Note: Thank you to BookSirens, NetGalley, Snail House Books, and author T.W. Fitzhugh for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Set during the Revolutionary War, The Spirits of ’76 combines paranormal realism with history to create an interesting story of how a young girl manages to help the Continental Army in 1776.

Emmeline is an eleven-year-old orphan girl who is under the authority of Mr. Chitwood. Chitwood and his mother have discovered that Emmeline has the ability of second sight. Disguised as a young boy, she is carted from plantation to plantation in Virginia and Maryland, having visions and making predictions for the wealthy. At one stop, she is so convincing that the owner of the plantation, a British loyalist, contrives to have her sent to the King of England to help the British suppress the rebellion happening in the colonies.

With help from unexpected sources, Emmeline escapes and is put on a boat to New York. She ends up with a schoolmaster in Tarrytown who is the brother of the woman who helped Emmeline escape. There, she changes her name to Ruby or “Roo” and sheds her disguise as a boy. Roo wants nothing more than to be reunited with her sister, Opal, who is somewhere in Virginia. Mr. Imason, the schoolmaster, knows of her abilities and wants Roo to help the Continental Army. The problem is that Roo has no confidence in her abilities. Any time she has had a vision, she’s been unable to change what happens, no matter how hard she tries.

Although not billed that way, I felt more like I was reading a young-adult book. The events of 1776 are presented as seen through the eyes of Roo and the friends she makes in Tarrytown. They become known as the “Imps of Tarrytown” after helping a friend escape from imprisonment on a British ship anchored in the river near the town. It really felt like it was written for a young adult audience more than an adult one. I did enjoy the story, though. The characters are interesting and well-developed. The author manages to have Roo and the friends she makes act realistically, while at the same time having an impact on historical events in a way that doesn’t feel forced.

There are a number of things left hanging at the end of The Spirits of ’76 which leads me to believe this is going to be an ongoing series. Roo is not yet reunited with her sister. After Roo’s initial warnings go unheeded, there is potential for her to help the rebellion. There is something of a mystery of what Mr. Imason is hiding. He’s looked down upon by several people involved in the story, but it isn’t revealed exactly why. Mr. Chitwood still sees Emmeline as his key to riches and believes he can force her to go along with him. There’s a lot left unresolved by the end of the book.

As an adult I still enjoyed The Spirits of ’76 very much. It works in a number of ways, although I think the young adult audience will appreciate it the most. It shows what life was like for children as the War for Independence was happening, as well as what life was like in the colonies in general.