Audiobooks by Jim Murphy

Guys Read: True Stories

"Jon Scieszka's Guys Read anthology series for tweens turns to nonfiction in its fifth volume, True Stories. The fifth installment in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading features ten stories that are 100% amazing, 100% adventurous, 100% unbelievable—and 100% true. A star-studded group of award-winning nonfiction authors and journalists provides something for every reader, all aligned with the Common Core State Standards. Compiled and edited by real-life literature legend Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: True Stories is a mind-blowing collection of essays, biographies, how-to guides, and more, all proving that the truth is most definitely out there. Supports the Common Core State Standards"

Candace Fleming, Douglas Florian, Elizabeth Partridge, James Sturm, Jim Murphy, Jon Scieszka, Nathan Hale, Steve Sheinkin, Sy Montgomery, T. Edward Nickens, Thanhhà Lai (Author), Adam Conner, Bruce Thomas, Ethan Sawyer, Freda Foh Shen, George Newbern, Greg Itzin, Hillary Huber, Jack Garrett, Jim Beaver, Macleod Andrews, Robin Weigert, Thaao Penghlis (Narrator)

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The Long Road to Gettysburg

"On June 3, 1863, nineteen-year-old Confederate lieutenant John Dooley prepared to march on Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Thomas Galway, a seventeen-year-old corporal in the Union army, waited for the battle to begin. Drawing on the written accounts of these young soldiers, Murphy traces the circumstances leading to the dramatic battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln’s historic address at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg."

Jim Murphy (Author), Ray Childs, Terry Bregy, William Dufris (Narrator)

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The Great Fire

"The Great Fire of 1871 was one of the most colossal disasters in American history—with damage so profound that few people believed the city of Chicago could ever rise again. By weaving personal accounts of actual survivors together with careful research, Jim Murphy constructs a riveting and dramatic narrative, ultimately revealing how the human spirit triumphed even in a time of deepest despair, and the people of Chicago found the courage and strength to build their city once again."

Jim Murphy (Author), Taylor Mali (Narrator)

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Across America on an Emigrant Train

"In the summer of 1879, the young writer Robert Louis Stevenson received a telegram from America. Fanny, a dear friend in California, was ill. Stevenson packed his bags and left his home in Scotland. When the steamer reached the east coast of America, his journey had just begun. Stevenson had little money, so he traveled across America the cheapest way: he went by train. The trip from New York to Monterey, California, would take two exciting weeks. As the train chugged up mountains, through Indian territory, and over trestle bridges, Stevenson recorded his impressions of the rough, vast country and the people he met. Jim Murphy weaves a lively account of Stevenson's journey with fascinating glimpses of the construction of the transcontinental railroad. It is a vivid introduction to one of the most important chapters in the history of the American West. Richard M. Davidson's compelling narration makes the personal journey and the historical information truly accessible to young listeners."

Jim Murphy (Author), Richard M. Davidson (Narrator)

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An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

"Powerful and riveting, this Newbery Honor–winning narrative describes the illness known as yellow fever, the toll it took on the nation’s capital—and the eventual triumph over the disease.   Long before Covid and the West Nile virus, yellow fever was a medical mystery that forced thousands in Philadelphia, the nation’s temporary capital, to flee and brought the workings of the federal government to a virtual halt. An American Plague is a riveting account of this country’s first large-scale medical epidemic.   This is the story of how half the city’s residents fled and half of those who remained died; neighboring towns, cities and states barricaded themselves; George Washington himself fled, setting off a constitutional crisis; and bloodletting caused blood to run through the streets. It is also the story of a little known chapter in Black history in which free Blacks nursed the sick only to be later condemned for their heroic efforts.   Meticulously researched, first-hand accounts, newspaper clippings, death lists, and period engravings recreate the fear and panic while exploring the political, social, cultural, medical and scientific history of the times. A final chapter explores the causes of the epidemic and provides a wake-up call about the potential for epidemics today.   Newbery Honor Book • National Book Award Finalist • Winner of the Sibert Medal   'A mesmerizing, macabre account … powerful evocative prose … compelling subject matter … fascinating discussion … valuable lesson in reading and writing history. Stellar.'—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"

Jim Murphy (Author), Pat Bottino (Narrator)

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The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War

"Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (Vermont)   This contemporary classic explores the role of boys who fought in the Civil War. No reader’s vision of America’s most brutal and bloody war will be the same after reading this book.   “This wrenching look at our nation’s bloodiest conflict through the eyes of its youthful participants serves up history both heartbreaking and enlightening.”—Publishers Weekly   Some Union and Confederate soldiers were as young as twelve when they went off to fight in the Civil War. It is thought that as many as ten to twenty percent of all Civil War soldiers may have been under sixteen.   The Boys' War follows these young soldiers through the rigors of camp life and drilling, right into the chaos of the battlefield. Jim Murphy skillfully weaves together firsthand accounts and personal letters of these countless young men with historical context to paint their portrait—young soldiers who, either seeking escape from the drudgery of farm work or embracing fantasies of glory, participated in the Civil War.   Handsomely produced with numerous period photographs and drawings, The Boys' War is a winner of the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults."

Jim Murphy (Author), Ed Sala (Narrator)

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