Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson follows thirteen year old Elsbeth Culpepper through a difficult year as she works as a housemaid during the time of the smallpox inoculation and the Revolutionary War. The story focuses on Elsbeth and the other household members and acquaintances rather than on the details of the war and political situation of the time.

As a historical fiction reader, I enjoyed this book but think it would be a tough read for most of my upper elementary students. It would, however, make a great read aloud or book study group.

This was a great read. Anderson is a great author and really captured this historical fiction story. Historical fiction is a great, and important, genre that helps our students to better understand history and Anderson doesn’t disappoint. A must read!

Public fear of inoculation for a deadly disease, some things never change. What sounds like a modern day fear is actually one of two historical settings for Rebellion 1776. The other being the Revolutionary War. Elsbeth Culpepper is at the center of this story. Having lost her mother and siblings to smallpox and her dad missing since the Siege of Boston Elsbeth goes to work for a wealthy family who are waiting their turn for inoculation. Elsbeth's story of her survival is what helps quell the fear for this family about inoculation. This was a great historical fiction novel. I've always enjoyed Anderson's novels. They really get in your psyche and make you think. Fever 1793 still haunts me and I read that book almost 20 years ago. Rebellion 1776 is no different. Well done! Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an advanced copy!

Laurie Halse Anderson is known for her YA historical fiction, told from the perspective of a ‘common’ female character, which gives life and breadth to the real world surrounding major historical events. Rebellion 1776 fits the bill, and is told by Elsbeth, a maid in Boston during 1776. Now, I’m sure you may know all that went on historically, yet this is a more human side to the conflict, the Patriots v the Loyalists, the everyday goings on of a family entrenched in both warfare, friendships, relationships and the smallpox epidemic of 1775-82. When you think of the Revolutionary War, smallpox is probably the furthest from your mind, but Anderson brings the epidemic to light, along with its controversial inoculations and the suffering of its victims. Told through fictional characters, the experiences and emotions of one in the midst of it is felt keenly and without sugar coating. This is a full bodied story of a young woman’s life during this time, and like Anderson’s other YA books, it is excellently done.

Imagine you're Elsbeth, a 13-year-old living in Boston during the very start of the American Revolution. The Patriots are moving in, tensions are high, and then, to make matters worse, Elsbeth's father (her only family) disappears. After lying about her age, she ends up working as a maid for a wealthy, demanding family, which is a whole adventure in itself! But what makes this book so special is that it's not just about the big rebellion against the British, it's about all the little rebellions too. Elsbeth is rebelling against being alone and helpless. The people around her are rebelling against expectations, against prejudice, and against the limits they've been given. We see unlikely friendships blossom, we see first love, we even get a glimpse into the science of the time with the arrival of smallpox. Rebellion 1776 is a wonderful mix of historical fiction that really brings the past to life. You'll learn about the struggles of living in a city under siege, but you'll also connect with the characters on a personal level. They feel real, their problems feel real, and their determination to find their own independence is truly inspiring. I highly recommend this YA book to both adults and middle school teachers/students. It’s a page-turner that will leave you thinking long after you've finished reading.

I received an ACR of this story in exchange for my honest opinion. I am excited to get a physical copy for my classroom when it comes out this week!

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.

Thank you, Netgalley, for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

I found this book to be reminiscent of Johnny Tremaine, a book about the revolution that I read as a child. To this day I remember Tremaine recounting the first time he had code and chocolate. It’s the little everyday revelations like this, caught up in a great time of revolution for our country that Rebellion 1776 has also imbedded within its storytelling. Through Elsbeth Culpepper’s eyes we see the great events of the revolution through the lens of an everyday maid and house servant. With timely reflections from excerpts from notable figures at the time peppered throughout the novel, we get a sense of what life was truly like during this time. Yes it was a time of battle and honor, but there is also the drudgery and delight of day to day life during these times. A good read for youth and adults.

I had hoped to finish this review earlier as I was so excited to receive this ARC, but I spent 6 weeks deeply immersed in LHA's CHAINS with my English classes, and needed to read something in between

Short version: I just spent 2 1/2 months prepping, rereading and teaching CHAINS, but I am seriously thinking about adding REBELLION 1776 into my Revolutionary War era historical novel rotation.

