Information for teachers about using the novel My Brother Sam is Dead in the classroom.
My Brother Sam is Dead is challenged by individuals who have not read it. If they read it, they would have a better understanding of it and embrace it.
But that's not the answer you have visited this page for... is it? You want to know how and why the novel earned a top 10 listing on the American Way's most challenged book list in 1996.
The book is challenged because it:
1. Contains profanity: In reaction to being smack in the head by Tim Meeker as she tries to wrestle a letter away from him, Betsy Read shouts "You Little Bastard!"
2. Contains excessive violence: While observing the British army Tim Meeker experiences the horrific beheading of a slave.
3. Mentions alcohol consumption: The Meeker's own a Tavern.
4. Contains unpatriotic views of the American Revolution: The Meeker's are Anglican's.
In response to these challenges let me point out that:
1. The book contains profanity because the authors are trying to provide us with a realistic portrayal of life during the American Revolution. There were conflicting opinions and there were heated discussions, during which, people actually (gasp) swore at each other.
Christopher Collier noted in 1999 that: "When kids ask why we use all the swears in our books, I try to explain that you just can't have soldiers in battle saying "Goll dang it, I've been hit" or "I'm shot, good gracious" Readers know that is not what they said; the story would lose credibility and we would lose readers." He also said, "My brother and I often disagree. But on this one, we do not."
2. The violence Tim experiences is in response to the British troops being fired at. Four individuals take "pot-shots" at the British Troops as they march by. The British respond by rushing the house, subduing the individuals and locking them in the basement. In the process one resists and is decapitated. The British then set the house on fire. This scene is historically correct. It happened, it occurred in Danbury not Redding, but it did happen. The point the authors were making here is that War is Cruel and People Die. While I admit that the beheading is a bit excessive for a children's novel it is not worthy of censor.
3. Alcohol consumption is no reason to censor a novel as important as My Brother Sam is Dead. The Meeker's own and operate a Tavern. And alcohol consumption by all, young and old, is also historically correct. They all drank alcohol, honest, look it up.
4. Contains unpatriotic views of the American Revolution. This one is my personal favorite. When Susannah Meeker states: "Bah, patriotism. Your patriotism has got my husband in prison and one of my children out there in the rain and muck shooting people and likely to be dead any minute, and my business is half ruined. Go sell your patriotism elsewhere, I've had enough of it." she has had it. It's a response anyone of us would have if we were placed in the same position.Susannah Meeker has lost her husband, she's working 24/7 and being paid in currency that is literally worthless, she is Anglican and doesn't want to be in this war to begin with, she fears for her eldest son's life and knows that her youngest son is being deprived of his childhood as he tries to help her keep their business afloat.
The topics covered in this book are important and well represented historically speaking. Christopher Collier was Connecticut's State Historian for a very long time, he knew the issues, the localities, the facts. James Lincoln Collier wrote childrens stories, he knew how to write in a way that captivated the attention of young people. Between the two of them they were very talented. What I love most about My Brother Sam is Dead is it's realism. I was born and raised in Redding, Connecticut. I know it's history well, and can tell you the Collier brothers wove an amazing tale here and it should be embraced not censored.
*Keep in Mind: In 1885, The Public Library of Concord, Massachusetts, banned Huckleberry Finn as "trash suitable only for slums." Censors don't always know best, I urge you to read My Brother Sam is Dead and come up with your own conclusions.
Need help "selling" the novel to your town? email me or call me 860.364.7475
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
My Brother Sam is Dead Resources
Resources Available Online:
- Connecticut Colonial Records
- Revolutionary War Research mostly Connecticut information but an excellent resource
- Connecticut American Revolution Sites Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
- Why the Revolution Occurred- a very good timeline of events that led to the colonist revolt, what happenned during it and how our nation was formed.
- Battles of the Revolutionary War- Awesome resource showing you dates, locations and winners and losers.
- Uniforms of the Revolutionary War
- Revolutionary War Finances
- Paper Money and Inflation
- Life and Death Aboard British Prison Ships
- Names of Prisoners who died on British Prison Ships
- Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources: Volume 13 Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
- The Complete General Orders of George Washington October 2, 1778 to 1780
- Religion and the Revolution The Revolution split some denominations, notably the Church of England, whose ministers were bound by oath to support the King, and the Quakers, who were traditionally pacifists.
