Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

Has anyone read any of Jim Murphy's stuff? He is one of the few nonfiction writers who I really truly enjoy and can get my students to read as well. He has written: An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, Blizzard: The Storm That Changed America, The Great Fire and many other great nonfiction novels.

I've read An American Plague. I thought it was really well written and interesting while still being informative. It is a very accessible non-fiction account, and the photos and newspaper clippings add a special note as well. I haven't read anything else, but I imagine most of his books read with same down to earth tone.

I read The Great Fire this weekend, which was a buddy pick from you for Challenge #4. I really enjoyed it. It's kind of hard to fathom a great city burning down and all the choas that would follow, but Murphy did an excellent job of putting the reader in the thick of it. Thanks for recommending it, Kellee!!

I have not read any of his books that I know of, but I just wanted to let you know, that he is being honored with the Edwards award for those three books you mentioned.

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yal...

Mandy wrote: "I have not read any of his books that I know of, but I just wanted to let you know, that he is being honored with the Edwards award for those three books you mentioned.

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrp..."

I am glad he is being honored!

There is a book mentioned that I don't know though- I'll have to pick it up.

This weekend I read his The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War. It wasn't as good as The Great Fire. The Great Fire went in chronological order (the fire started here, then went here, then this person did this....) whereas The Boys' War was more of a behind the scenes look at the Civil War; more about camp life, enlistment, food, games, and less about fighting and each of the battles. Still, it was very informative and easy to read, which I think is a huge part of Murphy's appeal.