From a Washington Post obit by Harrison Smith headlined “Jim Murphy, children’s author who humanized U.S. history, dies at 74”:
Mr. Murphy, a former children’s book editor, wrote more than 30 books that chronicled fascinating but often bleak chapters in U.S. history. His work frequently spotlighted the lives of young people and returned to themes of determination, perseverance and compassion while telling engrossing stories of snowstorms, deadly germs and bravery on the battlefield.