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breakfastgrey's review against another edition
5.0
I've always dug this book despite its slow start because it does one thing very, very well: it gives shades of grey to the American Revolution. It is one of the exceptionally few books/movies/TV shows to treat the war as an actual historical event and not a comic book battle of good vs evil with cartoon characters. I also love that the foreknowledge of Sam's fate lends a sense of danger to every scene because readers know: this isn't a book where characters are safe. (student book club, reread)
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
I first read this book in elementary school, probably when I was in fifth or sixth grade. The country was deep into celebrating the Bicentennial, especially in New England where I grew up, and I was thrilled when I found this book on the shelves in the school library. Little did I know what it had in store for me. The Colliers present the American Revolution not from the "yeah, let's celebrate how great the rebels were" side, but from the point of view of revisionist history of the 70s, which was beginning to look at the darker sides of the colonial revolt. Tim, our point of view character, is torn about the revolt; his father was completely against it, but his revered older brother, Sam, ran away from college in order to join Washington's army. Father, ironically, ends up dying at the hands of the British, while Sam, as we know from the book's title, dies too, also ironically, executed to serve as a lesson to his fellow rebel soldiers against stealing colonists' cattle to feed the army. This was dark, heady, thought-provoking stuff for a twelve year old, especially one who had been drawn to history because of all the celebration around the Bicentennial. I remember being so shocked: children's books are supposed to end happily, aren't then?
A few years ago, I reread the book, and found it so disappointing from a literary point of view. Oh, the lessons it taught me were still there, but they were presented in a very flat, heavy handed way, and without much in the way of compelling character development.
If I ever taught a class on children's historical fiction, though, I would definitely include this (along with JOHNNY TREMAINE and something more recent) to compare different eras' attitudes towards American revolutionary history.
A few years ago, I reread the book, and found it so disappointing from a literary point of view. Oh, the lessons it taught me were still there, but they were presented in a very flat, heavy handed way, and without much in the way of compelling character development.
If I ever taught a class on children's historical fiction, though, I would definitely include this (along with JOHNNY TREMAINE and something more recent) to compare different eras' attitudes towards American revolutionary history.
pizzamyheart's review against another edition
I read this back in grade/middle school. The title sort of ruins the suspense at the end.
thewallflower00's review against another edition
3.0
It’s much less “rah-rah-America” than I thought it would be. I was expecting something like “Johnny Tremain”, but no, this is a realistic look at the Revolutionary War before people knew how it would end. It’s like the Civil War. Neighbors are on opposite sides. As many people sided with the British as the Patriots. Soldiers from both ends victimize civilians for cows or guns. Bandits raid the roads, taking advantage of the chaos in the name of “patriotism”. If you try to sell a pig to someone who might sell it to someone who might sell it to the British, they’d just kill you. And meanwhile, the farmers are trying to stay alive in an economy where all funds have been diverted to the war effort. Reminds me of the background to Gone With the Wind where everyone’s optimistic and then it all goes to shit and it seems like the war is never going to end.
But anyway, yes, I recommend this book. The matter-of-fact tone is a pleasant change from most of the Revolutionary War novels I’ve read that were all pro-America. It doesn’t pull punches. The protagonist is well-rounded. He’s super young so he looks up to his brother and father for guidance, but they’re polarized on this issue. He starts to see the values of his world degenerate until it’s like a Mad Max apocalypse-land where natural resources are more important than money. It’s about the people behind the scenes, keeping the homefront, and no one is a saint.
But anyway, yes, I recommend this book. The matter-of-fact tone is a pleasant change from most of the Revolutionary War novels I’ve read that were all pro-America. It doesn’t pull punches. The protagonist is well-rounded. He’s super young so he looks up to his brother and father for guidance, but they’re polarized on this issue. He starts to see the values of his world degenerate until it’s like a Mad Max apocalypse-land where natural resources are more important than money. It’s about the people behind the scenes, keeping the homefront, and no one is a saint.
deekabee's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book depicting the struggle many in the colonies faced in deciding what side they supported - Tory or Patriot. The main character changes his mind often as the plot shows the true nature of both sides. It is refreshing to read a historical fiction novel set during the Revolution that is not pro-Partriot.
honeygirly211's review against another edition
4.0
I've always been really fascinated with the revolutionary war. This book gave me a totally different perspective. Simple but really heart wrenching.
emilyamills's review against another edition
3.0
I actually had this on audiobook- I wanted something interesting and somewhat light. Since this is for younger readers it fit the bill, and I enjoyed the story (as much as one can enjoy stories of wartime). Solid 3 stars as an adult reader.
noahbw's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book for school, and, unfortunately, I didn't have a good partner, so my experience of reading this book wasn't good. However, I liked it. It takes place during the American Revolution, and the main character's brother is a rebel. However, the rest of the family is British. I liked how Sam was trying to find himself throughout the book.