Our heroine, Elsbeth, is plucky, independent and hardworking. She has lost her mother and three younger siblings to the smallpox epidemic, her father and herself the family's lone survivors.. Her father's whereabouts unknown, Elsbeth must find a place to live and work. Smallpox sweeps the city though Elsbeth is now immune.

This book is so well researched, and I love the author's use of primary sources to open each chapter. Aimed at middle grade readers, this book has a little bit of everything. There's history, science, friendship, medicine, family drama, adventure, age appropriate romance, war, and more. Elsbeth is 13, so this book is well suited to the older middle grade readers who want to read about someone close to their own age.

I thought this book was wonderful and I cannot wait to buy it for my classroom shelf!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

It was interesting to see Anderson take a different avenue for this book. Having read multiple books by her, it was neat to see the change!

I love reading about the Revolutionary War, so this title as immediately appealing. In this story, working class girl Elsbeth is working as a housemaid for a wealthy family while her father sews sails for the warships. As the Siege of Boston occurs, the community is swept up with a smallpox epidemic. The new family staying in the home keeps Elsbeth on as a maid, much to the chagrin of the elderly, cranky housekeeper who is determined to reveal Elsbeth's secrets.

Anderson is an exceptional author. This story didn't so much focus on the War part, but the everyday life of people living under war conditions, tense political times, and illnesses that no one understands how to treat, much less cure. I hope to see the title on many state reading award lists - it deserves to have a spot on them.

Even if this wasn't my top favorite Laurie Halse Anderson book, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be recommending this book to fans of historical fiction!

It's 1776 and the revolutionary war is violent and bloody. When the main character Elsbeth's father goes missing, her heart tears in half. After losing her mother and siblings to smallpox, her father is all she has left. However, she is now a kitchen maid serving a family recovering from small pox which makes it even more difficult to search for her missing father.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book.

It’s the Revolutionary-era epidemic fiction we’ve all been waiting for! No? Okay, but you have to admit that it’s refreshing to have some high-profile non-WWII historical fiction hitting the shelves. Plus, it’s about an epidemic that’s not COVID, so you can relate while remaining safely in your post-COVID denial bubble.

Middle school-age readers should find it easy to connect with down-to-earth Elsbeth, who is feisty and self-determined while still fitting believably into her pre-feminist era. The book masterfully immerses the reader into the day-to-day life of a maid in Boston at the dawn of the United States. Prepare for heartstrings tugged and tears shed.

Age recommendation: Grades 5-8 are the sweet spot, but it has a mature enough feel to work for high schoolers, and could go as young as 3rd or 4th grade if readers can handle death and some old-timey language.

Genre: historical fiction

Publication year: 2025

Publication category: Upper middle grade

Content warnings: Death, illness, slavery, war, loss of family members. Some scenes involving very sick smallpox patients may be viscerally disturbing.

Main character identities: Female, 13 years old, white (Scottish descent), American, lower class, heterosexual, cisgender, non-disabled

Diversity check: Elsbeth has one interaction with a Black person. Enslaved people are mentioned but opinions on slavery are not given. Other races are not included. No references are made to non-cisgender heterosexual identities. Disability is not mentioned other than as related to old age or smallpox. Given the setting and Elsbeth’s position, these elements do not feel needed, though readers in the excluded populations may be wondering what life was like for people like them.

Reluctant reader score: 2 out of 5 – The focus is more on ordinary life than on the sort of action you associate with wartime. Give this to readers who don’t mind a more leisurely pace.

Readlikes: This feels like a book that could have come out 25 years ago. If you’ve already read Anderson’s Fever 1793 and the Seeds of America books, try the Dear America books or historical fiction by Ann Rinaldi.

This was a beautifully written historical fiction with a lot of heart. Told from the perspective of a servant, Elsbeth, we really get to see what living during the Revolution was like day-to-day.

Rebellion 1776 is another great historical read from Laurie Halse Anderson! Set in Boston during the smallpox epidemic, I think this book will be really eye opening to young readers to get a feel for what it was like to live through that time period at their age. While there were moments that seemed a little slower paced and I did think about my students' stamina, I do think that overall they will enjoy this story much more than the history textbooks! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! A middle-grade novel about the smallpox epidemic and life in Boston. Not really knowing much about this time period, I liked reading about it through young readers eyes - it reminded me of those old-timey books that were super popular when I was a kid that was like all about one historical event.

