Many debunked “legends” about George Washington still circulate. But books and musicals like HAMILTON have helped to reveal some of the actual complexities of Washington’s personality, talents, decisions, and values as revealed throughout his long life. This new picture book explores the challenges surrounding what is called one of Washington’s most difficult command decisions during the long Revolutionary War years.
I was aware that Washington had survived smallpox while a young man and that he had ordered the Continental Army recruits be inoculated. What I DIDN’T know about this decision, and the pressures surrounding it, could fill a book… and it did! THE PATRIOTS AND THE POX: GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FIGHT TO SAVE THE CONTINENTAL ARMY is written by Beth Anderson and illustrated by Ashley Yazdani.
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| ASTRA BOOKS/CALKINS CREEK, 2026 |
I knew I could trust the content and back matter to encourage further investigation because of the very talented writing and impressive research skills of Beth Anderson, as well as the reliable track record of the publisher. This account of Washington's struggles encompasses long periods of history, cycles of seasons, and potential rebellion among the revolutionaries themselves. It does so with clarity, tension, and pacing that will have readers turning pages to discover what happens next.
This is not a full biographic profile of Washington, though it does reveal much about his character and commitment to his people and his emerging country. The details of this aspect of the war provide an important and informative revelation about the stakes and struggle surrounding not only his critical command choices but also the complex (bureaucratic) procedures he developed and enforced to protect colonial fighters, the entire army, and the outcome of the war from decimation by smallpox.
The British (most of whom were immune from their long European contact with the disease) intentionally exposed the relatively isolated and highly vulnerable colonial and Native populations to smallpox. Redcoats and loyalists circulated blankets and other contaminated materials and sent out infected individuals into enemy groups to expose them to the highly contagious and often deadly disease. Before the revolution, Washington was an officer of the British Army and his forces participated in this practice in the French and Indian War. During eventual western expansion, American soldiers continued doing this to reduce Native American populations.
The inoculation process at the time actually infected individuals, introducing a mild exposure that allowed for recovery and provided future immunity. The highly contagious nature of smallpox meant that anyone with whom the inoculated person came in contact, until recovery, would also be exposed. Washington was well aware of this. He also realized that his leadership as General of the new Continental Army was far from universally trusted.
A quotation from Washington on the title page sets the stage for readers to recognize the humility, responsibility, and commitment of the man we widely identify as the FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY:
“I do not think my self equal to the Command I am honored with.”
Readers are provided with enough background (including Washington’s pox-scarred face as evidence of his own immunity) to know that any decision he might make could risk disaster, loss of the battle for independence, and countless lives. His options are presented and the consequences at various stages are revealed. The ultimate system he ordered was designed to assure an immune, well-trained, disciplined army for as long as it took to win the war. All this is described and illustrated through the enlightening and accessible talents of both the author and the illustrator.
Much of the danger described is not easily made visible, but is rendered in illustrations that suggest the scratch/exposure process of early inoculation, the steps in isolation and recovery, and the ethereal cloud of airborne exposure (at a time during which germs and viruses were not yet understood). Illustrator Yazdani dug deeply into research, too, incorporating details that integrate the complexity of colonial society and an all-volunteer army. These merit attention throughout, including the overall design of pages. Spreads suggest journal entries.
Washington wrote prolific accounts of his actions and decisions. Sequential events and stages of treatment, seasonal comings and goings of recruits and their families, and training throughout phases of arrival and eventual active duty are depicted effectively and intriguingly. Even this complexity is revealed through a brilliant blending of text and images, making a powerful and compelling history understandable for younger readers as well as for adults who share the book.
Older readers in curricular-related studies could find this visual and narrative account may help in understanding the prolonged and perilous events surrounding revolution and the fight for independence. On a secondary curricular note, this story and resources could prove rich materials for those who study and practice debate skills, or for reader's theater dramatizations.
Among the many insights and information I appreciated in this work were the images of Washington as a younger man. We are flooded with visuals of a white-haired, aging man (even though still straight-backed and strong). But these images of Washington during his earlier years, each revelation of him weighing alternatives, reminded me that this was not only an army of young troops, but it was led by a young man burdened with the mantle of being a striving nation’s best hope. It’s no wonder that he wrote of being ill-prepared for all he would be called on to do. This included risking rebellion among his own soldiers if a plan for inoculation was imposed.
This detailed story behind our eventual revolutionary success stands strong on its own merits. The revelations about emerging public health practices and troop/recruit management elevate how impressive their accomplishments were against a larger, better equipped, healthier military force. Added to this impressive account is back matter that includes an author exploring her research and course of investigations behind this book. Inoculation was a long-established practice on the continent of Africa. Cotton Mather, the man in the colonies most in support of inoculation, learned about the practice from a West-African man, Onesimus, whom Mather enslaved. There are two full pages of selected bibliography that assure how deeply the entire history was explored and considered.
For a look at other titles by BETH ANDERSON reviewed earlier, click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation, it’s the Declaration of Independence that marks the date. But those were only words. The spirit that inspired them, the many colonists who came forward to stand behind the words in that declaration, and the wrenching decisions that led to their success spanned five years and more beyond that 1776 date. This account of Washington’s decisions that made success possible is timely not only due to our nation’s anniversary, but for the many inner conflicts and power struggles engaged, many of which resonate in modern times. Trust and courage are at the heart of the story, and that never changes. How our leaders meet those hurdles matters. This title should be welcomed in classrooms, libraries, and homes to inform, inspire, and spark conversations about difficult choices in modern times as well as in the past.
I'm clearly a fan of Beth Anderson's books. She has agreed to answer a few questions about this latest release which I'll share here in a few weeks. For now, get busy reading and sharing this impressive account of our shared history.
