaker, moved to Boston from Philadelphia after losing her mother and brothers to smallpox. Elsbeth survived smallpox and has an immunity. She’s been hired as a servant to a wealthy loyalist but is left alone when he abandons his home. Now, she is alone, afraid, confused and can't find her father and isn't sure what she should do next.
She meets a young doctor in training who brings Mr. Pike to the now-abandoned house she is living in. He is a Patriot who has been jailed by the British Army and has lost his home. He moves his large, rowdy family into the house and Elsbeth becomes their servant. She hides the fact that her father is missing and struggles to make it through a life filled with hard work while still hoping to locate her father one day. Meanwhile, the revolution rages on.

Laurie Halse Anderson has written another exciting novel filled with historical information, bringing the year 1776 alive.

The story unfolds through Elsbeth’s , feminist, and sometimes humorous perspective.

Unfortunately timely and packed with emotion.
Elsbeth is a 13-year-old maid living in Boston during the Revolutionary War. When the Loyalists are pushed out by Washington's army, Elsbeth's father considers leaving as well. Her mother and siblings died of smallpox and her father moved them from Philadelphia to Boston and Elsbeth isn't sure about leaving again. But the night of evacuation comes and Elsbeth's father goes missing. Her employer also leaves, which puts her in a precarious position. She ends up staying at the house when a wealthy Patriot spy's family moves in, and she becomes their maid. While she grows fond of the family she serves, she desperately misses her father and, alongside her best friend Shubel, risks a lot to find him.
This is a complex and layered story that is presented in such a heartfelt and tender way, and accessible to its audience. There were so many quotable quotes and important commentary on war, women's rights, epidemics/health/vaccinations, freedom, independence, family, friendship class, race...LHA is a master at historical fiction, and I just knew I would love this. I fell in love with reading in no small part due to Fever 1793. The visceral reaction toward a disease waging war was so perfectly balanced with the depth of emotion and care evoked toward the main character is a constant in both these novels.
The irony of the fight for our country's founding feeling so alike to the fight within it 250 years later is not lost on me. I'll end this with the same way the book ended.
"Rebellions are unexpected, violent things, dear reader, filled one moment with terror and another with joy. If you ever wind up in one, know that most days, you'll be swimming in uncertainty. That is why you must equip yourself with the tools of courage: a strong body, a quick mind, and good friends. Thus armed, you will weather any storms that the Fates send your way.
Best of all, you'll be prepared for the days of true independence that await you.
Huzzah!"

As a fan of the trilogy, "Chained," I had high hopes for this book. I was thinking it was going to be a revolutionary tale, but instead was a tale of sickness and smallpox. It was hard to get into feeling for any character, and the climax was predictable. Although it is a tale of smallpox, we follow our main character through daily chores and inquiries about her father, who left here in the care of another family. I wasn't invested in any family member, nor the tension with trying to report Elsbeth as a spy, that was quickly washed away. This book had none of the suspense and tension that previous novels by this author had.

I appreciate NetGalley and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review Laurie Halse Anderson's new book Rebellion 1776. It's a wonderful middle-grade book featuring the life of a young house servant living in Boston in 1776. She sees the city's transfer from the loyalists to the patriots, bombardments, and the smallpox epidemic. Elsbeth and her father, a sailmaker, moved to Boston from Philadelphia after losing her mother and brothers to smallpox. She is hired as a servant to a wealthy loyalist but is left alone when he abandons his home. She can't find her father and isn't sure what to do next. She meets a young doctor in training who brings Mr. Pike to the now-abandoned house she is living in. He is a Patriot who has been jailed by the British Army and has lost his home. He moves his large, rowdy family into the house and Elsbeth becomes their servant. She hides the fact that her father is missing and struggles to make it through a life filled with hard work while still hoping for news of her father's whereabouts. Laurie Halse Anderson has added funny asides into the story that help us root for Elsbeth throughout the book.

What a delightful historical fiction story for kids 5th-7th grade. Super fun, high stakes, and well paced. Honest look at servitude, the small pox epidemic, and yet not boring or overwhelmingly sad. Thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books for an early read in exchange for an honest review.

I decided to preview this book to see if it could be a possible replacement for our 5th grade's novel study during their American Revolution unit. With the title of Rebellion 1776, I assumed it would be more about the Revolutionary War, but it was not. It was about a smallpox quarantine of Boston in 1776, and a servant girl who lived during that time. I liked our main character, Elsbeth, who is smart and spunky. It is a quick moving story, full of contrasts between the wealthy and the commoner classes. It is well written in language that is both understandable, and also represents the language of the time. It is very descriptive, allowing the reader to picture the story in their mind.

Great historical middle grade fiction. Perfect for 5th graders studying US history. Little violence with a great storyline. It is a long story but easy to understand. The characters and plot make the book enjoyable for middle and high schoolers as well.

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.

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.