My Brother Sam Is Dead
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| My Brother Sam is Dead | |
| Author | James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher | Scholastic |
| Publication date | 1974 |
| Pages | 216 pages |
| ISBN | 0-590-42792-x |
My Brother Sam Is Dead (1974) is a young adult novel by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier. It was a Newbery Honor book that was also named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and nominated for a National Book Award in 1975.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
My Brother Sam Is Dead tells the story of a boy, Timothy (called Tim), who lives in Redding, Connecticut during the Revolutionary War. His brother, Sam, is a soldier for the revolutionaries although he is going against his father, who is a Loyalist. An argument between Sam and his Father eventually drives Sam away. He takes his father's musket, the Brown Bess, with him. His family does not hear from him until later in the story when Sam comes home to see his girlfriend. During that time, the war begins to penetrate Redding, starting with Sam and eventually leading up to Tim's father. Continental soldiers make camp in Redding under the orders of General Putnam. Sam is part of these troops so he comes home to see his girlfriend and to visit the remains of his family. Some other soldiers frame Sam as a cow thief in order to save themselves, and Sam is sentenced to be executed. Tim tries as hard as he can to change the general's mind, but to no avail. Later, he is sentenced to death where he is shot twice.
In a notable section of the book, Tim and his father travel to Verplancks Point to sell some of their livestock. On the way, they are stopped by a group of "Cowboys" claiming to be sent by the patriots. They think that since Tim and his father are from Redding, and that Verplancks Point is controlled by the British, that Tim and his father are Tories, and that they are selling their cows to the British. They hassle them a bit, but an escort comes, and the "Cowboys" ride away. When they are done selling their livestock, they are ready to go home, but on a different road that is slower and out of the way of the "Cowboys". A snowstorm, however, forces them to go the shorter way. While waiting for their escort, the same "Cowboys" show up, and after a while kidnap Tim's father. They leave Tim and the cart alone in the snow. Tim decides to go home and is stopped by a band of cow boys the same one that stopped father the first time and Tim makes up a lie and the "Cowboys" let him by because they were scared that an escort was coming to help Tim.
[edit] References
[edit] Characters
- Sam Meeker: A headstrong teenager who knows luke bowling and would like to see him in the continental army to fight for his principles against his families favor, gets shot for supposedly stealing his own family's cattle.
- Tim Meeker: Sam's Brother and the narrator of the story, is fourteen while most of the story takes place
- Eliphalet "Life" Meeker (also called Father and Mr. Meeker): The Dad and loyalist of the family, is against the War, captured by a band of cowboys and killed on a British Jail Ship by an outbreak of cholera
- Susannah Meeker (Also called Mother and Mrs. Meeker): Is the mother and takes over running the tavern after Life dies and also becomes a drunk after Life dies
- Tom Warrups: Native American man whose house Sam stays at while coming home to Redding
- Betsy Read: Part of a Patriot family and helps Sam out during the War, Sam's girlfriend
- Colonel Read: Betsy Read's grandfather and a former militia leader
- Jeremiah "Jerry" Sanford: Tim's friend, gets captured and dies on a prison ship
- General Putnam: leader of the Rebels in Redding, sentences Sam to death as an example to other troops
- Colonel Parsons: an officer in Redding, believes that Sam didn't steal the cattle
- Captain Starr: The Militia leader of Redding, killed by the British
- Benedict Arnold: Sam's militia leader, stays at the tavern
- Mr. Beach: The town minister, supports peace between the two sides but more for the loyalists often is disliked by strict people.
- Ned Starr: Redding's only African American Slave, got his head chopped off
- Ezekiel Platt: Tim Meeker's cousin, lives in New York
- Judson: leader of the band of cowboys that stop Tim on his way home
- Dr. Hobart: Redding's only doctor
- Captain Betts: former leader of a militia, captured by the British for being a rebel but then returned
