The Patriots and the Pox

“General George Washington is the hero of this nonfiction picture book set during the Revolutionary War. In addition to British redcoats, Washington worried about the scourge of smallpox… he made the daring decision to inoculate and quarantine the soldiers. The text provides a sense of what an agonizing choice this was at this early moment in the history of inoculation and interweaves descriptions of Washington’s battle strategy with the fight against the disease. Watercolor, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations show details of encampments, rough terrain, harsh weather, and battles. The author’s note provides more information about the disease and how worldwide inoculation ultimately led to its eradication in 1980. An extensive selected bibliography is
appended.”—The Horn Book

“Anderson has a keen eye for U.S. history’s lesser-known stories, and she distills her account into bite-size details, moving quickly through time as she imparts nuggets of historical wisdom…Yazdani’s illustrations juxtapose bird’s-eye views of soldiers marching or setting up camp with abstract images of smallpox depicted as a miasmic greenish-yellow cloud. Inoculation of the soldiers required a drop of live smallpox virus to be inserted into a cut, followed by quarantine until a brief sickness passed. But how to do that with an entire army? After a series of failures, including losing New York City to the British after an epidemic, Washington used the winter wartime lull to spread the word about inoculation and chose to accept only soldiers with immunity into his camp. In her author’s note, Anderson draws parallels between this story and the recent Covid-19 pandemic. A relevant and insightful tale of courageous leadership and epidemic prevention.”—Kirkus Reviews

“While concentrating on Washington’s decision to insist on smallpox inoculation, this well researched book portrays him as a leader who gathered useful information and used it in ways that protected his soldiers and his country. Yazdani’s attention to details and use of colors in the illustrations are consistently attractive features of the many period illustrations in this appealing history book.”—Booklist

“Recounted as a narrative, this nonfiction story introduces young readers to the unseen enemy with which Washington had to contend during his time as commander for the patriots’ army. Small blocks of text propel the plot forward, providing context for the detailed, urgency-filled images surrounding them… This unique approach to the story of the ­American Revolutionary War will inspire thought-provoking and ­relatable discussions about the complexities of life that are not always visible; it is a positive addition to curricula on war, history, and ­inoculation science.“—School Library Journal

Beth Anderson

Beth Anderson is the author of many books, including Revolutionary Prudence Wright, Hiding in Plain Sight, and The Patriots and the Pox. Her title Lizzie Demands a Seat won the Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award and the Norman A. Sugarman Children’s Biography Honor Award.

Ashley Yazdani

Ashley Yazdani is a picture book author and illustrator, nature lover, craftswoman, and art educator. She is the author and illustrator of A Green Place to Be and Cosmic Wonder, and the illustrator of Of Walden Pond by Lesa Cline-Ransome.

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