Resources Available at the History of Redding Website:
- Photos of Redding Relating to My Brother Sam is Dead
- The Setting of My Brother Sam is Dead, Redding Connecticut (maps, photos and more)
- The My Brother Sam is Dead Information Page
- Chapter by Chapter Book Summary
- Real-Life Characters portrayed in the Book
- Real-Life Events portrayed in the Book
- Colonial Money, Commissary Notes, Financing the War and Inflation Issues
- Camp Life and Order Relating to Redding's Encampment
- Taverns of the Colonial Period
- Brown Bess
- Loyalists (Tories) of Redding, CT
- Cowboys and Skinners
- Places you can visit related to My Brother Sam is Dead
- Download information on Redding Men in the Revolution(Word Document)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Colonial Taverns
The Meeker Family operates a tavern in the novel and thus I felt information on colonial taverns would be a good starting point.
The layout of a typical tavern in colonial times had several small rooms and one large room on the main level. In many cases houses were converted into taverns, formal living rooms became parlors where lady travelers could rest and dining rooms became taprooms where beer and cider were served. The larger room, what we consider a "family room" or "great room" today, was usually located at the front of the tavern and was used as the main dining room. This main dining room was filled with a mixture of small and large tables, typically it had a fireplace and several comfortable chairs around it. The main room was also used for meetings, court hearings, and social gatherings. The tavern's sleeping quarters were located upstairs. In the early days, it wasn't uncommon for visitors to share rooms or even a bed. Later, private rooms were added to some taverns, similar to Bed and Breakfasts/Inns of the present day. The kitchen location varied, in some cases it was in the back of the house, in others downstairs in the basement, a separate building out back was possible too. Behind the tavern, there was an outhouse or backhouse (i.e. bathroom) and often a stable where travelers could rest their horses.
Almost all colonial taverns were located on main highways or turnpikes. Signs were essential and since many people in colonial times could not read, a sign with a picture was a necessity. Tavern signs were often carved from wood, but some were also painted on plaster or cast in metal. In the Revolutionary period the name of the tavern sometimes reflected the allegiance of it's tavern keeper. A tavern named, The King's Arms, indicated an allegiance to England. A tavern named The Washington Tavern, indicated the tavern keeper sided with the American patriots.
In colonial times a night's stay at a tavern, including meals, lodging and stable space for the traveler's horse might cost about $2.00. Here are the prices charged by one colonial tavern: Lodging - $.12 ½, Breakfast - $.37 ½, Dinner - $.50, Supper - $.37 ½, Lodging for the horse - $.50.
An introduction from Nancy L. Struna's Transforming the Ordinary: A Social History of Taverns, 1750-1820s, best states what taverns meant to the local communities they served in the days of the Revolution:
"In the middle of the 18th century, taverns lay at the center of life in the British American mainland colonies. People ate, drank, and slept there; they read mail and papers and in other ways got the news; they boarded stages from and voted at taverns; they attended court hearings and committed crimes. Tavern keepers themselves were often respected and influential citizens, and tavern keeping was viewed as an important and economically viable occupation, including for women. As a point of fact, taverns were everywhere, they housed everything, and everyone could be involved. They were the social and cultural centers of colonial life."
The colonial government found taverns so important to development of this new land they enacted laws to encourage their construction.
Because of their great importance to the community, every innkeeper in Connecticut had to be recommended by the selectmen and civil authorities, constables and grand jurors of the town in which he resided, and then licensed at the discretion of the Court of Common Pleas.
1759- Addition to the Law entitled- Act for Licensing and Regulating Houses of Public Entertainment or Taverns:
"Whereas in said law it is enacted that the civil authority, selectmen, constables and grand-jury-men in the respective towns of this Colony shall, sometime in the month of January, annually, nominate the person or persons whom they or the major part of them think fit and suitable to keep a house or houses of public entertainment in the said town for the ensuing year, which nomination shall be sent to them to the next county court in that county, which court shall grant licenses to the said persons and to no others…"
Below are two descriptions of tavern keepers in the Revolutionary period:
He was often a magistrate, the chief of a battalion of militia or even a member of a state legislature. He is almost always a man of character, for it is difficult for any other to obtain a license to exercise the calling.
The landlord was usually a politician, sometimes a rank demagogue. He often held public office, was selectman, road commissioner, tax assessor, tax collector, constable, or town moderator; occasionally he performed all these duties. They were most frequently soldiers, either officers in the militia or brave fighters who had served in the army. It was a favorite calling for Revolutionary soldiers. They were usually cheerful men; a gloomy landlord made customers disappear like flowers before a frost.
