My Brother Sam is Dead
James Lincoln Collie & Christopher Collier 1974
Awards
The book "My Brother Sam is Dead" has won the John Newbery Medal and is a Newbery Honor book.
Quotes
- "What's the use of principles if you have to be dead to keep them? We're Englishmen, Timmy. Of course there are injustices, there are always injustices, that's the way of God's world. But you never get rid of injustices by fighting. Look at Europe, they've had one war after another for hundreds of years, and show me where anything ever got any better for them."
- "Captain Arnold says it's all right to be scared; the true brave man is always scared."
- He seemed so brave and grown-up, and I wished that I could be brave and grown-up like him, too.
Main Conflict
Tim struggles to understand the war and define his own set of opinions based on the opinions of his father and brother
Important Point
Tim realizes the certainty of Sam's execution and runs out with his late father's bayonet, hoping somehow to stop it.
Resolution
Tim just can't prove his brother innocent. So one horrible day, Sam is executed.
Why its interesting?
The book My Brother Sam is is interesting because it has a lot of action. It shows a strong brotherly relationship because I can relate to that with my brother.