Suggested Reading
My Brother Sam is Dead Related
1. Brother Sam and All That
by Christopher Collier with an essay by James Lincoln Collier.
Historical Context and Literary Analysis of the Novels of James and Christopher Collier.
1999 Clearwater Press, ISBN 0-9667657-0-2
2. Westchester County During the American Revolution, 1775-1783
by Otto Hufeland
3. Rebels and Redcoats: The American Revolution Through the Eyes of Those Who Fought and Lived It
by George F. Scheer and Hugh F. Rankin
American Revolution
1. The Whites of Their Eyes
by Paul Lockhart.
Bunker Hill, the First American Army and the Emergence of George Washington.
Harper, New York, 2011.
2. Washington’s Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring
by Alexander Rose.
Rose unfolds the story of a Long Island-based spy ring of idealists and misfits who kept George Washington informed of what was going on in enemy-occupied New York.
Bantam; 1st Edition (April 25, 2006)
3. George Washington, Spymaster
Thomas B. Allen.
How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War
National Geographic Children's Books (January 9, 2007)
4. The Bridge Not Taken: Benedict Arnold Outwitted
by Damon Greenleaf Douglas
Best account of the 1777 British Raid on Danbury written to date. Amazing resource that includes primary source documents, maps.
Westport Historical Society, 2002, ISBN 0-96487-592-6
5. Don Troiani's Soldiers of the American Revolution
by Don Troiani and James L. Kochan
From Bunker Hill to Yorktown, from Washington to Cornwallis, from the Minute Men to the Black Watch, these pages are packed with scenes of grand action and great characters, recreated in the vivid blues and reds that defined the Revolutionary era.
Stackpole Books (January 3, 2007)
6. Yankee Doodle Boy (Joseph Plumb Martin)
by George F. Scheer
A young soldier’s adventures in the American Revolution told by himself.
Holiday House/New York, 1995, ISBN 0-8234-1176-1
Historical Fiction books covering topics related to the American Revolution
1. Guns for General Washington
by Seymour Reit
This book tells the story of Henry Knox’s daring mission to cross 300 miles of forest bring 183 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to George Washington’s army in Boston. This is a significant event in the early part of the Revolutionary War, a mission which many thought was impossible. This book tells the story from the perspective of Knox’s 19 year old brother Will.
2. The Secret Soldier: The Story Of Deborah Sampson
by Ann McGovern (Author), Harold Goodwin (Illustrator), Katherine Thompson (Author)
When "Robert Shurtliff" enlists as a common soldier in the Continental army, no one suspects there is anything unusual about him. The new soldier serves bravely for a year and a half. It is not until "he" is hospitalized with fever that his secret is discovered. Private Shurtliff is really a woman - 23 year-old Deborah Sampson!
3. Toliver's Secret
by Esther Wood Brady (Author)
A timid girl is asked to help the Patriots by delivering a secret message.
4. Patriots: Young Adult Historical Fiction Novel about the Battle of Bunker Hill
by Gregory T. Edgar
2nd Place Winner of the 2010 Premier Book Award in the category of Young Adult Fiction. Three teenage boys - two Americans and one British – learn that war is not the glorious adventure they thought it would be, and that their enemies are human beings after all.
For more check out my collection of My Brother Sam is Dead e-books at Amazon.com's Kindle. You can read them for free with a Prime account.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Vocabulary Used in My Brother Sam is Dead
My Brother Sam is Dead Vocabulary-
Period Slang: Used in Camp or in the Field
Adjutant: an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer.
Beetle-Headed: Dull, Stupid.
Brown Bess: A soldier's fire-lock (musket). "To hug Brown Bess" is to carry a fire-lock, or serve as a private soldier.
Chicken-Hearted: Fearful, cowardly.
Cur: A cut or curtailed dog, disabled from chasing game. Figuratively used to signify a surly fellow.
English Burgundy: Porter (wine).
Flip: Small beer, brandy, and sugar.