Redding Ridge's tavern owner, Stephen Betts, certainly fits the profile:
Lieutenant Stephen Betts, was a prominent character in the Revolution. He was an active patriot, and was taken prisoner by the British on their march to Danbury in April, 1777. A County Convention was held at his house/tavern on August 10, 1779.
Betts was prominent in town politics, serving as Town Selectman during the Revolution, as well as several town committees formed in support of the war.
General Samuel H. Parsons was headquartered at Betts' home/tavern from 1778 to 1781.
Among the other benefits of having a tavern in a rural community was its essential role in attracting volunteers for the local "trainband" or "militia". As stated above, the tavern owner was "often a magistrate, the chief of a battalion of militia or even a member of a state legislature." The reason a chief of a battalion of militia made a good tavern keeper is a fine example of "Yankee Ingenuity". In the colonial period, a local "trainband" or "militia" was the only protection the citizens of these rural settlements had against their biggest risk: being raided by native American Indians; coastal settlements mustered militia's to counter potential aggressions from the Dutch. The problem with relying on a militia was inconsistency in the numbers, ability and experience of its members. The militiamen were volunteers and as is the case with any volunteer operation, militia leaders faced the problem of how to increase their numbers and more importantly how to get their "troops" to attend mandatory training days once they did join. Service in the militia didn't pay, so why go drill? The obvious answer was: to learn how to maneuver as a unit, shoot accurately, and defend a position, but most militia members weren't swayed by that reasoning. That's where "Yankee Ingenuity" and taverns came into play: free beer on drill day. By underwriting a couple kegs of beer at the local tavern on drill day, able bodied "militiamen" turned out in droves. It was amazing how effective, in terms of recruiting, a little free ale could be.
The most famous Revolutionary Tavern, still standing in close proximity to Redding, Connecticut is: The Keeler Tavern in Ridgefield, Connecticut. During the Revolution, landlord Timothy Keeler was a well known patriot, suspected of manufacturing musket balls in the basement of his tavern. The British poured a special fire upon the building in April of 1777, lodging one cannon ball into the north side of the house (still can be seen by drawing aside the shingle that usually conceals it). A companion cannon ball whistled so close to a man who was climbing the stairs of the house that he tumbled down backward screaming, "I'm a dead man, I'm a dead man!" until his friends with some difficulty silenced him, and assured him he was still alive. A son of the landlord, Jeremiah Keeler, enlisted in the Continental army at the age of seventeen; he became a sergeant, and was said to be the first man to scale the English redoubts at Yorktown; He was presented with a sword by his commanding officer, Marquis de Lafayette, for his efforts. When Lafayette made his triumphal passage through the United States in 1824, a festive reception was held at the tavern in his honor.
The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide
The layout of a typical tavern in colonial times had several small rooms and one large room on the main level. In many cases houses were converted into taverns, formal living rooms became parlors where lady travelers could rest and dining rooms became taprooms where beer and cider were served. The larger room, what we consider a "family room" or "great room" today, was usually located at the front of the tavern and was used as the main dining room. This main dining room was filled with a mixture of small and large tables, typically it had a fireplace and several comfortable chairs around it. The main room was also used for meetings, court hearings, and social gatherings. The tavern's sleeping quarters were located upstairs. In the early days, it wasn't uncommon for visitors to share rooms or even a bed. Later, private rooms were added to some taverns, similar to Bed and Breakfasts/Inns of the present day. The kitchen location varied, in some cases it was in the back of the house, in others downstairs in the basement, a separate building out back was possible too. Behind the tavern, there was an outhouse or backhouse (i.e. bathroom) and often a stable where travelers could rest their horses.
Almost all colonial taverns were located on main highways or turnpikes. Signs were essential and since many people in colonial times could not read, a sign with a picture was a necessity. Tavern signs were often carved from wood, but some were also painted on plaster or cast in metal. In the Revolutionary period the name of the tavern sometimes reflected the allegiance of it's tavern keeper. A tavern named, The King's Arms, indicated an allegiance to England. A tavern named The Washington Tavern, indicated the tavern keeper sided with the American patriots.
In colonial times a night's stay at a tavern, including meals, lodging and stable space for the traveler's horse might cost about $2.00. Here are the prices charged by one colonial tavern: Lodging - $.12 ½, Breakfast - $.37 ½, Dinner - $.50, Supper - $.37 ½, Lodging for the horse - $.50.
