Murphy's Background:
Jim Murphy has written over thirty books for young adults. His work has a historical focus, and he specializes in both fiction and nonfiction. Murphy started out as an adventurous boy with no interest in reading or writing until his seventh grade teacher mentioned that he was forbidden to read Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. Since it was considered a forbidden book he read it and soon grew to love books of all kinds. After studying at Rutgers University and Radcliffe College, Murphy went to work in juvenile publishing, first as an editorial secretary and eventually as a managing editor. He left to publish his first book, Weird and Wacky Inventions, in 1978. Murphy’s writing has won numerous awards: two ALA Newbery Honor Book Awards, The Washington Post Children’s Book Guild Award for Distinguished Nonfiction, and the Boston Globe Horn Book Award.
Random Facts About Murphy:
1. In elementary school, he began writing and illustrating his own comic books, but he didn't enjoy reading or writing until seventh grade. He didn't get good grades until he started reading and writing in seventh grade.
2. Murphy has described himself as a loud child who loved sports.
3. Murphy is married to Alison Blank, a children’s television producer and author of her own children’s books.
4. Murphy enjoys researching his books more than he likes writing them. It often takes him several years before a book is ready to be edited.
5. Murphy has two sons and several pets, including an African water frog
Some Books Written by Murphy:
Truce
An American Plague
The Great Fire
Blizzard
The Real Benedict Arnold
My Reaction:
I think Jim Murphy seems like a down to earth person. For some reason when I think about authors I usually picture them as being reserved people with little personality. Murphy seems to be a very energetic and outgoing individual. I like the fact that he wasn't a good student until one of his teacher's made an impact on him in seventh grade. I hope that one day I can impact a struggeling student to become a successful and notable individual. Murphy writes a lot of historical nonfiction books. I haven't read any of his books but he has won many awards for them so I'm sure they are very well written.
Resources:
Official Website of Jim Murphy
Learning About Jim Murphy
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ReplyDeleteI have two of Murphy's book in my collection. They are wonderful. The students use them for reports and for "just" reading. Whenever The Great Fire is on display, someone always picks it up to read
ReplyDeleteI think part of Murphy's biography sounds identical to James Cross Giblin's biography. I also thought it might be a interesting idea to tell more students that they cannot read any of the award winners and maybe they will want to (you know reverse psychology).
ReplyDeleteI have read his The Great Fire. It is very interesting. It's about the Great Chicago Fire and told from different points of view.
I really like Jim Murphy's books.He seem to be popular.
ReplyDeleteMurphy sounds like he would be a great motivational speaker! I am sure an author visit by him would cause quite a stir! I agree that he seems down to earth and personable, and can imagine that this is reflected in his writing. I will have to check out "The Great Fire" for sure because I love books told from alternating viewpoints.
ReplyDeleteSounds like he researches "to the edges" as well! What a great story about when you finally find what you were meant to do, you do it well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to his official website. I have not read any of his books, but I certainly will. I know we have the Great Fire - I'm checking it out on Monday. Has anyone read An American Plague?
ReplyDeleteJim Murphy won the 2010 Margaret Edwards award this year. From the ALA webpage:
ReplyDeleteThis year’s winner for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature is Jim Murphy for “An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793,” published by Clarion Books; “Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Great Fire,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Long Road to Gettysburg,” published by Clarion Books; and “A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy,” published by Clarion Books.