Fusillade: A discharge from a number of firearms, fired simultaneously or in rapid succession. A rapid outburst or barrage: a fusillade of insults.
Gill: One gill is equal to 1/2 cup of liquid. Soldiers were allowed a gill of Rum per day when on fatigue, and at no other time.
Grog: Rum and water. "Groggy" or "Groggified" is to be drunk.
Ground Arms: To stack firearms on the ground.
Hook: To steal. "My shirt was worn so I headed out of camp to hook one."
Huzza: Said to have been originally the cry of the huzzars or Hungarian light horse; but now the national shout of the English, both civil and military; to give three cheers being to huzza thrice.
Jack Tar: A sailor.
Lobster(Back): A British soldier, from the color of his clothes (Red).
Loggerhead: A blockhead or stupid fellow, also a double-headed, or bar-shot of iron.
Neck Weed: Hemp. Used as rope in the time period.
Pottage: A thick soup. Rod: A measurement of width, 16.5 feet is a rod.
Sallied: Usually means to breakout or depart.
Scaly: Mean, sordid.
Surly: Unfriendly, crabby, grumpy. Used to describe someone of that nature: "Major Williams was a surly fellow."
Sutler: A sutler or victualer is a civilian who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.
Tattoo: A beat of the drum, or signal for soldiers to go to their quarters, and a direction to the *sutlers to close the tap. * A sutler or victualer is a civilian who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.
Trainband: Local Militia. Volunteer soldiers formed to protect townships.
Vanguard: The foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle.
Period Slang: Used in Everyday Life
Anvil: A heavy steel faced iron block.
Breeches: Trousers ending above the knee.
Ciphering: Transforming a message into secret code via math.
18-21-14 = R-U-N
Cholera: An acute infectious disease of the small intestine, caused by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae.
Commissary Notes: A Commissary is a store or market for military personnel, so a Commissary Note is a certificate given in lieu of currency for use in the store.
Drover: One that drives cattle or sheep to market.
Forage: The act of looking or searching for food or provisions.
Fusillade: A rapid outburst or barrage: a fusillade of insults.
Hardtack: A hard biscuit or bread made with only flour and water.
Hogshead: Any of various units of volume or capacity ranging from 63 to 140 gallons.
Hundredweight: 100 pounds.
Jerked Beef: Long slices or strips of beef dried in the sun or near a fire.
Johnny Cake: Cornmeal bread usually shaped into a flat cake and baked or fried on a griddle.
Leggings: Tight, form-fitting trousers that extend from the waist to the ankles.
Loft: Unpartitioned room overlooking another room.
Pallet: 1. A fire shovel; 2. A bed of straw
Papist: A Roman Catholic
Plowshare: The cutting blade of a plow.
Populace: The general public; the masses. A population.
Pound: Unit of money- equivalent to twenty shillings sterling
Powder Horn: Where you kept your gun powder
Scrip: A piece of paper representing or acknowledging value, such as a receipt or certificate, given in lieu of currency.
Seining: To catch or fish with a net.
Sloth: Aversion to work or exertion; laziness.
Shilling: A coin worth one twentieth of a pound.
Thatch: A house roof made with a plant material (such as straw).
For more check out my collection of My Brother Sam is Dead e-books at Amazon.com's Kindle. You can read them for free with a Prime account.
Period Slang: Used in Camp or in the Field
Adjutant: an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer.
Beetle-Headed: Dull, Stupid.
Brown Bess: A soldier's fire-lock (musket). "To hug Brown Bess" is to carry a fire-lock, or serve as a private soldier.
Chicken-Hearted: Fearful, cowardly.
Cur: A cut or curtailed dog, disabled from chasing game. Figuratively used to signify a surly fellow.
English Burgundy: Porter (wine).
Flip: Small beer, brandy, and sugar.
Fusillade: A discharge from a number of firearms, fired simultaneously or in rapid succession. A rapid outburst or barrage: a fusillade of insults.
