Review by Booklist Review
Boston isn't the safest place to live in 1776, as anyone--even 13-year-old Elspeth--could tell you. British troops still occupy the town, but now that rebels have set up an array of cannons aimed at Boston, death by friendly fire seems likely and is frightening to the town's residents. Most feared, though, is the smallpox epidemic surging through Boston, killing people without regard for age, social status, or political leanings. Elspeth, who ably narrates the story, had been diagnosed with smallpox two years earlier and lived. She became a maid in a large family's household and often oversaw their youngest children. Meanwhile, she longs to hear from her father, who had also survived the smallpox outbreak that killed Elspeth's mother and siblings, but he has recently disappeared. One of the narrative's strengths is Anderson's ability to create realistically flawed yet often appealing characters and relationships; another is how fully and sensitively she portrays the female characters' reactions to the limited rights and roles of women in their society. Each chapter opens with a short, relevant quote from the correspondence, journals, or diaries of a notable such as Abigail Adams, John Adams, Ben Franklin, or George Washington. A thoroughly researched, emotionally resonant historical novel.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This well-crafted novel by Anderson (Shout) opens in March 1776, on the eve of the Loyalists' forced evacuation of Boston. Thirteen-year-old Patriot supporter Elsbeth Culpepper is new to Boston following relocating with her father from Philadelphia after her mother and siblings' deaths from smallpox. When her father disappears on Evacuation Day, Elsbeth, passing for 16 due to her height, feels lucky to be hired as a servant by Patriot spy Mister Pike, even after the arrival of his large family, including their headstrong ward Hannah Sparhawk and demanding housekeeper. Quick-thinking Elsbeth conquers the chaos of the Pikes and finds a protector in Hannah but worries about her only friend in Boston, "masterless," orphaned Shube--who is suddenly inspiring a "strange volley of sensations" in her--and strives to find her father. Period details of daily life during the events of the founding of the United States--relayed via Elsbeth's historically faithful narration--immerse readers in the era, and plot points become compellingly relevant to contemporary times when Boston is hit by the smallpox epidemic and controversies about inoculation abound. Dated chapters open with quotations from primary sources, enhancing the historical ambiance. Includes a map of Boston, source list, and bibliography. Main characters are white. Ages 10--14. (Apr.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--Another masterly account of colonial life from Anderson. After losing her mother and siblings to smallpox, 13-year-old Elsbeth and her loving but distant father relocate to Boston, currently under British occupation. During a chaotic evacuation of the city in the spring of 1776, Elsbeth's father goes missing. Meanwhile, smallpox once again rears its ugly head, ravaging the war-torn city even further. The plucky Elsbeth starts working as a maid for the rambunctious Pike family, weaving several lies to keep up appearances and avoid the orphanage. But in a town where no one can be trusted, how long can she survive? The plot is action-packed, reflecting the unprecedented times of the era. Each chapter opens with a quote from a contemporary historical figure, cementing the sense of time and place. Colorful dialogue, including period-accurate insults, i.e., "dunderhead" and "numbskull," add authenticity. Depictions of violence and death are handled in an appropriate way for middle grade readers. Interspersed throughout the tension are moments of levity, mostly centered around the little dramas of living with a big family. Readers can draw several parallels between Elsbeth's life and modern times, such as the debate over smallpox inoculation. The page count may be daunting, but the short chapters and urgency conveyed in the writing make for a compelling read. Major characters are assumed white; there are brief allusions to slavery. VERDICT A must-buy for historical fiction collections, especially where Anderson's Chains and Fever 1793 are popular.--Hannah Grasse
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper, maid to a judge, lives through the Siege of Boston only to find herself in a precarious situation when British troops depart the city, her Loyalist employer leaves with them, and her father goes missing. She lies her way into the employment of a Patriot spy, Mr. Pike, whose large household includes his wealthy ward, Hannah. But what Elsbeth doesn't count on is the smallpox epidemic that ravages Boston from spring until fall of 1776. As she continues her search for her father and contends with the housekeeper's displeasure, Elsbeth, who previously survived smallpox, nurses five of the Pike children and their mother through the inoculation process; she also gets swept up in Hannah's personal affairs and develops romantic feelings for a friend. War and disease speed up Elsbeth's maturation, as does an unexpected loss before the book's conclusion. Often a footnote in Revolutionary War history, the smallpox epidemic is the focus of Anderson's (Chains, rev. 11/08, and sequels) compelling and well-researched tale of human frailty and perseverance, fear and courage amid dire circumstances. Through Elsbeth's whip-smart first-person narration (with asides to readers in parentheses) plus quotes from historical letters opening each chapter, readers learn about the disease, its symptoms and deadliness, the measures taken to contain it, and people's fear of inoculation. Anderson's return to historical fiction highlights her mastery of the genre, with well-rounded characters, detailed storytelling, and timely subject matter that make it a must-read for today's youth. Cynthia K. RitterMay/June 2025 p.79 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A girl fends for herself in Revolutionary War--era Boston. Boston, 1776: 13-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper, a kitchen maid for a British loyalist judge, hunkers down during the chaos of George Washington's violent siege on Boston. When the British are driven out and Elspeth's sailmaker father--her only surviving family member after her mother and siblings died from smallpox--goes missing, Elsbeth is left to navigate an uncertain future on her own. She finds employment with former Patriot spy Mister Pike and his family, who have moved into the judge's vacated home. Elsbeth is once more a maid, this time to the six Pike children and Hannah Sparhawk, the family's sharp-witted, highborn charge. With the help of best friend Shubel Kent, Elsbeth searches for Pappa even as the city is ravaged by an explosion in smallpox numbers and a new government forms amid talk of independence. As she cares for the Pike family during their recovery from smallpox inoculation, Elsbeth must protect her own interests against outside forces, including the Pikes' bitter housekeeper and a disreputable acquaintance of her father's, all the while forming a friendship with Hannah and staying true to herself. Told through Elsbeth's clever, feminist, often-humorous perspective, this original and timely story immerses readers in her observations on an epidemic and vaccination, early American politics and society, and the meaning of family. The main characters are white; the book contains references to enslaved people. Engrossing, entertaining, and heartfelt. (map, bibliography, sources and references)(Historical fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
