The Patriots and the Pox: George Washington’s Battle to Save the Continental Army

The Patriots and the Pox: George Washington’s Battle to Save the Continental Army

illustrated by Ashley Yazdani

This nonfiction illustrated book for young readers reveals the true, and often overlooked, story of General George Washington’s brave decision to inoculate his troops against smallpox during the American Revolution.

1775
General George Washington and his ragtag army are preparing to battle the powerful British military when the first attack comes— from an enemy that is invisible and deadly—smallpox!

The disease wreaks havoc on his troops, foils his plans, and threatens to extinguish hope for independence. Desperate to get smallpox under control, Washington faces an agonizing decision—one that could either destroy his army or save it. He knew what he had to do, but how? The fate of a nation was on the line.

Here is a new look at a founding father that uniquely shows what some historians call Washington’s most important strategic decision of the war. His battle against smallpox deepens understanding about the complexity of the revolution and connects to the present with the vital role vaccines continue to play.

This unforgettable story is not only about the war for independence but also about independence from disease, the power of science, and how George Washington laid the foundation for public health in the United States.

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REVIEWS AND HONORS

Junior Library Guild Selection!

At the height of the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington had more than enemy troops to consider when it came to victory. A silent and invisible invader threatened the lives of Washington’s men and the eventual outcome of the war. With careful consideration and strategic prowess, Washington chose to enforce inoculation against smallpox for all his troops, judging the benefits to outweigh the risks of a terrible catastrophe. 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. Yazdani’s illustrations are set in watercolor, gouache, watercolor powder, colored pencils, and wax pastels. Thorough research is delivered in digestible quantities, readers will likely be inspired to investigate the extensive back matter, filled with an author’s note and primary and secondary sources, to learn more about this little-known moment in American history. VERDICT 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

George Washington faced the ultimate weapon of war: disease.

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. While facing King George III’s army, Washington reckoned with a new enemy. “It didn’t wear red coats or carry muskets. Didn’t march with drums and fifes. Stealthy…silent…unseen…It invaded bodies.” The redcoats had already survived smallpox in England, so it posed little threat to them. Washington, who had had smallpox when he was 19, feared losing more soldiers to the virus than in battle. And he wondered, “Were the Redcoats using sick colonists to spread the disease?” 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