An introduction from Nancy L. Struna's Transforming the Ordinary: A Social History of Taverns, 1750-1820s, best states what taverns meant to the local communities they served in the days of the Revolution:
"In the middle of the 18th century, taverns lay at the center of life in the British American mainland colonies. People ate, drank, and slept there; they read mail and papers and in other ways got the news; they boarded stages from and voted at taverns; they attended court hearings and committed crimes. Tavern keepers themselves were often respected and influential citizens, and tavern keeping was viewed as an important and economically viable occupation, including for women. As a point of fact, taverns were everywhere, they housed everything, and everyone could be involved. They were the social and cultural centers of colonial life."
The colonial government found taverns so important to development of this new land they enacted laws to encourage their construction.
Because of their great importance to the community, every innkeeper in Connecticut had to be recommended by the selectmen and civil authorities, constables and grand jurors of the town in which he resided, and then licensed at the discretion of the Court of Common Pleas.
1759- Addition to the Law entitled- Act for Licensing and Regulating Houses of Public Entertainment or Taverns:
"Whereas in said law it is enacted that the civil authority, selectmen, constables and grand-jury-men in the respective towns of this Colony shall, sometime in the month of January, annually, nominate the person or persons whom they or the major part of them think fit and suitable to keep a house or houses of public entertainment in the said town for the ensuing year, which nomination shall be sent to them to the next county court in that county, which court shall grant licenses to the said persons and to no others…"
Below are two descriptions of tavern keepers in the Revolutionary period:
He was often a magistrate, the chief of a battalion of militia or even a member of a state legislature. He is almost always a man of character, for it is difficult for any other to obtain a license to exercise the calling.
The landlord was usually a politician, sometimes a rank demagogue. He often held public office, was selectman, road commissioner, tax assessor, tax collector, constable, or town moderator; occasionally he performed all these duties. They were most frequently soldiers, either officers in the militia or brave fighters who had served in the army. It was a favorite calling for Revolutionary soldiers. They were usually cheerful men; a gloomy landlord made customers disappear like flowers before a frost.
Redding Ridge's tavern owner, Stephen Betts, certainly fits the profile:
Lieutenant Stephen Betts, was a prominent character in the Revolution. He was an active patriot, and was taken prisoner by the British on their march to Danbury in April, 1777. A County Convention was held at his house/tavern on August 10, 1779.
Betts was prominent in town politics, serving as Town Selectman during the Revolution, as well as several town committees formed in support of the war.
General Samuel H. Parsons was headquartered at Betts' home/tavern from 1778 to 1781.
Among the other benefits of having a tavern in a rural community was its essential role in attracting volunteers for the local "trainband" or "militia". As stated above, the tavern owner was "often a magistrate, the chief of a battalion of militia or even a member of a state legislature." The reason a chief of a battalion of militia made a good tavern keeper is a fine example of "Yankee Ingenuity". In the colonial period, a local "trainband" or "militia" was the only protection the citizens of these rural settlements had against their biggest risk: being raided by native American Indians; coastal settlements mustered militia's to counter potential aggressions from the Dutch. The problem with relying on a militia was inconsistency in the numbers, ability and experience of its members. The militiamen were volunteers and as is the case with any volunteer operation, militia leaders faced the problem of how to increase their numbers and more importantly how to get their "troops" to attend mandatory training days once they did join. Service in the militia didn't pay, so why go drill? The obvious answer was: to learn how to maneuver as a unit, shoot accurately, and defend a position, but most militia members weren't swayed by that reasoning. That's where "Yankee Ingenuity" and taverns came into play: free beer on drill day. By underwriting a couple kegs of beer at the local tavern on drill day, able bodied "militiamen" turned out in droves. It was amazing how effective, in terms of recruiting, a little free ale could be.
The most famous Revolutionary Tavern, still standing in close proximity to Redding, Connecticut is: The Keeler Tavern in Ridgefield, Connecticut. During the Revolution, landlord Timothy Keeler was a well known patriot, suspected of manufacturing musket balls in the basement of his tavern. The British poured a special fire upon the building in April of 1777, lodging one cannon ball into the north side of the house (still can be seen by drawing aside the shingle that usually conceals it). A companion cannon ball whistled so close to a man who was climbing the stairs of the house that he tumbled down backward screaming, "I'm a dead man, I'm a dead man!" until his friends with some difficulty silenced him, and assured him he was still alive. A son of the landlord, Jeremiah Keeler, enlisted in the Continental army at the age of seventeen; he became a sergeant, and was said to be the first man to scale the English redoubts at Yorktown; He was presented with a sword by his commanding officer, Marquis de Lafayette, for his efforts. When Lafayette made his triumphal passage through the United States in 1824, a festive reception was held at the tavern in his honor.
The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide
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