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My Brother Sam Is Dead (Scholastic Gold) by…
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My Brother Sam Is Dead (Scholastic Gold) (original 1974; edition 2005)

by James Lincoln Collier (Author), Christopher Collier (Author)

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3,936893,107 (3.57)63
Recounts the tragedy that strikes the Meeker family during the Revolution when one son joins the rebel forces while the rest of the family tries to stay neutral in a Tory town.
Member:LindaLoretz
Title:My Brother Sam Is Dead (Scholastic Gold)
Authors:James Lincoln Collier (Author)
Other authors:Christopher Collier (Author)
Info:Scholastic Paperbacks (2005), Edition: unknown, 240 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:*****
Tags:None

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My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier (1974)

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Great reading! Unlike some books, this one immediately caught my eye. Great characters and a compelling plot. Strongly suggested. It vividly depicts the specifics of life during that historical period as well as the challenges of being a young child trying to find an idol. The initial viewpoint changed the game. I think that this book should be read while studying the American Revolution because it helps develop the understanding that not everyone in the colonies was in support of fighting for freedom from King George III. ( )
  jkk023 | Feb 27, 2023 |
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier is the story of Tim Meeker, a 14-year-old boy living in the American colonies during the tumultuous time of the Revolutionary War. At first the war seems distant to Tim, just a topic of conversation in the tavern his family keeps. However, when his older brother Sam enlists in the Continental Army over the fierce objections of their Loyalist father, the war truly comes home for the Meeker family. Written by an acclaimed children’s author and his historian brother, the novel draws on historical facts to paint a picture of everyday life for a Colonial family swept up in the conflict and violence of the Revolution. My Brother Sam is Dead shows that, despite our national mythology surrounding the Revolution and the Founding Fathers, not all of the colonists were in favor of the rebellion, and many friends and families were bitterly divided over the subject. In the story, the soldiers Tim encounters do not always behave according to what we may assume; the British soldiers wistfully yearn for home, and the desperate Continental forces steal from the very colonists for whom’s freedom they are fighting. As Tim’s mother remarks, “War turns men into beasts” (140). The epilogue leads readers to consider if there may have been a path to American independence that did not require the loss of so many lives. The book is an unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war, and some readers may be turned off by its descriptions of violence. However, for most readers, I think this is an excellent, fast-moving story that forces us to reflect on our assumptions about American history and the true cost of war. ( )
1 vote Jennifer_Bowen | Sep 15, 2021 |
When I saw the cover and saw the title, I felt sure I had read this when I was younger. I don't remember the contents. The 3 rating derives from the fact I like this title. It's haunting and made an impression on me when I was younger. It might be good for me to pick this up again and look through it if I run across a copy. ( )
  Chica3000 | Dec 11, 2020 |
Sam enlists in the Rebel army during the Civil War and this decision is difficult for his father to comprehend because he stands with staying loyal to the British. While his brother is away fighting, Tim has to decide what side he stands on when it comes to the war. Their father ends up dying leaving Tim the man of the house while Sam is away fighting in the war. At the end, Sam does die leaving the family down to two. ( )
  brennarich | Nov 13, 2020 |
A well-researched and written look at war and how it affects the local community. The subject matter was sobering, but worth reading for mature pre-teens and up. ( )
  fuzzi | May 11, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 88 (next | show all)
My Brother Sam Is Dead
My Brother Sam Is Dead Is about two brothers named Tim and Sam. Sam left to join the Continental Army because his dad yelled and screamed at him. He got tired of getting yelled at and ran away. His father disliked the army he went to. Their family was making a descent living at the time. Sam came home one day and visited his family for a couple of hours, but his father pleased to see him but lectured him about the Army he was at. Sam left and said his goodbyes. A few days after Sam’s leave an old wise man gave Tim a letter to give to Sam’s chief. So Tim was on his way when he meets with Sam’s girlfriend she got very curious and asked Tim to open it, but Tim kept his promise he gave to the old wise man. She tackled Tim and took the letter and opened it and found out it was his plan all that time. Well wants Tim came home from his long journey his dad told everyone that he was going to round up the Cattle and take them down to an old selling place to sell them to the British. Tim wanted to go with his dad but said no. After a few days of begging his dad he finally let in. They rode their horses down to the selling place. While they were riding they met with some mean cowboys that threatened to shoot Tim’s dad. They told Tim to go wait in a field. They let Tim’s father pass and they carried on. They stayed at one of Tim’s dad’s closest friend that he used to hang out with. On the journey back they met with the cowboys again but this time they took Tim’s dad and put him on a prison boat. Tim had to ride the trip back. Once he told his mother she was devastated at what happened. A few days later they found out that the Father died from poisonous gas most of all prisoners died. A week or so Sam came back home and was disgusted at what the cowboys did to his father. His Army stayed in groups one in a church and others in people’s houses. Sam and Tim met in the church and broke down and cried. Later on Sam came to visit his parents. They heard a weird noise and I came from the barn. They sprinted out to the barn and noticed that one of the cows were dead and all the meat was gone from it. Well Sam got accused for taking the cow and was put in prisons and was to get hung. Tim ran down to the county police department and told them the story but they wouldn’t take his word because he was only a 12 year old boy. So the mother marched down and told them but yet again they didn’t believe her. After that Tim tried to save his brother but was shot multiple times. But Tim believes that his brother was a brave solider and died for something that he didn’t do.
added by Dawson.dbes1541 | editgermany, beshears.dawson (Oct 27, 2011)
 

» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
James Lincoln Collierprimary authorall editionscalculated
Collier, Christophermain authorall editionsconfirmed
Brown, John C.Narratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
DiCesare, JoeCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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For Sally and Ned, who live there
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It was April, and outside in the dark the rain whipped against the windows of our tavern, making a sound like muffled drums.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Recounts the tragedy that strikes the Meeker family during the Revolution when one son joins the rebel forces while the rest of the family tries to stay neutral in a Tory town.

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Recounts the tragedy that strikes the Meeker family during the Revolution when one son joins the rebel forces while the rest of the family tries to stay neutral in a Tory town.

Available online at The Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/search.php?query=t...
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