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45 pages 1 hour read

My Brother Sam Is Dead

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1974

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Book Brief

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James Lincoln Collier, Christopher Collier

My Brother Sam Is Dead

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1974
Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Redding, Connecticut • 1770s

Publication Year

1974

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-14 years

Lexile Level

770L

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Super Short Summary

My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier is set during the American Revolutionary War and follows Tim Meeker, a young boy whose family is torn apart when his brother, Sam, joins the Patriot forces. Tim grapples with loyalty and the harsh realities of war as his family faces severe hardships. The novel explores the impact of war on family dynamics and personal growth. The story contains scenes of violence and death in war.

Melancholic

Challenging

Emotional

Dark

Suspenseful

Reviews & Readership

4.0

20,371 ratings

52%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier is widely praised for its realistic portrayal of the American Revolutionary War and complex characters, especially in depicting a family's divided loyalties. However, some critics find its graphic content and slow pacing unsuitable for younger readers. Overall, it’s a compelling yet controversial historical novel.

Who should read this

Who Should Read My Brother Sam Is Dead?

Readers who enjoy historical fiction like Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes or The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare will appreciate My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier. Ideal for middle school students, it combines a gripping narrative with Revolutionary War settings and themes of loyalty and conflict.

4.0

20,371 ratings

52%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Redding, Connecticut • 1770s

Publication Year

1974

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-14 years

Lexile Level

770L

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