My Brother Sam Is Dead (Scholastic Gold)

I think the language - based on what my 5th grader is telling me, is a little unnecessary. She is reading it as a school assignment and is a high-level. We're not prudes or uptight by any means, but it almost seems as if this isn't a "historical novel" as much as an "introduction to curse words" in the eyes of the young reader. Maybe if I actually read the book, I would find differently - but the point is that the 5th graders are the audience, and what are they taking away from the experience.

A wonderful snapshot of a piece of the Revolutionary War, and how it affected the families of Southwestern Connecticut. Good writing, good setting and great characters. For my Middle School group it's a crowd-pleaser.

Well-written and historically accurate. Has a dark undertone that is hard to escape from. Tells so much about the negative affects of the Revolutionary War and the grief felt. Unnecessarily involves the gradual disbelief of Christian values in the characters.

I read this for school and let me say.... eh...... wasn't that great but wasn't that horrible. I really just didn't understand and half the time at school I'm not allowed to use my phone during class to even read. But this helped me catch up when I got sick/suspended.

Great book with thrilling cliff hangers. It says true historical events, and is very educational. This is a great nonfiction book to read if you are into American Independents and war. Although Sam dies at the end of the book instead of in the middle or near the beginning, I think there was a got plot and sequence of events. I hope that you will read this book yourself and discover the wonder that's in it.

I loved this book. It was so captivating and hard to put down. Tim's journey to man hood was so emotional and beautifully written. This book is one of my favorites! The ending broke my heart though. I love if it was turned into a movie!

This book was pretty accurate in the events of the Revolutionary War. I read this book for an advanced reading class and this is the best pre ap book I have read. J would recommend this book to advanced reading teachers

I loved this book. It was so captivating and hard to put down. Tim's journey to man hood was so emotional and beautifully written. This book is one of my favorites! The ending broke my heart though. I love if it was turned into a movie!

This book was pretty accurate in the events of the Revolutionary War. I read this book for an advanced reading class and this is the best pre ap book I have read. J would recommend this book to advanced reading teachers

What a disappointment! My grandson MUST read this book, so I wanted to read it also. It depicts the Patriots as a bunch of thugs and the British as equally evil. The Revolution was only about 'a few pence.' It is not, in actuality, a story about the Revolutionary War.

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU VALUE YOUR SANITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this book treats the patriots as though they are evil, by stealing from people and killing someone just to show an example of them. this year i studied the revolutionary war, and i did not think that they really showed the revaluation correctly when they described vividly a guys chopped off head.
also some people say that sam had a heroic death. i do not know how it is a heroic death to be a warning signal, not to disobey, the revaluation.
at my school they teach kids non violence, this book is completely violent! another reason why it is not good for school is that as i said before it is not historically accurate, when during the same year they are teaching us about the war. how is it a good idea to say "the men who fought in that war were brave and selfless" then BOOM! give us a book who treats them like bandits and murderers.
these are the reasons why this book is a waist of money and should not be givin to six graders like me.

Ugh! I dont know why schools insist on giving middle school kids required reading materials they cannot relate to. Some of these books have made my daughter a very reluctant reader. This was one of them - I am sure some could find it an interesting read... but even to me it was a bit snooze-worthy.

My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier, is a historical fiction novel based on real-life challenges faced during the Revolutionary war. The central character and narrator is Tim, the son of a Connecticut tavern owner whose allegiance lies with the British. Tim’s older brother Sam runs off to join the Patriots and fight for independence, despite the strong wishes of his domineering father.

Sam’s headstrong nature ultimately leads to his downfall and eventual execution. “His face was dead white but he managed to give me a grin- not much of one, but a grin. Then they passed on by. I waited until the last of the troops had gone on through, then I ran up to where the crowd was standing and began to push my way through. When people saw who it was they let me pass. I pushed my way up near the front of the crowd.” The authors convey a keen insight into the macabre reality of life and death during war as community members gather around to watch tragedy unfold in front of them. The jarring climax of this story occurs when Tim watches his big brother and role model get executed by firing squad.

Consistent with the genre of historical fiction, the story about Tim and his family is a fabrication. However the authors use the Epilogue to provide a strong reality check. I was fascinated to learn that Ned, a Patriot who was beheaded in front of Tim, was actually a real person who was killed in this gruesome manner.