Gill: One gill is equal to 1/2 cup of liquid. Soldiers were allowed a gill of Rum per day when on fatigue, and at no other time.
Grog: Rum and water. "Groggy" or "Groggified" is to be drunk.
Ground Arms: To stack firearms on the ground.
Hook: To steal. "My shirt was worn so I headed out of camp to hook one."
Huzza: Said to have been originally the cry of the huzzars or Hungarian light horse; but now the national shout of the English, both civil and military; to give three cheers being to huzza thrice.
Jack Tar: A sailor.
Lobster(Back): A British soldier, from the color of his clothes (Red).
Loggerhead: A blockhead or stupid fellow, also a double-headed, or bar-shot of iron.
Neck Weed: Hemp. Used as rope in the time period.
Pottage: A thick soup. Rod: A measurement of width, 16.5 feet is a rod.
Sallied: Usually means to breakout or depart.
Scaly: Mean, sordid.
Surly: Unfriendly, crabby, grumpy. Used to describe someone of that nature: "Major Williams was a surly fellow."
Sutler: A sutler or victualer is a civilian who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.
Tattoo: A beat of the drum, or signal for soldiers to go to their quarters, and a direction to the *sutlers to close the tap. * A sutler or victualer is a civilian who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.
Trainband: Local Militia. Volunteer soldiers formed to protect townships.
Vanguard: The foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle.
Period Slang: Used in Everyday Life
Anvil: A heavy steel faced iron block.
Breeches: Trousers ending above the knee.
Ciphering: Transforming a message into secret code via math.
18-21-14 = R-U-N
Cholera: An acute infectious disease of the small intestine, caused by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae.
Commissary Notes: A Commissary is a store or market for military personnel, so a Commissary Note is a certificate given in lieu of currency for use in the store.
Drover: One that drives cattle or sheep to market.
Forage: The act of looking or searching for food or provisions.
Fusillade: A rapid outburst or barrage: a fusillade of insults.
Hardtack: A hard biscuit or bread made with only flour and water.
Hogshead: Any of various units of volume or capacity ranging from 63 to 140 gallons.
Hundredweight: 100 pounds.
Jerked Beef: Long slices or strips of beef dried in the sun or near a fire.
Johnny Cake: Cornmeal bread usually shaped into a flat cake and baked or fried on a griddle.
Leggings: Tight, form-fitting trousers that extend from the waist to the ankles.
Loft: Unpartitioned room overlooking another room.
Pallet: 1. A fire shovel; 2. A bed of straw
Papist: A Roman Catholic
Plowshare: The cutting blade of a plow.
Populace: The general public; the masses. A population.
Pound: Unit of money- equivalent to twenty shillings sterling
Powder Horn: Where you kept your gun powder
Scrip: A piece of paper representing or acknowledging value, such as a receipt or certificate, given in lieu of currency.
Seining: To catch or fish with a net.
Sloth: Aversion to work or exertion; laziness.
Shilling: A coin worth one twentieth of a pound.
Thatch: A house roof made with a plant material (such as straw).
For more check out my collection of My Brother Sam is Dead e-books at Amazon.com's Kindle. You can read them for free with a Prime account.
Friday, December 16, 2011
My Brother Sam is Dead Newsletter
Receive updates on new findings, programs & resources relating to the Historical Fiction Novel- My Brother Sam is Dead.
http://eepurl.com/hTE9A
http://eepurl.com/hTE9A
Thursday, August 25, 2011
My Brother Sam is Dead E-Books
My E-Books are being published by Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing.
I'm working on converting all my files that relate to My Brother Sam is Dead into e-books and will be alerting my fans of these releases via my Twitter account and my E-mail list.
The two e-books currently available at Amazon are can be found here: My Brother Sam is Dead E-books
I'm working on converting all my files that relate to My Brother Sam is Dead into e-books and will be alerting my fans of these releases via my Twitter account and my E-mail list.
