Laurie Halse Anderson was my favorite author in high school, which was also the last time I read a new book of hers. I was excited to get my hands on a new story by an author whose work was so important to me as a teenager, even though I haven't read any of her other historical fiction books. I was happy to see that many of Anderson's hallmarks are still present--a likable protagonist, complex female relationships, minimum romance, and a willingness to incorporate some darkness into a story aimed at a younger audience. The problem with Rebellion 1776--which really should be called Smallpox: The Novel--is that it's also, well, boring. At times, painfully boring. There are brief moments of interest when the story suddenly picks up pace, but they are woefully few and far between. Perhaps it's because I'm not the target audience anymore, but it may prove that children have even less patience in this case. Anderson clearly did her research, and she does a good job of transporting the reader back to the early days of the American Revolution. But the story itself was disappointing, I'm afraid.

I’m more of a mystery/thriller girl, but I read Rebellion 1776 for my students—and I’m so glad I did. The story follows a brave young girl caught in the chaos of war, exploring loyalty, identity, and freedom. A powerful, eye-opening read that made history feel real and urgent.

I absolutely love the Seeds of America trilogy by this same author. I was so excited as Rebellion 1776 began in much the same way. Each chapter begins with a quote from a primary source: newspaper articles, journals, letters from people great and small including Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. These quotes root the story in the reality of the time period.

However, the storyline here was not quite as compelling to me. I know I probably shouldn’t be comparing the two, I can’t help it… In Chains, we follow an enslaved teen who becomes a spy during the American Revolution. In Rebellion 1776, we follow a teen who is stuck being a maidservant after her father has disappeared from town. Although smallpox is spreading throughout town and there are rumors of battles, there never seems to feel like there are high stakes. The plot stays pretty tame with some climactic moments sprinkled in. The 400 pages took me several months to finish as I read it in stops and starts and never felt compelled to pick it up.

I know there will be some middle grade readers who love history and will love learning about the time period through fiction. The characters were amusing and probably the best part of the story. This standalone may still be worth reading for history buffs, but I recommend starting with Chains if you’d like a Revolutionary time period historical masterpiece.

If you pick up this book expecting a smallpox epidemic... well, it does eventually happen but not for a good long while. Instead, we follow the path of a 13-year-old girl whose family has mostly died of smallpox and whose last remaining relative - her father - vanishes during the chaos of the Patriot conquest of Boston, leaving her to fend for herself. We follow the events of 1776 from her point of view, focusing on the minutia of trying to live through the chaos of war, until the slow-burn smallpox outbreak does finally reach epidemic levels with catastrophic consequences. Come for the smallpox, stay for the history, household drama, and evolving friendships.

This book has a very authentic feel, and reading through the notes at the end, you can appreciate how much research Anderson put into this. I just wish there had a been a little more about what was going on in the war at the same time, although this could be a reflection of how little the citizens of Boston knew at the time as well.
I really liked the use of quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and the depiction of the way townspeople were confused as to which "side" they should be on. It was not unusual for people to "switch" sides and end up estranged from other family members due to their differences.

I really enjoyed how the book was true to the 18th century life style. The book felt very authentic. I loved the insults Elsbeth would hurl at people, and herself. The book moved along at a good pace, and I enjoyed seeing the American Revolution through the eyes of Elsbeth. The author did a lot of research for this book and it showed.

I tried reading this a few different times, including once on audio. I just struggled to get into it. Like I was interested for the first chapter, and then I already didn’t really care what became of Elsbeth. I did really like the historical quotes at the beginning of each chapter though.

A tale of a scrappy young woman surviving the harsh daily realitiy of life during the American War of Independence Shows some of the .miseries and inequalities of the time but remains uplifting.

"Rebellion 1776" is a great representation of what life was like living in Boston during the Revolutionary War. While I thought this was going to be about the war itself, this book centered more on civilian life in Boston, specifically the effects of the smallpox epidemic. Although this was heartbreaking and tragic at times, I feel that it is very appropriate for children. This was my first Laurie Halse Anderson book but it will not be my last!
#Rebellion1776 #NetGalley

Laurie Halse Anderson is at the top of her game for YA historical fiction. I love how she tells a story about a specific place and time, but centers around ordinary citizens and how they may have lived in this time in history. The teen girl in Rebellion 1776 shows us a life of servitude and navigating the small pox epidemic.

