At what price? Censorship write-off

Can any of us in today's generation really know the sentiments of early Americans before and during the Revolutionary War? Do any of us know what sacrifices they had to make? Who paid the highest price? Would you have been a Loyalist, Patriot, or somewhere in between? In school, we learned about how the English king made the early colonists pay taxes without any government representation; we know about the Boston Tea Party where tea was dumped into the Boston Harbor when the king tried to tax tea shipments; we heard about the Stamp Act. With these actions by the King, I always thought that most all of the colonists wanted to be free. But, this was not the case.

My Brother Sam is Dead is an award winning children's book that focuses on one particular family, the Meekers, during the Revolutionary War. The Meekers live in Redding, CT, a city whose majority of residents, including Mr. and Mrs. Meeker, are Tories, loyal to the King. But, there are some who want their freedom and are willing to fight for that right. One of those eager to fight is Sam, the Meekers' oldest son. We quickly determine that this household will be divided.

Tim Meeker is the younger son, and the story is told from his point of view. He struggles throughout the book, not knowing where his loyalties lie - to his father and the King, or to his brother and the Patriots. As time goes by, the actions of both sides sway Tim at various times, and show the reader some of the true casualties and atrocities of this war.

Early in the book, Sam runs off to join the Patriots and fight the British. Before he leaves, he has a big fight with his father, who tries to convince him that war is not all glory. In the book's first graphic passage, Sam is telling his father that they are fighting for the "principle", not the tax money, etc. Sam's father replies:

"Principle, Sam? You may know principle, Sam, but I know war. Have you ever seen a dead friend lying in the grass with the top of his skull off and his brains sliding out of them like wet oats? Have you ever looked into the eyes of a man with his throat cut and the blood pouring out between his fingers, knowing that there was nothing he could do, in five minutes he would be dead, yet still trying to beg for grace and not being able because his windpipe was cut in two? Have you ever heard a man shriek with he felt a bayonet go through the middle of his back? I have, Sam, I have."

Sam does not listen to his father and goes to fight anyway. War gets closer to Redding and the Meekers and all the colonists have to deal with rising prices, conflicts with the Tories as well as the Patriots, crime, and eventually, hunger. Mr. Meeker, ever a Tory, ironically get captured by British soldiers, and dies on a prison boat. The family has a hard time dealing with this, and Tim sways toward the Patriot side after this and another incident where other Tories are killed.

Then, the Patriots come to town. The war has been going on for a few years, and they are hungry. Some of the Patriots begin stealing to feed themselves and their comrades. However, the officers in charge will not allow this, and seek to make an example of someone caught in the act of stealing. Unfortunately, Sam is accused of stealing cattle from his own family. The true thieves lie, ganging up against Sam, who is then sentenced to die. Tim and his mother try very hard to reason with the officers and do everything they can to get Sam released or at least get his life spared. But, it is not to be, and Sam is executed, sacrificing his life over a lie, becoming an example of dishonor instead of patriotism. This act makes Tim and his mother just wish the war were over, no matter who wins. In the epilogue, Tim is older, and wonders about the war. He asks if "there might have been another way, beside war, to achieve the same end." Could our country have made it and become what it is today without the experiences, battles, and deaths of the Revolutionary War? I guess that's a question we have to answer for ourselves.

Did I like this book? Yes and no. I did not like what happened to the Meeker family, and was angry throughout the book. However, I thought the book was a great history lesson, or at the very least a great introduction to things that happened during the Revolutionary War. I understand this book is used in many classrooms to prompt discussion and projects about that time in American history. For those purposes, I think it's great. But, I still did not like the way it ended. Guess we can't all be satisfied all the time. Would I recommend it? Yes. Thanks for reading

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My Brother Sam is Dead is #12 on the American Library Association's list of 100 top challenged and banned books from 1990-1999. Although I do not know the specific reasons for the challenging of the book, I would venture to guess it is because of some cursing and some graphic passages (like the one I quoted in the review) of people dying. The book is written for older children and young teens, and was a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and a National Book Award Nominee.

This review is part of a censorship writeoff sponsored by Phineaskc. Please check out the other fine writers participating in this writeoff: Lagavulin, Rcarte2000, Jennjoy, Jankp, Brendamh, Hhassell99, Telefrog, ChrisJarmick, Bupkiss, Mellkinwa, Eplovejoy, bwyckoff1, scmrak, Hawgwyld, Phineaskc, angelabar.