I digress! Elsbeth is a perfect main character for our young readers and I think Anderson does a really remarkable job creating interest, resolution and a ton of accurate information in this book for our kids! Love it, love the book, can’t wait for this one to hit the shelves.

Summary: From bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson comes a engaging middle-grade historical fiction novel, "Rebellion 1776." Set during the chaotic spring of 1776, the story follows thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper, who finds herself alone and struggling after her father goes missing amidst the Siege of Boston. As the city grapples with the tumult of the Revolutionary War and the devastating smallpox epidemic, Elsbeth must navigate her new reality while seeking employment to avoid an orphanage. Having survived smallpox as a child, Elsbeth takes a job caring for a wealthy family awaiting inoculation. The narrative beautifully intertwines her personal challenges with the historical context of the time, showcasing the public’s fear of inoculation and the fight for survival against an invisible enemy. Elsbeth’s resourcefulness and humor shine through as she develops relationships with those around her, including the conflicted Hannah Sparhawk. Anderson’s attention to detail in depicting the era and the struggles faced by her characters offers readers a poignant look at resilience and courage during a time of upheaval. "Rebellion 1776" is a powerful story that connects historical events with the personal journeys of young individuals.

Straignt Talk for Librarians: This is a great new release for book discussions or reading circles to encourage students to explore the Revolutionary War and the smallpox epidemic. Lots of interactive programming options can be implemented, such as history-themed escape rooms or project-based learning activities where students research and present on topics related to the book. Incorporating primary source documents, such as letters from the era, can deepen students' understanding of the time period. Additionally, hosting author study sessions focused on Laurie Halse Anderson's works can inspire students to engage with historical fiction.

I loved this book! I put off reading it for a little bit because I knew it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster. When I started, I could not put it down! I really loved the perspective from just an average person. Elsbeth was just focused on surviving the day and not really invested in politics. Boston was not filled with freedom zealots like a lot of stories portray. There were people who would be affected by war in many different ways. War is hard and dangerous. Lots of men died fighting for one side or the other. Disease took men, women and children. I imagine it was a pretty wild time to be alive. I appreciate how the author wrote the story to focus on hope and resilance, despite the dire circumstances. This is a perfect book for any middle school library. I would even say that it will find a lot of readers at the high school level, especially if there are a lot of historical fiction and Laurie Halse Anderson fans. Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy. This book is out April 1, 2025!!!

I absolutely love all books written by Laurie Halse Anderson and find them to be very student appropriate historical fiction. This book did not disappoint and will be recommended to my 7th grade social studies team teachers. The storyline was appropriate and drew me in at the same time that the timeline was interesting and tied to what students are learning in their curriculum. I especially liked the attention that was drawn to what the characters had to go through with small pox. The process was so well described and though it was sad to lose a main character, it made the purpose of the immunization so clear. Timely for what we all have experienced in our current experiences. This is a great read and I believe that it should be available in middle schools.

If this was how we learned history when I was in school, I would have LOVED history. You can’t help but get wrapped up into Elsbeth’s life, sharing her joys and sorrows. She lost her mom and siblings to Smallpox and has to work hard so that she has a place to live when her father disappears. I cannot imagine being 13 and on your own during a time when Smallpox outbreaks and war are occurring all around you. I really enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed the characters and the story being told from Elsbeth’s perspective.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Rebellion 1776 follows Elsbeth Culpepper during the siege of Boston, the expulsion of the British, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the smallpox outbreak. Anderson covers several heavy items without losing the humanity of the main character and her own struggles. Elsbeth is a maid, first for a loyalist judge, then a recently released spy and his large family. She must deal with both the grand historical changes going on around her and the challenges of being a single girl of the lower class.

This story was impeccable. I was intrigued by this young lady and her strength and fortitude. I was invested in the characters, their lives, their pains, their worries. I loved that it wasn’t an overwhelming amount of material and it was really informative.

I learned, it sparked interest in me enough to do my own research, and I loved seeing the revolution from this perspective. I’ll definitely be recommending this to my students, and I look forward to possibly adding it to my own curriculum.