About this item
Texas won its independence from Mexico with the battle cry "Remember the Alamo!" But just what exactly was the Alamo, and what happened there to change the history of the United States? This is a comprehensive look at that famous siege as well as its background and consequences. It provides profiles of the famous men who died there, many quotes from contemporary witnesses (including entries from the memoirs and diaries of Mexican soldiers) , fascinating details about everything from the weaponry of the time to the fate of the women and children who followed the Mexican army north, and a rousing description of the final battle-all copiously illustrated with paintings, photos, maps, diagrams, and more. This is history at its vivid and exciting best.
About the Author
Jim Murphy began his career in children's books as an editor, but managed to escape to become a writer, entering a life of personal and creative happiness and enduring financial uncertainty. He's convinced that the latter keeps him coming back to his computer to write every day and feels that a sense of impending doom is the doorway to creativity. He has never counted the number of books he's published (feeling the time and energy is better spent doing research and writing) but guesses that he has over thirty books to his credit. Jim's work has been honored with numerous awards, including two American Llibrary Association Newbery Honor Book Awards, an ALA Robert F. Sibert Award and Sibert Honor Book Award, three National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Awards, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Award and a BG/HB Honor Book Award, two SCBWI Golden Kite Awards, and been a finalist for the National Book Award. Recently, he was given the ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award for "his significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature."