The Collier brothers’ realistic and serious tone held my attention and focus throughout the story. Although the title of the book leaves no doubt as to what is going to happen to Sam, the story telling keeps the reader guessing about what will come next.

I would recommend My Brother Sam is Dead to elementary school students, as it was an easy read and one that provides a glimpse into life during the American Revolution. I originally read this book in 3rd grade, but I enjoyed re-reading it, almost 10 years later. This book is reminiscent of The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery which is also about the Revolutionary War and life in the 1770s.

My Brother Sam is Dead received the prestigious National Book Award Nomination as well as Newberry Book Honors.
Reviewed by Cameron H., age 17, Mensa South by Southwest

My Brother Sam is Dead was my introduction to the Collier brothers and their well researched and equally well written Historical Fiction novels for children. It presents a honest, and often brutal, look at the revolutionary war and the people caught up in the struggle. This is not a glorified version written for children but a hard, gritty look at the meaninglessness and sheer violence of war. I think the Authors do a marvelous job avoiding a bias for either the Tories or the Whigs but show instead just how much disagreement and controversy filled the lives of the colonists at this time.

The story centers around young Tim Meeker whose brother, Sam, has abandoned his education at University to join up with the Revolutionaries. Their family is strictly Loyalist and Sam's choice places them in a dangerous situation. Political sides taken cause rifts in the family but the violence around them gives them no time to heal. Tim's efforts to participate or make a difference are often futile and the shortage of food and the threat from both Armies fill his days. The book does not end well for Sam or for his family.

I have seen this book being taught in upper Elementary school and I do think it is better suited for 8th or 9th grade. While the language and writing is not too difficult for an advanced reader the themes and the violence depicted would make this unsuitable for most younger children. My 8th grader read this book while he was studying the Revolutionary War at the same time as he was reading Chains (Laurie Halse Andersen), Johnny Tremain and 1776 (David McCullough) and he found this book thought provoking and also disturbing in it's realism. A worthwhile read for the Teen who is learning about History and looking for more than childish fiction about the glories of War.

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Well, I have had this book set aside for my children's upper school years and finally decided to pre-read it. I am so glad that I did! I originally bought this book after seeing it recommended on several book lists for children. After reading it, I have to question who makes these book lists!

Alert: Spoilers ahead!

Young Timmy is in awe of his brother, Sam. Sam is dashing and rebellious, and leaves his Tory family to join with the Patriots in the Revolutionary War. Timmy is unsure which side he believes in, but knows only that he loves his brother dearly. Sam is certain that his side is the right one and defies his father, and stealing the family gun, runs away to fight. Timmy, meanwhile, is living a normal life for a boy on a farm in the 1700s. The book is full of day by day happenings without much happening. Finally, Tim's father feels that he is old enough to make the yearly trip to sell their cattle. The only problem is, they have always sold their cattle at a certain port which is held by the British. Tim's (as he is now called) father doesn't care who buys the cattle as long as he can sell them. On their way back home, he (the father) is captured by unknown assailants. After a long wait, Tim and his mother finally hear that he has been killed. The kicker is that he was held prisoner on a British ship and caught cholera. So now, Tim feels that the British side is horrible, else how could they capture and keep his father prisoner when he was a Tory? After some time, Sam makes a visit home with his company. During his visit, Tim begs Sam to come home and help the family. Sam says no, that he plans to re-enlist as soon as his time is up. Tim realizes that Sam is making a selfish choice but can do nothing about it. Then one night, they hear a disturbance in the barn. Some of the men from Sam's company are trying to steal their cattle but when Sam runs out to stop them, they turn on him and take him in as a prisoner for the crime that they were committing. Tim and his mother do everything they can to right the wrong that has been done but Sam's commanding officer is determined to make an example of him. In the end, Sam is executed most brutally and Tim witnesses it all. He comes to the conclusion that neither side is right and that there had to have been a better way to resolve the issues at hand.

Now, I love a Revolutionary period book as much as the next person and I really had high hopes for this book. But it was very depressing and disheartening. It will not be staying on my shelves, needless to say. I understand the whole “let's show them real life” theory in books, but in reality, books should have a happy ending. Otherwise, we are teaching that there is no reason for hope. If we are all doomed to an unhappy end, why even try? On another note, the language in this book was a bit of a shock. As a children's book, I was very unhappy with that side of it. I guess I will be pre-reading everything on these famed “lists”.

