Jim Murphy

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Published by: HMH
Release Date: January 1, 1993
Pages: 168
ISBN13: 978-0395633908

 
Overview

An account of Robert Louis Stevenson’s twelve-day journey from New York to California in 1879 to see his ailing fiancé provides the opportunity to experience a cross-country journey firsthand. Drawn from Stevenson’s journal, Across America offers a unique and fascinating primary source account of transcontinental train travel.

Interwoven with descriptions of traveling companions, other emigrants, and their collective experiences, Across America weaves together the broader story — the building of the transcontinental railroad and the settling of the West. Thus, Stevenson’s journey becomes the dramatic and moving window through which to experience the effect of the railroads on the territories they crossed; the disruption and destruction of Native American life they caused; the slaughter of the buffalo; as well as portraits of the towns that quickly came and vanished as the construction crews moved on. Through Stevenson’s memoirs, one also experiences the excitement of hope and the lure of the West.

Illustrated with numerous period maps, drawings, photos and engravings that bring the story of westward expansion uniquely to life.

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Praise and Awards

NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
The Jefferson Cup Award
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
An ALA Booklist Editor’s Choice
A SLJ Best Book of the Year
Horn Book Fanfare
A Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Language Arts
A Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
Book Links Salutes “A Few Good Books”

“History at its best.”
—Kirkus (starred)

“As he did in The Boys’ War and The Long Road to Gettysburg, Murphy draws on memoirs and letters to humanize history. Facts and feelings tell a compelling story of adventure and failure, courage and cruelty, enrichment and oppression. The experience of ordinary people revitalizes the myths of the West.”
—Booklist (starred)

“Into [Stevenson’s] journal entries, Murphy has woven meticulously researched, absorbing accounts of the building of the railroad and its effect on the territory it crossed: the disruption and destruction of Native American life, the slaughter of the buffalo, accidents, the development of the Pullman car, the towns that quickly came and vanished as the construction crews moved on, the snow sheds built to protect the trains in the Sierra Nevada mountains.”
—School Library Journal (starred)