How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"I do, though." I didn't—I mean I didn't have any opinion either way—but I thought it would help if he believed that I was a strong Loyalist. (6.11-13)
Sometimes, Tim is willing to take either side, just so he can be part of the action. When he tells Mr. Heron that he's a Loyalist, he's not telling the whole truth. Here's the deal: Tim can't decide which side he's on. Keep an eye out for how his opinion about the war develops throughout the book.
Quote #5
"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." (8.20-21)
Sometimes when Tim talks about the Continentals, he calls them "Patriots," and sometimes he calls them "rebels." What's the difference between these two terms? And while we're on the subject, what Sam calls fighting for his country, Mr. Meeker and Mr. Platt call "treason" and "sedition." What do you think the difference is between sedition and patriotism?
Quote #6
"The way Sam explains it, it sounds right to be a Rebel. And when Father explains it, it sounds right to be a Loyalist. Although if you want to know the truth, I don't think Father really cares. He's just against wars."
We didn't say anything for a while. "If you go to be a soldier, which side would you fight on?"
"The loyalist, I guess." But in my head I wasn't sure about that. Suppose one day we were fighting and I suddenly saw that it was Sam I was aiming my gun at? (8.26-28)
Tim doesn't know which side he'd choose. As he says, you can argue it both ways. Plus, the whole thing just gets more complicated because of his family. The decision for Tim to be patriotic isn't just a political one—it's personal, too.