Summary Of The Boston Tea Party

Taking place in 1775, within the mist of the American Revolution; a young Patriot named Sam emerges to tell the stories and the events of the Revolution. His family is divided over whose side to take in this war; while his younger brother Tim, also the narrator of the novel, idolizes him and the war. Sam vividly describes impactful events within the Revolution. He tells stories of Lexington and Concord, the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Each of these real life events influences and enriches the novel; thus keeping the reader more connected and involved in the novel.
The novel starts off with the narrator talking about his brother, named Sam, describing a story. This story is Sam is so eager to tell is his understanding

of Lexington and Concord. He begins to tell his family that they have a Revolution amidst them and that the American’s have beaten the British in Massachusetts. While same is describing this even he is using terms common from that era of time. He uses words to describe the British such as lobsterbacks and calls the Americans, Patriots. The way Sam talks about the British within his story you get a general understanding that he doesn’t like them. Sam’s father doesn’t necessarily agree with his views, he is more of a loyalist and doesn’t like listening to Sam talk about his country that way. This event works into the plot of the novel because it goes along with the time period and setting of the novel, and it also gives us insight onto these new developing characters. This event enriches the story because it gives us a deeper understanding into this revolutionary society, it shows us how families may be separated over these ideas of freedom and separation from Britain. This early conflict between family not only shows historical relevancy but it also helps to draw the reader into the story faster. This quote shows that perfectly, "They say that the whole colony of Massachusetts is ready to fight and if Massachusetts fights, Connecticut will fight, too." Finally, my father lost his temper and slammed his hand down on the table, making the plates jump. "I will not have treason spoken in my house, Sam."
"Father, that isn't treas—." (L. Collier and C. Collier 3)
The Boston Tea Party is an event that leads up to the start of this novel and is mentioned a few times by the authors.

The Boston Tea Party was a midnight raid; which happened on December 16, 1773. This event was an act in protest against the British Parliaments Tea Act of 1773. On the night of December 16th, a group of about 60 colonists, led by Samuel Adams, dumped upward towards $18,000 of tea into the Boston Harbor in Massachusetts. (The Boston Tea Party) As stated in the previous paragraph Sam’s father was a loyalist and thought of these acts as treasonous. To no surprise Sam and his father disagree, this causes some contrast between the two characters making the novel much more interesting to the reader. In real life and in the book the Boston Tea Party was one of the main events that led up to the Revolutionary War. "Sam's fighting for the rebels, did you know that?" "We heard that," Ezekiel said. "Father got into a rage. He said that Sam was too smart a boy to be fooled by sedition." (L. Collier and C. Collier 102) This quote by the authors shows how disappointed Sam’s father is in him for joining the Patriot side. It also recognizes the underlying theme of patriotism, which is shown through Sam’s love for America and his hatred against the oppression of the

British.
The Battle of Bunker Hill was a battle that took place early in the Revolutionary War in Massachusetts.

On June 17, 1775 the British defeated the colonists. In the novel it is summer time, the Battle of Bunker Hill had just happened. Sam is gone; the family doesn’t talk about Sam. Tim (the narrator) goes about his life like nothing has happened; people tried to ignore the war. The narrator describes these times as normal, but the only difference is everybody is talking about the war. This is a time of family within the novel; nobody knows about Sam wellbeing, and everyone may act like it doesn’t affect them, but the author gives the reader a unique view into the mind of Tim, “I still hadn't made up my mind which side I was on in the war, and I didn't care whether Sam was a Patriot or a Tory or what. All I could think about was snuggling up to him and listening to him talk about scoring telling points.” (L. Collier and C. Collier 43) This quote shows the emotional toll it is taking on him, and even though he can keep it bottled up inside like his father wants it can’t stop him from missing his brother. This part of the novel really helps to emotional connect the reader with the character through sympathy and sorrow. It makes the reader want to keep reading to see if Sam ever comes back, and there if there is ever that happy

ending.
 My Brother Sam is Dead is a compelling drama, written by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier. This novel depicts the American Revolution from the stand point of a teenage boy stuck in the middle of it. It is written in first person omniscient; thus letting the reader know what is going on inside of the narrator and protagonist Tim. Perhaps the biggest theme within this novel is patriotism. According the Merriam-Webster dictionary patriotism means the love for or devotion to one’s country. (Merriam-Webster) Throughout the novel the reader obtains insight upon Tim’s brother Sam; he is a huge revolutionary and inspires Tim to want to be like him. A couple of events that depict the theme of patriotism in this novel are Lexington and Concord and the execution of Sam. These two events happen at the beginning then at the end of the novel; each has a huge impact on the novel, introducing the characters in one and ending the novel in the other. With this novel realistically depicting the American Revolution the theme of patriotism most definitely has a substantial affect within the novel and upon the reader.
The authors introduce the readers to the character while also implying the underlying theme of patriotism all within the first chapter. In this chapter Sam comes home and vividly tells his stories of Lexington and Concord. With the amount of emotion, he was using while banging on tables and shouting the reader really gets a sense that this revolution means the world to Sam. The novel immediately shows Sam patriotism; even defying his own father to make his proud point on the defeat of the British at Lexington and Concord. Meanwhile, Time is torn on how he feels about the Revolution, because on one hand his brother is a raving patriot, while on the other hand his father is a steadfast, stubborn loyalist. Throughout the novel as years go by the reader gets to see how Sam’s views change and become more patriotic as he begins to obtain a better understanding for the revolution. One quote that stands out is when Sam bursts through the door of his family’s tavern and exclaims “We’ve beaten the British in Massachusetts.” (L. Collier and C. Collier 2) Though this quote doesn’t say much it immediately captures the reader’s attention and as you keep reading you see the context around the quote, and you see how much this means to Sam and in these first couple of pages his patriotism truly shines.
The Colliers put two endings in this novel, one of which end the book on a sad note and the other which is an epilogue that tells the reader what Tim’s life after the war was like. The novel ends with Sam getting executed on the last sentence of the book. Poor Sam has a very gruesome death; where he gets shot multiple times, then set on fire. “Mother didn’t lift her eyes from the flames snapping over the logs. “Going to get yourself killed, son?” “I’m going to save my brother,” I said.” (L. Collier and C. Collier 201) This quote, that happens before the execution, shows Tim’s transformation into a patriot and fully connects him with the theme. Through this quote the authors show Tim’s bravery, even though he couldn’t stop the execution he proved his worthiness to his big brother by getting shot trying to save him. In the epilogue the narrator gives the reader insight on Tim’s life after the war; how he grew up to be a big business man, and how he wrote this story and in a way reconciles himself after all those years of emotional torment put onto himself after Sam’s death.
In conclusion, the on-going theme of patriotism isn’t very subtle; it’s almost a punch to the face because of how prevalent and obvious it is within the novel. This is what the Colliers were going for they wanted the reader to understand how big of a part patriotism was in the real Revolutionary War and within the novel. The novel starts with Sam enthusiasm for wanting to fight for his country and ends with him being content in dying for his country. Joseph Campbell send it best “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” (Hero Quotes) This quote flawlessly describes the life of Sam Meeker and what is to a patriot.