One for the Murphys

One for the Murphys
Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Penguin, 2012 224 pages
Grades 4-6
Realistic Fiction

Twelve-year-old Carley wakes up in the hospital and is taken to a foster home. She lands there after a terrible incident involving her mother holding her down in order for her stepfather to beat her. Mom is also in the hospital, in even worse shape, but Carley doesn't remember the full encounter, only that Mom betrayed her. Now she is living with the Murphy family, consisting of a firefighting dad, stay-at-home mom and three young boys. At first Carley is resistant to the draw of the functional family and acts aloof and bratty, but eventually she gets lured by the security and comfort and her frosty exterior begins to thaw. After a bumpy start at her new school Carley even begins to make a friend. Should she confess to her friend that she's a foster kid? Life at the Murphy’s turns into a dream come true for Carley and she discovers what she has been missing her whole life. Just as she begins to trust this new life, the social worker arrives and drops a bomb: Mom is healed and wants her back. Will she be able to say goodbye and return to her old lonely life where she must fight for attention, love, and material possessions?

I read this book shortly after it came out seven years ago. Why the re-read? My kids at the library continue to ask for it and want to talk about it with me. Frankly, I forgot the details and felt that it could use a second look. With the current hot trend of "problem fiction" for middle grade readers this title is hotter than ever at my library. Kids will find Carley's life deliciously tragic and empathize with her longing for normalcy and security. The book reads quickly and will hold the interest of the reader, even the most reluctant. When Carley's mother re-enters the picture, readers will be properly horrified and hold their breath. The ending is not perfect, yet Carley has grown in strength and confidence under Mrs. Murphy's care and is ready to proceed to her next step. Mrs. Murphy is a bit too perfect and larger than life, which we can forgive because its Carley's story and that is how she perceives her. There are some over the top schmaltzy bits that made me roll my eyes, but young readers will eat them up with a spoon. Carley's journey is a great example of character growth with serve as an inspiration to young readers. There is an awesome teacher in the book and many tricky social school situations, making the story a great choice for classroom use. This title continues to be popular, along with the author's other title, Fish in a Tree, and is a slam dunk for readers looking for realistic problem stories that go a little sad.