My Brother Sam is Dead is a rather depressing book. It does well examining Tim’s own feelings on whether he’s a Tory or a Patriot and how events in his life push him one way or the other. Sam’s death is obvious from the start, but the reason is pretty ridiculous. I just didn’t enjoy the book much at all. I don’t really recommend reading it.

My Brother Sam is Dead is a surprisingly good book! I wasn’t sure I would like it, but it the characters are good although it is kind of violent. The book is about a teen named Tim and his older brother Sam during the Revolutionary War. They live in Redding, Connecticut and own a tavern. Tim loves his brother Sam and looks up to him a lot. When Sam decides to join the Rebel army, Tim looks up to him even more, but his parents do not want him fighting. That same night Sam steals his Dad’s gun, Brown Bess, and runs away to join the war even though Tim told him he shouldn’t do it! Tim is a good boy and does what he is told. He likes that Sam is good at everything and that’s he’s popular with everyone in town and in college. He is disappointed when Sam runs off to join the Rebel army against his parents’ wishes and beliefs. At one point the Rebel army comes through their town and is trying to take all their guns. Redding was considered a Tory town, meaning they were British loyalists. Because Sam took the family’s gun, they didn’t have one to give the Rebels. The Rebels, thinking that was was a lie, slashed Tim’s dad across the face leaving a scar. That was a pretty exciting part of the book! Another exciting part of the story was when Tim and his dad went to Verplanks Point to sell their cattle. On the way there they came across a group of cowboys who wanted them to sell their meat to the Rebel Army instead of the British. On the way back Tim and his Dad failed to do what the cowboys requested so the Rebels captured Tim’s dad. Because, Tim’s dad road ahead and he was captured without Tim knowing so Tim road home not knowing where his dad went. Let’s just say things don’t go well for Tim’s dad. At the end of the book Sam is trying to protect his cattle from being butchered and taken by the Rebels, even though Sam was fighting with the Rebels!! As the title of the book foreshadows Tim sees something that will change his life forever. Tim’s Mother says that “In war the dead pay the debts for the living”. This is an important message in the book showing that war isn’t just about honor and glory. Many people lose their way of living or worse, their lives. It can be really sad.
I would recommend this book to people who are interested in history or war books, like I am. It was interesting to read about how people lived back then. Times have changed so much. I’m glad we don’t live during that time. - C. Gorman

The Collier brothers deliver a fine novel in "My Brother Sam Is Dead." Like Esther Forbes' classic "Johnny Tremain," the foreground characters (the Meeker family, etc.) are fictional while the backdrop is an accurate portrayal of the American Revolution, making the book "historical fiction." Also like "Johnny Tremain," "Sam" does not present the War of Independence as black and white, but with pros and cons on both sides. Both the Yanks and the Brits had their heroes and villains. And even the heroes and villains were not all good or all bad. For example, "Sam" gives some space to arch-traitor Benedict Arnold, the epitome of hero and villain, and Sam himself is an admirable yet flawed protagonist.

"Sam" presents a realistic glimpse into America's early days, with all its glory and tragedy, unity and schism (the American Revolution was also a civil war with deep divisions among Colonialists), nobility and racial prejudice. For every caring person, there seemed to be one callous person who cheapened the value of human life. This book is not for the squeamish and if it were given a movie rating, I imagine it would be "PG-13." There are one or two anachronisms in "Sam," like the wisecrack "in one ear and out the other," but they are minor and should not jeopardize a high rating.

If "My Brother Sam Is Dead" is a worthy successor to "Johnny Tremain" (winner of the Newbery Medal in 1944), then it has done well as a Newbery Honor Book. "Sam" is a winner, in my opinion, especially for teens. A good read, it left me with a sobering judgment about war and its destructive consequences. Tim Meeker, the fictional narrator who grew to love the emerging American nation, concludes by wondering if there might have been another way to achieve the same end without war. Rev. Dennis J. Mercieri

My brother Sam is dead is an exhilarating book about the revolutionary War. A young Man goes off to war without his parents consent. After his sister wrote a letter saying mother was ill Sam left the army and went back home. After that he returned and left again except this time he was reported absent without leave. Every history book addict will love this revolutionary war novel.

One example of why i liked this book was it's very good information background on the actual Revolutionary War. With the fact that Gereal Washington was appointed Commander in Chief due to his brave acts. Another fact was when they said that Benedict was a traitor. One last example of good facts was when they said that run aways from the army were hung.

