A bildungsroman is a coming-of-age story that typically tracks moral, intellectual, or psychological growth. The Collier brothers use the bildungsroman as a structuring device in My Brother Sam Is Dead, tracing Tim’s journey to adulthood in the context of war.

When the story opens, Tim is 13 and in many ways still a child. He has not had to assume much responsibility or take a moral stand on many issues. In the beginning of the book, he is confused about what he should do and think. In many coming-of-age stories the protagonist matures over a long period of time. In Tim’s story, however, he must leap into adulthood “overnight” when Father is abducted. Suddenly, Tim must take on not only an adult’s workload but also an adult’s responsibility in caring for his Mother and their business. He must make choices that are not entirely moral in order them to survive, and he feels uncomfortable with this while knowing that he must do so to keep the business running is evidence that he has grown a moral conscience. Likewise, in the Epilogue, speaking as a 64-year-old man, he demonstrates wisdom and maturity looking back on his life.