I am learning more and more how much I really enjoy historical fiction. Rebellion 1776 is set in Boston in —that’s right, 1776! Elsbeth Culpepper is 13 years old and finds employment as a housemaid to the Pike family. Unfortunately, she has had to grow up and has experienced so much pain already in her short life. Her father, her only living relative, and her are separated during the Siege of Boston and she is anxiously awaits his return. During this time the smallpox epidemic takes hold and she shares with the Pike family how she lost her mother and siblings to the illness. Because of the way she explains the horrific illness and death, Missus Pike decides, finally to inoculate her family.

Elsbeth for all of her traumas, she is funny and cunning. Her personality truly came through the pages for me.

This book is a wonderful way to educate middle schoolers about this time period and provides thought provoking questions. Anderson truly did her research and the historical pieces were spot on. I could see it be used to discuss history, science and of course, language arts.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and I thank NetGalley Simon and Shuster/Atheneum Children’s Publishing for the opportunity in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.75/5 stars.

I really like Laurie Halse Anderson, and the cover also drew me in on this one. I think this is a good middle grade novel, and it also discusses a lot of the revolution that's not talked about. The common people and the wealthier ones who get left out in the histories that kept going with the war. It also deals a LOT with Smallpox (and it is gross at some points). It took me forever to read just because I was reading it at work, but I did enjoy it! The ending made me sad though.

This was an informative and interesting story. Told from a child's perspective it was very sad. You felt fie the characters

Rebellion 1776 was an engaging middle grade historical fiction. Even though I only read children's books when I do our library kids book club, I quickly became invested in Elsbeth's life in 1776 Boston. She is working as a maid during a smallpox epidemic and really goes through a lot with the family that she works for. I read/listened to the audio and can think of several young ladies that I know who would enjoy this read.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 1 April 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books for an ARC of this novel. Laurie Halse Anderson is an auto buy author for me so I had already preordered the novel from my local Indie bookstore but was thrilled to start reading before publication. This novel is a gripping account of the tumultuous year of 1776 starting with the siege of Boston. The novel covers major historical moments like the Declaration of Independence and allows the reader to build context around the Patriot vs Loyalist debates. However, the most powerful part of the novel is during the smallpox epidemic in Boston when families were given the opportunity to inoculate against this horrifying and often fatal disease. Like her novel Fever 1793, Anderson weaves beautiful writing, plot twists, and scientifically accurate information about the disease in a powerful way. This is such a great novel to put in the hands of a middle grade reader and will be one I use in my classroom moving forward.

I really enjoyed this book! I learned a lot about how the revolution affected people in Boston. The characters were well-written, including the cow and chickens!

I have enjoyed many of Anderson's previous works, specifically Speak.

This was more aligned with Fever, 1793. I wanted to like this more than I did. I feel like it was just a glimpse into a year of the life or like reading her diary, and didn't have the big, impactful storyline like some of her other works. If this is how it gets marketed, then that would be better for the reader's expectations.

My kids enjoyed having this read aloud 9, 11, and 13. They really like historical fiction. I also really like Anderson's books which I've read throughout my life and education as an English teacher (Speak is still one of my favorites) so it's really cool to share a new book with my kids now. There were a lot of details in the book that I didn't know and really hadn't ever heard much about the smallpox during the revolution. The kids were able to relate with some of their own experience of COVID and they were invested in Elspeth.

I enjoyed revising the world from Anderson's Seeds From America trilogy. This new perspective on the war from a servant's POV was interesting and engaging and I appreciated the smallpox plot as well.

I grew up loving Laurie Halse Anderson’s books, so I was really excited to grab this one for my library. 1776 is such a great mix of adventure, history, and heart. It follows thirteen-year-old Elsbeth as she tries to survive the chaos of the Revolutionary War and a scary smallpox epidemic. The story feels so real and easy to connect with, even though it’s set in the past. Elsbeth is tough and relatable, and I know students are going to root for her. I can’t wait to put this in kids’ hands and share Anderson’s amazing storytelling with them!