The two e-books currently available at Amazon are can be found here: My Brother Sam is Dead E-books
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead
What's in this Guide
This CD was created to help parents and teachers better understand the topics woven into each chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead, and provide them with the resources needed to effectively teach it in their classrooms.
I have broken out this CD into two sections:
1. Guide to MBSD and
2. Teaching Resources
In the Guide to MBSD folder you will find:
1. Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead
This document includes a summary and analysis of the most important topics in each chapter. At the end of each chapter summary you will find classroom discussions ideas, classroom questions and a link to an online, self-grading test (test results can be emailed directly to you).
2. Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead
This document points out real life people and events vs. My Brother Sam is Dead people and events. I do this using quotes that come directly from the novel; below the quotes are the historical facts these quotes are based on.
3. My Brother Sam is Dead Maps of Redding, Connecticut
Maps of Redding, Connecticut provides a visual of the locations in the novel. Students will see:
Where Redding, Connecticut is located.
Map of Redding that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.
Map of Westchester & Fairfield County that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.
Modern map of people and places related to My Brother Sam is Dead in Redding.
Map of Westchester & Fairfield County with stars showing Tim and Life's cattle drive route to Verplancks Point.
Map of Lower Fairfield County showing the route the British Troops took when they raided the storage facilities at Danbury in April of 1777.
Link to an Interactive Google Map of all the locations that relate to the novel.
4. Short Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead & the Topics it Covers
This document provides a short summary of the novel's storyline and the topics that are covered in its chapters. Many teachers distribute this document to students and their parents prior to bringing the novel into their classroom.
5. Places you can Visit Related to My Brother Sam is Dead
For those within driving distance to Southwestern Connecticut, there is plenty to explore in relation to this novel. This document points out the most relevant destinations, their tie-in with the novel and how to get there.
6. The Setting of the Novel, Redding, Connecticut
Background information on Redding, Connecticut and the important role it played during the Revolutionary War.
7. The Real People Fictionalized in the Novel
Background information on each of the families and individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker, William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrups and many, many more…
8. Why is My Brother Sam is Dead Censored by Some Watch Groups?
Why the novel earned a Top 10 listing on the American Way's most challenged book list in 1996. My response to these challenges.
In the Teaching Resources folder you will find six sub-folders:
1. Colonial Topics Materials that provide students with visual examples of topics touched on in the novel: sleeping lofts, paper money, droving, etc…
2. Lesson Plans & Ideas Parent letters, lesson plans and examples of how others are using historical fiction novels in their classrooms. Online teaching tools and chapter quizzes are located at my History of Redding website.
3. Maps Collection of maps that relate to both My Brother Sam is Dead and the Revolutionary War.
4. My Brother Sam is Dead Topics These documents explore each of the topics that are woven into My Brother Sam is Dead's storyline.
5. Photos Collection of photos sorted by folder to show students the places relevant to My Brother Sam is Dead in the present day.
6. Revolutionary War Documents & Resources Collection of primary source and secondary source documents, and newsletters that explore a diverse range of topics.
*The contents of this CD are intended for personal and classroom usage. I have kept the information in Word document format to make it easy for parents and teachers to cut and paste the material to create their own resources and lesson plans.
The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide
This CD was created to help parents and teachers better understand the topics woven into each chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead, and provide them with the resources needed to effectively teach it in their classrooms.
I have broken out this CD into two sections:
1. Guide to MBSD and
2. Teaching Resources
In the Guide to MBSD folder you will find:
1. Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead
This document includes a summary and analysis of the most important topics in each chapter. At the end of each chapter summary you will find classroom discussions ideas, classroom questions and a link to an online, self-grading test (test results can be emailed directly to you).
2. Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead
This document points out real life people and events vs. My Brother Sam is Dead people and events. I do this using quotes that come directly from the novel; below the quotes are the historical facts these quotes are based on.
