From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up-Murphy boldly broaches the near-mythical battle of the Alamo, a Spanish mission in San Antonio whose name has become synonymous with Texas's independence. Acknowledging in his notes that "[m]ost of these questions [regarding "unresolved issues" of Alamo legend] will probably never be answered definitively," Murphy gives it his best shot and the result is an absorbing, interpretive, highly readable account of a two-week period in American history in which a couple of hundred independent Texans (Anglo Texians and Hispanic Tejanos) played a major role in U.S. expansionism. The siege of the Alamo is a well-told tale but lore, strongly abetted by Hollywood, has clouded the facts surrounding this suicidal stand. Murphy has done an admirable job of separating prejudicial speculation (by survivors on both sides) from documentation. He addresses the volatile issue of exemplary bravery, especially regarding the fate of David Crockett, diplomatically. Sidebars abound and the one-page biographical sketches, including photographs, of the major figures-especially the trinity of Jim Bowie, William Travis, and David Crockett-supplement archival photographs and illustrations, helping to set perspective, while "fast and loose" visual interpretations of the final battle show historical revisions. An extensive, annotated bibliography provides an excellent sampler of the plethora of articles and books on the Alamo.
John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TXCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
*Starred Review* Gr. 4-8. Murphy's thorough research and solid narrative style combine to provide an in-depth account of this famous 1836 siege. Beginning with a description of the early Anglo settlement in Texas, the author explains how relations between ranchers and Santa Ana's government became strained, leading the Anglos to feel they had little choice except to defend their crumbling fortress to the death. He also discusses the strained leadership within the Alamo, why other Texans decided not to help, and Santa Ana's motives for wanting to annihilate the Anglos. Murphy's forte is his ability to tell a good story while retaining his integrity as a historian. Point by point he documents and identifies facts, rumors, myths, and conflicting testimony, allowing readers to judge where the truth may lie and giving them insight into how historical research works. Frequent inset articles highlight the important participants on both sides (including Santa Ana, Jim Bowie, David Crockett, and Jose de la Pena), providing military and personal details that add to the account, and a variety of period illustrations--maps, etchings, and artwork reproductions--complement the text. With an appended list of Alamo participants and an extensive, annotated bibliography, which features some primary sources, this resource is not only a valuable addition to American history units but also a great introduction to the historical writing method.
Kay WeismanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
