My Brother Sam Is Dead

Name: My Brother Sam Is Dead
Author: James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Read with caution

Some content parents may want to preview or discuss.

Published: 1974
Ages: 12–16

About the book

A young boy's family is torn apart by divided loyalties during the American Revolution.

AI summary

A young boy's family is torn apart by divided loyalties during the American Revolution.

Why parents choose this book

What makes My Brother Sam Is Dead worth choosing

An honest, parent-first look at who this book suits, what it offers, and what to know before you buy.

Best for

Age range: 12–16 (fits siblings across a range).
Reading maturity: Young adult — teen protagonists and more nuanced themes.
Kids who tend to love it: Historical Fiction.
Personality fit: kids ages 12–16 who enjoy a good story.

Parents love this book because

Written by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier, whose books parents return to for consistently thoughtful storytelling.

Your child will probably enjoy My Brother Sam Is Dead if they…

Are curious about history

This book helps develop

Vocabulary, sustained attention, and reading confidence for the 12–16 age band.

Things parents should know

Violence: clear on-page conflict without lingering detail.
Language: clean language throughout.

Reading commitment

Estimated reading time

Varies by reader

Length

Length varies by edition

Difficulty

Young adult

Works as read-aloud

Usually read independently

Good for independent readers

Yes — suits confident readers in the age band

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Why we recommend it

We recommend My Brother Sam Is Dead for the 12–16 age band with a small heads-up on content — worth previewing or discussing. It leans into historical fiction in a way that feels genuine, not formulaic. James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier's voice is what makes it stick: readable, respectful of kids, and easy to hand to the next child in the family.