3. My Brother Sam is Dead Maps of Redding, Connecticut
Maps of Redding, Connecticut provides a visual of the locations in the novel. Students will see:
Where Redding, Connecticut is located.
Map of Redding that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.
Map of Westchester & Fairfield County that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.
Modern map of people and places related to My Brother Sam is Dead in Redding.
Map of Westchester & Fairfield County with stars showing Tim and Life's cattle drive route to Verplancks Point.
Map of Lower Fairfield County showing the route the British Troops took when they raided the storage facilities at Danbury in April of 1777.
Link to an Interactive Google Map of all the locations that relate to the novel.
4. Short Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead & the Topics it Covers
This document provides a short summary of the novel's storyline and the topics that are covered in its chapters. Many teachers distribute this document to students and their parents prior to bringing the novel into their classroom.
5. Places you can Visit Related to My Brother Sam is Dead
For those within driving distance to Southwestern Connecticut, there is plenty to explore in relation to this novel. This document points out the most relevant destinations, their tie-in with the novel and how to get there.
6. The Setting of the Novel, Redding, Connecticut
Background information on Redding, Connecticut and the important role it played during the Revolutionary War.
7. The Real People Fictionalized in the Novel
Background information on each of the families and individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker, William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrups and many, many more…
8. Why is My Brother Sam is Dead Censored by Some Watch Groups?
Why the novel earned a Top 10 listing on the American Way's most challenged book list in 1996. My response to these challenges.
In the Teaching Resources folder you will find six sub-folders:
1. Colonial Topics Materials that provide students with visual examples of topics touched on in the novel: sleeping lofts, paper money, droving, etc…
2. Lesson Plans & Ideas Parent letters, lesson plans and examples of how others are using historical fiction novels in their classrooms. Online teaching tools and chapter quizzes are located at my History of Redding website.
3. Maps Collection of maps that relate to both My Brother Sam is Dead and the Revolutionary War.
4. My Brother Sam is Dead Topics These documents explore each of the topics that are woven into My Brother Sam is Dead's storyline.
5. Photos Collection of photos sorted by folder to show students the places relevant to My Brother Sam is Dead in the present day.
6. Revolutionary War Documents & Resources Collection of primary source and secondary source documents, and newsletters that explore a diverse range of topics.
*The contents of this CD are intended for personal and classroom usage. I have kept the information in Word document format to make it easy for parents and teachers to cut and paste the material to create their own resources and lesson plans.
The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide
Saturday, October 10, 2009
My Brother Sam is Dead Google Map
Just posted an update Google Map showing and explaining locations relating to My Brother Sam is Dead.
This is the looooooooooong link is anyone what to link to it:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107420212148602668064.00044a37cf9951628b5a8&ll=41.321976,-73.376741&spn=0.040932,0.090723&z=14
The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide
This is the looooooooooong link is anyone what to link to it:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107420212148602668064.00044a37cf9951628b5a8&ll=41.321976,-73.376741&spn=0.040932,0.090723&z=14
The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Upcoming Events
TEACHERHOSTEL™ - 2009
The British Invasion of 1777: The Ride of Sybil Ludington™
Date: May 16-17, 2009
Location: Danbury, Ridgefield, Westport
Contact Hours: 15
Cutoff Date: April 16, 2009
Cost: $145
Relive the ride of the teenage girl (Sybil Ludington)who succeeded during a dark and stormy night to rally the militia to assembly at the home of her father after the British burning of Danbury in 1777. Participants will retrace the steps of the invasion from the landing in Westport, to the burning of Danbury, to the ride of Sybil, to the battle at Ridgefield. The story will be told from the English and American perspectives along with the effort to uncover the truth that had been hidden among primary source documents for so long while false statements were copied from one erroneous report to another. Her story will entertain you as it informs you. Includes one book, one map, one T-shirt and curriculum materials.