Another reason i liked this book is it's action. One example of action is when Sam was captured and Tim tried to rescue him. Another example of a lot of action is the detailed facts about the war. One last example of action is when Sam left the army without permission from a general and hid and slept in the forest to escape from getting caught.

One last reason i like this book is it the fat that nothing seems out of place. For example there were no Metal ships or speed boats. Another reason is because There were no computers. And one last example of its time base it because they used rifles and not machine guns for the war.

This book that was based on the Revolutionary war was a wonderful and thrilling novel. I loved this book and i hope u do too. Like i said this had much action and suspense. With all of this noone wil put this book down until they finish it.

D.Fleming

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier & and his brother, Christopher Collier is a book written about the early part of the Revolutionary War. The author presented both viewpoints of the conflict within the country as well as within a family. Much of the country was uncertain about which side to support. Young Tim Meeker’s family was torn between the two sides, the Loyalists and the Revolutionaries. Tim’s father, Life, was loyal to the king and his college age brother, Sam eager for the glories of war and displayed the idealism and invincibility of youth by joining the Rebel cause. The family is torn apart as well as the nation. Which side should fourteen year old Tim choose?

Tim grows up fast having to assume the endless chores around the tavern and home as Sam defiantly goes off to war. Tim’s mother states “He (Life) said ‘In war the dead pay the debts for the living.’ Through Tim’s eyes the reader sees how the inevitable consequences of war affected the everyday lives of the ordinary people trying to make a living and survive. Tim witnessed violence including the threat of cow-boys, roaming bands of cattle thieves and robbers, the decapitation of a friend and the hanging of his brother by his own side, the Continental Army. These atrocities demonstrated Mrs. Meeker’s belief that war turns men into beasts.
Although his father and brother were dead Tim survived the war and became a prosperous businessman. He remembered the price his family paid for freedom and prosperity and wondered if there might have been another way to accomplish it other than war .

The well written prose brings to life the nation at war. Christopher Collier is a History professor and gave his brother James the historical information for the book. Christopher’s meticulous research of the Revolutionary War and the town of Redding, Conn. helped them create an exciting, authentic and readable account of the war. The author presented both sides of the conflict fairly.

The book creates a framework for students to understand the politics, the people and the events of this era and the hardships and challenges they faced. The author used modern language but also include colloquial words and phrases. The study of these words and phrases will increase the student’s background knowledge of the era. General themes for discussion include the illusion of glory, the futility or war, the degeneration of values that occurs during wartime and the foretelling of death.

My Brother Sam is Dead is a Newbery Honor book and an ALA Notable Chidlren’s book.

The authors fail to understand the reasons for the American Revolution. They illustrate some of the conflicting views of the times and the hardships and tragedies of war, but ignore the fundamental issue of the colonists being denied the "Rights of Englishmen."

The colonists thought of themselves as Englishmen, and many in England agreed, but the king and parliament refused to grant them a voice in laws governing them from England - even though they had local governments for many things.

At some point people must stand up and fight for their freedoms. As John Adams put it, "I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy."

The Declaration of Independence presents the case clearly.

Set in Redding Ridge,CT, in the days immediately following the battles of Lexington and Concord, this story unfolds slowly but inexorably, presenting the harsh realities of war upon ordinary people. Not only soldiers but their immediate families must endure the horrors of revolution. This was particularly poingant for the fictitious Meeker family: Father, Mother, Sam (16) and Timmy (10). Compounding the local suffering is the fact that their political loyalties are dividied, for they live in a Tory area of Connecticut.
Timmy resepcts his father who is smart and a loyal kingsman; but he also admires his daring older brother, who defies his father to run off and join a regiment of Rebels (or Patriots) depending on your viewpoint. Throughout the entire novel the young hero struggles to choose one side over the other, but he always tries to help and protect Sam.
Don't be put off by the title, for the book offers hope along with anxiety over Sam's fate, as it portrays a realistic glimpse into a difficult era: the Civil war was not the only time in our history when families were torn assunder by politics. Readers may well reflect on the cost to those Colonial families, as we enjoy the benefits of their sacrifice. A thoughtful, provocative tale which strives to remain neutral, which will educate the mind and touch the heart of American readers. (Concludes with a note as to which events really happened and which characters actually existed.)