summary of "my brother sam is dead"
"My Brother Sam Is Dead" by Christopher and James LIncoln Collier is a novel of historical fiction, centered around the life and times of the people living through the American Revolution. It is a truly well-developed, excellently rounded story, showing the American Revoolution from several perspectives, rather than a mere one. The plot and themes are truly unique, thus this is a book that is both entertaining and very informative.
The protagonist of the story is young, Tim Meeker, who resides with his mother and father in the small colonial town of Redding, Massachusettes. When his older brother, Sam Meeker, visits them with tales of his new found college life, things slowly begin to go down hill. As he begins discussing radical, treasonous ideas-ideas involving rumours of a coming rebellion-as well as his involvement, this short visit ends up becoming something that will change the Meeker family forever. Why exactly? Well, his father, Life, is a complete Loyalist (or Torie, as they are referred to in the story), and obviously, hearing that his eldest son wishes to partake in toppling the king's rule angers him.
As one would suspect, a huge fight among the family insues, mostly between the polar opposites of Sam and his father. And, when Sam goes as far to steal the family's only musket (the Brown Bess) to head into the growing war, the Meeker family is literally torn apart.
After Sam runs away to join the Continental troops, the true magnitude of the coming Revolution begins to enter everyone's (most importantly Tim's) life. Whole communties are torn apart due to the political discord at hand, and Redding is in shambles. As Tim tries to search for his brother, and in turn is swept up in the war even more than he thought possible, he slowly realizes that the world around him is changing, ecspcially after an incident involving his brother, a Continental soldier, and his father. Tim learns that his brother has snuck off from his duty for the weekend, and is lodging in his old friend's hut. As Life is harrassed, Tim seeks his help, but is denied due to Sam's fear of being caught.
Sam departs once more after this encounter, leaving Tim alone to go through the changes caused by the Revolution. Prices spike, food is short, and the pub he works in with his family is dwindling. Matters get even worse when he goes on a trip to Verplanks, a trading point, with his father. During this harsh trip, the two are confronted by bandit
Continentals. They manage to escape them during their first encounter, allowing their beef to make it safely to the hands of the British in New York. However, when they meet again, Life is captured, leaving Tim to get home on his own.
Soon after, Tim learns that his father died on a prison ship, causing him to get even more caught up in the war. Not to mention his conflicting thoughts he is having on taking is sides is taking it's toll. Should he trust the Continetals; the side Sam's fighting for, or the British? After learning of the death of his father, he does start to trust the British temporarily...until the British raid his town for Continental spies, and kill a ten-year-old boy named Jerry Sanford. This event not only shatters Time and his family, but the whole town is appalled as well.
During the aftermath of this, the war still rages on, leaving Tim and his mother alone to work hard and await the return of Sam. Soon, their wish is granted. When Benedict Arnold's troops move into Redding, Sam visits Tim and his mother after nearly two years, in an emotional scene of meeting again. But, due to Sam's duties, he can only sneak off to his home every now and then to visit; but for Tim and his mother, that is more than enough.
Unfortunately, this is where the book begins to go downhill. One day, Sam is helping Tim seal up the little cattle they have left for the winter, to protect them from bandits. Soon after finishing the job, Sam heads outside...to find the cows running about, several missing. Him and Tim immediately take action, heading into the woods to pursue the bandits. However, before they can catch them, Sam is ambushed, attacked, and arrested by the thieves...who end up being Continental soldiers. In turn, they bring Sam back to their camp, capturing him and lying about the situation. In the end, Sam is imprisoned by his troop to be executed for abandonment.
Although Tim tries to break Sam and his prison mates out, his plan fails. And, as one would suspect form the title, this provocative story of the American Revolution ends with a single shot, as both the reader and Tim see Sam fall after being shot, the story leaving a lasting impact even after it ends.
The protagonist of the story is young, Tim Meeker, who resides with his mother and father in the small colonial town of Redding, Massachusettes. When his older brother, Sam Meeker, visits them with tales of his new found college life, things slowly begin to go down hill. As he begins discussing radical, treasonous ideas-ideas involving rumours of a coming rebellion-as well as his involvement, this short visit ends up becoming something that will change the Meeker family forever. Why exactly? Well, his father, Life, is a complete Loyalist (or Torie, as they are referred to in the story), and obviously, hearing that his eldest son wishes to partake in toppling the king's rule angers him.
As one would suspect, a huge fight among the family insues, mostly between the polar opposites of Sam and his father. And, when Sam goes as far to steal the family's only musket (the Brown Bess) to head into the growing war, the Meeker family is literally torn apart.
After Sam runs away to join the Continental troops, the true magnitude of the coming Revolution begins to enter everyone's (most importantly Tim's) life. Whole communties are torn apart due to the political discord at hand, and Redding is in shambles. As Tim tries to search for his brother, and in turn is swept up in the war even more than he thought possible, he slowly realizes that the world around him is changing, ecspcially after an incident involving his brother, a Continental soldier, and his father. Tim learns that his brother has snuck off from his duty for the weekend, and is lodging in his old friend's hut. As Life is harrassed, Tim seeks his help, but is denied due to Sam's fear of being caught.
Sam departs once more after this encounter, leaving Tim alone to go through the changes caused by the Revolution. Prices spike, food is short, and the pub he works in with his family is dwindling. Matters get even worse when he goes on a trip to Verplanks, a trading point, with his father. During this harsh trip, the two are confronted by bandit
Continentals. They manage to escape them during their first encounter, allowing their beef to make it safely to the hands of the British in New York. However, when they meet again, Life is captured, leaving Tim to get home on his own.
Soon after, Tim learns that his father died on a prison ship, causing him to get even more caught up in the war. Not to mention his conflicting thoughts he is having on taking is sides is taking it's toll. Should he trust the Continetals; the side Sam's fighting for, or the British? After learning of the death of his father, he does start to trust the British temporarily...until the British raid his town for Continental spies, and kill a ten-year-old boy named Jerry Sanford. This event not only shatters Time and his family, but the whole town is appalled as well.
During the aftermath of this, the war still rages on, leaving Tim and his mother alone to work hard and await the return of Sam. Soon, their wish is granted. When Benedict Arnold's troops move into Redding, Sam visits Tim and his mother after nearly two years, in an emotional scene of meeting again. But, due to Sam's duties, he can only sneak off to his home every now and then to visit; but for Tim and his mother, that is more than enough.
Unfortunately, this is where the book begins to go downhill. One day, Sam is helping Tim seal up the little cattle they have left for the winter, to protect them from bandits. Soon after finishing the job, Sam heads outside...to find the cows running about, several missing. Him and Tim immediately take action, heading into the woods to pursue the bandits. However, before they can catch them, Sam is ambushed, attacked, and arrested by the thieves...who end up being Continental soldiers. In turn, they bring Sam back to their camp, capturing him and lying about the situation. In the end, Sam is imprisoned by his troop to be executed for abandonment.
Although Tim tries to break Sam and his prison mates out, his plan fails. And, as one would suspect form the title, this provocative story of the American Revolution ends with a single shot, as both the reader and Tim see Sam fall after being shot, the story leaving a lasting impact even after it ends.