My Brother Sam is Dead REVIEW By Kaitlyn Lembo

Information about chapters 1 and 2 What are the narrator’s feelings about his brother, Sam? How does the author show this? The narrator, Tim, envies his brother in uniform, looking so proud. The author shows this by describing Sam in his uniform and having Tim state, “Oh, I envied him.”

Chapters 1 and 2 continued… What sort of relationship do Sam and his father seem to have? Father and Sam seem to have a love/hate relationship. They love each other a lot but quarrel when it comes to having different opinions. For example, Sam is a patriot and Father is a loyalist.

Chapters 1 and 2 continued…. What role does religion play in the life of the narrator and his community as a whole? Religion is a big part of their lives. It is shown in the story by the characters going to church each Sunday and always referring to God. An example of this is when Sam talks back to his father and Tim says, “God meant for man to obey. He meant for children to obey their fathers.”

Information about chapters 3 and 4 At this point, how is war affecting Tim and his family in their daily lives? The war is mildly affecting their daily lives by a food shortage and a greater expense for supplies.

Chapters 3 and 4 continued… How does the family handle Sam’s being away? The family, such as mother and Tim, handle it by being upset and constantly writing letters. Father on the other hand, tries to ignore it.

Chapters 3 and 4 continued… Why does Sam com back to Redding? What does this show about his feeling towards his family? Sam comes back to Redding to see his girlfriend, Betsy Read. He does not appear to care about his family too much.

Chapters 3 and 4 continued… How does Tim’s relationship with Sam begin to change? Tim’s relationship with Sam begins to change by their different opinions of their family. Sam hates his father and doesn’t want to rescue him. While Tim is determined to save him.

Information about chapters 5 and 6 Why does Mr. Heron say it would be better for Tim, not Tom Warrups, to deliver the letter? It would be better because Tom Warrups is an Indian and works for Mr. Heron, and by delivering a letter he might make people suspicious. If Tim delivered the letter, no one would stop a young boy or even be suspicious.

Chapters 5 and 6 continued… Why does Tim decide to deliver the letter even though he knows its wrong? Tim delivers the letter because he wants to prove that he’s independent and brave enough to do that.

Information about chapters 7 and 8 Did father and Tim know the cowboys were coming? No, Tim and father did not hear them or have any sign that they were coming until they saw them coming over a small hill.

Chapters 7 and 8 continued … Why do father and Tim need escorts now? They needed escorts because they were attacked by cattle stealers. By having escorts they were almost guaranteed to be safe.

Chapters 7 and 8 continued… How did Tim reply when asked if he was on the loyalist or patriot side? Tim replied, “A loyalist I guess. But in my head I wasn’t sure about that.”

Chapters 7 and 8 continued… How did Tim feel when he saw the river? How did father react to Tim feeling this way? Tim wished to live there when he saw the river. Father reacted to this by saying, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

Chapters 7 and 8 continued… Why did father chose to go a different route home? What obstacles did they run into with this choice? Father chose to go a separate way home because he figured the cowboys would be waiting for them to return on their old path. The obstacles that they ran into with this choice is the trip would take longer, and they would have to trudge through snow and bad weather.