Chapter 250: Reading America’s Stories Together (Teen)

The Putnam County Public Library District will host the inaugural young adult meeting of Chapter 250: Reading America’s Story Together, a community book club exploring the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film. The event will take place on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the McNabb Branch, with a virtual option available via Zoom. Young adults ages 13 through 19 are invited to discuss Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson. Set in war-torn Boston during the spring of 1776, the novel follows thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper as she faces the chaos of revolution and the terror of a deadly smallpox outbreak. Immune from childhood illness, Elsbeth becomes a caretaker for a wealthy family awaiting inoculation, caught between loyalty, survival, and the fires of rebellion. Before the discussion, participants will view a 26-minute screening reel from the upcoming 2025 PBS documentary American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, featuring an introduction by Ken Burns. Copies of the book will be available at the Granville and McNabb Branches. For more information, please contact the Library at 815-339-2038. The Zoom link will be available on the Library’s website and social media pages.