New My Brother Sam is Dead Help Resources

I loved reading the novel My Brother Sam is Dead when I was a kid, it was exciting; it was sad; it had soldiers; it had mystery, but I never really understood it as the authors wished to me to. But after reading it again several years ago(as an adult), I got it. I understood why it was written and I saw all the topics that the authors had woven into each chapter.

At the time I re-read the novel I was in the process of recording the history of Redding in digital format. I was and I still am gathering information about Redding, Connecticut and posting it online so everyone else can enjoy it too. (My website is: HistoryofRedding.com)

What I realized was that a lot of what happened in the book really happened and a lot of the characters were real. So what I started doing was looking at the novel as less of a story and more as a lesson in what happened in Redding at the start of the American Revolution.

That's when the connection between the real and the fictionalized became clearer and the topics the authors had woven into each chapter started to flow out. It was at this point I began creating my resources to help parents, teachers and students understand the novel better.

From the website, there grew an entire sub-site dedicated to My Brother Sam is Dead and then came online self-grading quizzes, and then an e-book and another and another. And that was great for a while, but then as more people read my e-books they expressed a need for more information and information they could use (as needed) to take this novel to new levels in their classrooms and homes.

Enter Dropbox.

Until Dropbox I could not get people the files and information they needed without a lot of work. I burned thousands of CD's and it was a lot of work. A lot of work and there were shipping issues and it just wasn't working. But Dropbox fixed all of that. With Dropbox I am able to give people access to all my files and they have access to my files from any computer they are on, it's awesome.

My Dropbox account is a work in progress so you will always have my latest research and the most accurate information available. You will also have access to new maps and photos and resources.

What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?

Everything I have collected and written over that past 6 years and that's a whole lot. The idea behind this folder is to help parents and teachers better understand what topics the authors have woven into each chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead.

I have broken out this resource into three sections:

1). Guide to MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),

2). Maps, Photos and Visuals and

3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).

All my ebooks are included at this resource and much more. Photos and maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are included as well.

This is everything you need and more to get your kids really excited about the novel and come away with a very good understanding of why the novel was written.

My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access

Summary of My Brother Sam

Back to School Special-

Until September 10th, my Chapter by Chapter Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead is just $2.00!!

This Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead- Includes classroom discussion ideas and sample questions for students. 

I walk you through each and every chapter of the novel pointing out what's important and why the authors included it in that chapter.

Example text:

Chapter 7: Summary and Analysis
The summer of 1776 has ended and Tim's family begins preparing for the winter months in Chapter Seven. The war is still distant and though no one is really desperate, provisions, like cloth and leather, are running short locally because the soldiers need them for clothing and shoes. Sam has sent two letters and Susannah plans on sending one back to him. Life disapproves but to Tim's delight is overruled and turns his attention to planning his annual cattle run to the Hudson River.

The cattle run to Verplancks is essential to Tim's family, as he explains: 

Tim: "The idea of our trip was to drive cattle to Verplancks Point where we could sell them, and then use the money to buy supplies we needed at the tavern and store." 

A cattle run across Westchester County was dangerous and Life, knew it: 

Life: "The woods are full of those cow-boys over there. They claim they're patriots gathering beef for the troops, but really they're nothing more than thieves. And we don't have our gun anymore." 

Despite the danger, Life doesn't have much of a choice but to take Tim with him, as he states: "There's nobody else to do it."

Bonus Material included free-

Background material on each of the families and individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker, William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrup, and many, many more. Find out who is real and who is fictional in the novel.

But you must hurry, this is a back to school offer that shouldn't be missed-

Until September 10th, my Chapter by Chapter Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead is just $2.00!!

Free Summary of the Historical Fiction Novel "My Brother Sam Is Dead"

My new free Summary of the Historical Fiction Novel "My Brother Sam Is Dead" and the topics that have been woven into the novel is available at EzineArticles.com

"My Brother Sam is Dead is a historical fiction novel told in the first person, through the eyes of ten year old Timothy Meeker. It recounts the hardships endured by Tim and his family during the Revolutionary War. When Tim's older brother Sam joins the rebel forces, it impacts the rest of his family who wish to remain neutral and/or avoid war with England. Tim's family is Anglican and thus loyal to the Church of England so a split with England would greatly affect them..."

Read more about  "My Brother Sam Is Dead"

Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead

Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead- 

Includes classroom discussion ideas and sample questions for each and every chapter of the novel. 

Example text- 

Classroom Discussion
What do we learn about in Chapter 13?

We learn that General Putnam is focused on ending the disorderly behavior undermining both the safety and reputation of his army. Despite the efforts of both Tim and Susannah, it is clear that Putnam intends to see that Sam’s sentence is carried into effect. We also learn what the encampment looks like via Tim’s meeting with General Putnam.
What’s Important?

The importance of this chapter is the recognition that in 1778-79 Putnam and his officers were dealing with:

·        Desertions, which thinned their ranks.

·        Spies, who provided important information to the British.

·        Theft, which angered local farmers and residents.

Classroom Conversations:
There was disaffection and insubordination in the army within this time frame. Desertions were frequent, and spying by the Tories was almost openly practiced. To put a stop to these practices it was vitally necessary for General Putnam to see that these sentences were carried into effect.


Bonus Material-

Backgrounds on each of the families and individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker, William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrup, and many, many more. 

This Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead is the most complete summary & analysis of the novel that you will find anywhere.

My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook Page

My Brother Sam is Dead is now on Facebook. If you'd like to read daily posts on my research and ask me direct questions about the novel in a community format-

"Like" my My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook Page.

Lecture- 4,000 years of Native American Occupations in Redding

May 19, 2012 at 12pm
Redding, Connecticut's Community Center
Lonetown Road, Reddding CT

Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

Over the last few years, Redding's open space and planning policies have led to the preservation and study of important archaeological sites. Several college and university archaeological field schools have brought hundreds of students from around the world to unearth Redding's illustrious past.

You are invited to attend a lecture describing Norwalk Community College's research in Redding. They have uncovered evidence of over 4,000 years of Native American occupations at Gallows Hill.

Lectures will be presented on Saturday afternoons at the Redding Community Center.

May 19, 2012 at 12pm
Redding, Connecticut's Community Center
Lonetown Road, Reddding CT


View the lecture details:
Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

New Complete Brother Sam Guide Available

I have recently partnered with Fast Spring which allows me to share my materials in PDF and Word Document format.

The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead is now available and in Word Document format to allow teachers to copy and paste the material into their own lesson plans if they wish to.

Follow this link: The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead ($6.00 in Word Format)

This 163 page document was created to help parents and teachers better understand the topics woven into each chapter of the fictional history novel and provide them with the resources needed to effectively teach it in their classrooms.

 It includes chapter by chapter summary & analysis, background on the town of Redding, maps, real life events that were fictionalized in the novel, biographies of real life characters used in the novel... even lesson plans and self-grading tests for each chapter(test results can be emailed directly to you).

This is the most complete guide to the novel available. I grew up in Redding, Connecticut and my family has lived in Redding since 1862.