1. By: Matthew McCauley

2.  The theme of the novel My Brother Sam is Dead is war separates families.

3.  First Thought Text Evidence  ‘“You are not having the gun,” Father shouted. “ You are not going to Wethersfield and you are going to take off that uniform right now…”’. ( page 20, paragraph 3) My Thinking  In the novel, Tim’s father was fighting with Sam because of the war. Sam wants to borrow Father’s gun to fight for the Patriots. Father was angry, because he was loyal to the king. Tim’s father is fighting with Sam

4.  Second Thought Text Evidence  “ And I was trying to figure out whether or not I’d counted Arabia when it suddenly hit me that I hadn’t seen Father for a long, long time”. (page 73, paragraph 5) My Thinking  On the way back from Verplancks Point, Tim wasn’t paying attention. Cowboys kidnaped Father, because he was selling cattle that was going to the British Army. Verplancks Point is a place to travel to near the Hudson River to sell cattle. Father is taken from his family

5.  Third Thought Text Evidence  “ In June of that year, 1777, we found out that father was dead.” (page 99, paragraph 1) My Thinking  Tim’s Father was kidnaped by the Cowboys and was brought to a British ship and died from Epidemic of Cholera. Tim is now separated from his father forever. Tim’s Father dies

6.  Fourth Thought Text Evidence  “ Three soldiers stepped in front of him and raised their muskets. They were so close the gun muzzles were almost touching Sam’s clothes….at that moment Sam slammed backwards as if he’d been knocked over by a mallet.” ( page 123, paragraph 3) My Thinking  In the end of the book, Sam dies. He gets framed for stealing and was shot by a Patriot. If there wasn’t a war, then Sam and Father wouldn’t have died. Sam Dies

7.  Fifth Thought Text Evidence  “I was beginning to get worried about Mother. She’d never been one for drinking much….But she’d begun to take it more. It wasn’t much as I say, but she was changed, and it bothered me”. (page 113, paragraph 4) My Thinking  After Father’s death and the situation with Sam, Tim’s mother changed because of the war. She was different mother. Tim’s Mother changes when loved ones die

8.  My theme war separates families is shown throughout the book. Tim lost his father from a disease from a British ship and Sam from a bullet of a Patriot. War separates families because Tim is separated from his father and brother forever. Also his mother is different after the death of her loved ones. The Meeker family will never be the same as a result of their experiences during the American Revolutionary War. Conclusion

9.  The End