Although most contemporary young adults are aware of the horror and suffering that attend warfare, they are, nonetheless, frequently exposed to books and films that glorify past conflicts. Writers often depict the American Revolution as a clearcut moral struggle that witnessed the triumph of freedomloving patriots over their oppressors. My Brother Sam Is Dead refuses to simplify the issues surrounding either the American Revolution or war in general.

Mr. Meeker's Loyalist beliefs stem from his desire to maintain his business and protect his family; Sam's patriotism encourages him to place the rebel cause over family duties; and Tim remains at home, facing the unresolved conflict of divided personal loyalties. The story raises issues of family loyalty and teenagers' rights to defy parental judgment; to his father, Sam is defiant, not patriotic.

Some parents may object to the fact that the book describes violent death, although the...