Saturday (9:00-5:00) Westport and Fairfield
Westport Town Hall
9:00 Welcome and Program Overview: Peter Feinman, IHARE
9:15 The British Are Coming: British Strategy to Reconquer the Colonies: Ray Raymond, USMA and SUNY
10:30 Westport Walking Tour, Susan Gold, Westport Historical Society and Allen Raymond, Westport Municipal Historian
Westport Historical Society
11:30 The British Are Coming: A Reader’s Theater Experience, Hilary Gibson, Education Director, Westport Historical Society
12:30 Lunch
1:30 The British Invasion Bus Tour: Allen Raymond
3:00 The British Are Coming: The Fairfield Experience, Walter Matis, Educator, Fairfield Museum and History Center
Sunday (9:00-5:00)
Danbury Historical Society
9:00 The Burning of Danbury, Brigid Guertin, Danbury Historical Society
11:00 The Ride of Sybil Ludington, Vin Dacquino, author of Sybil Ludington: Call to Arms
12:00 General Tryon Danbury to Ridgefield Self Guided Drive
Ridgefield
12:30 Lunch: Dimitri’s Diner
1:30 Museum in the Streets Walking Tour, Kay Ables, Ridgefield Town Historian
2:30 The Battle of Ridgefield: George Hancock, Keeler Tavern Museum Tour
3:30 Tom Castrovinci, Re-enactor Connecticut 5th
4:00 My Brother Sam Is Dead: Teaching the British Invasion of 1777 - Brent Colley, Redding historic tours
For further information contact IHARE at 914-933-0440 or email us at: info@ihare.org
The British Invasion of 1777: The Ride of Sybil Ludington™
Date: May 16-17, 2009
Location: Danbury, Ridgefield, Westport
Contact Hours: 15
Cutoff Date: April 16, 2009
Cost: $145
Relive the ride of the teenage girl (Sybil Ludington)who succeeded during a dark and stormy night to rally the militia to assembly at the home of her father after the British burning of Danbury in 1777. Participants will retrace the steps of the invasion from the landing in Westport, to the burning of Danbury, to the ride of Sybil, to the battle at Ridgefield. The story will be told from the English and American perspectives along with the effort to uncover the truth that had been hidden among primary source documents for so long while false statements were copied from one erroneous report to another. Her story will entertain you as it informs you. Includes one book, one map, one T-shirt and curriculum materials.
Saturday (9:00-5:00) Westport and Fairfield
Westport Town Hall
9:00 Welcome and Program Overview: Peter Feinman, IHARE
9:15 The British Are Coming: British Strategy to Reconquer the Colonies: Ray Raymond, USMA and SUNY
10:30 Westport Walking Tour, Susan Gold, Westport Historical Society and Allen Raymond, Westport Municipal Historian
Westport Historical Society
11:30 The British Are Coming: A Reader’s Theater Experience, Hilary Gibson, Education Director, Westport Historical Society
12:30 Lunch
1:30 The British Invasion Bus Tour: Allen Raymond
3:00 The British Are Coming: The Fairfield Experience, Walter Matis, Educator, Fairfield Museum and History Center
Sunday (9:00-5:00)
Danbury Historical Society
9:00 The Burning of Danbury, Brigid Guertin, Danbury Historical Society
11:00 The Ride of Sybil Ludington, Vin Dacquino, author of Sybil Ludington: Call to Arms
12:00 General Tryon Danbury to Ridgefield Self Guided Drive
Ridgefield
12:30 Lunch: Dimitri’s Diner
1:30 Museum in the Streets Walking Tour, Kay Ables, Ridgefield Town Historian
2:30 The Battle of Ridgefield: George Hancock, Keeler Tavern Museum Tour
3:30 Tom Castrovinci, Re-enactor Connecticut 5th
4:00 My Brother Sam Is Dead: Teaching the British Invasion of 1777 - Brent Colley, Redding historic tours
For further information contact IHARE at 914-933-0440 or email us at: info@ihare.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)