One for the Murphys [Hardcover]

Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 10, 2012 | Age Range: 10 and up | Lexile Measure: 520L (What's this?)

A moving debut novel about a foster child learning to open her heart to a family's love

Carley uses humor and street smarts to keep her emotional walls high and thick. But the day she becomes a foster child, and moves in with the Murphys, she's blindsided. This loving, bustling family shows Carley the stable family life she never thought existed, and she feels like an alien in their cookie-cutter-perfect household. Despite her resistance, the Murphys eventually show her what it feels like to belong--until her mother wants her back and Carley has to decide where and how to live. She's not really a Murphy, but the gifts they've given her have opened up a new future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a beautiful book, filled with hope. You'll cry and laugh along with Carley as she learns to lower her defenses enough to love--and, more surprisingly, be loved. It's a story you'll long remember."

~~Patricia Reilly Giff, Newbery Honor-winning author of Pictures of Hollis Woods and Lily's Crossing

 


 "An astonishing debut! Lynda Mullaly Hunt's direct style of writing has readers rooting for Carley Connors and all of the Murphys from start to satisfying finish."

~~Leslie Connor, ALA Schneider Family Award-winning author of Waiting for Normal and Crunch.

"Carley is a modern-day Gilly Hopkins, bright and strong, angry and deeply hurt. . . . By the end of this poignant debut, readers will be applauding Carley's strength. . . . A worthy addition to the foster-family shelf."

(Kirkus Reviews, starred review )

"Hunt's heart-wrenching debut believably captures Carley's painful one-step-forward, two-steps-back process, particularly as she acts out in order to protect dealing with her emotions. . . . Carley promises Mrs. Murphy that she'll 'have a happy life someday,' and readers will be cheering her on."

(Booklist )

"Carley's struggles with anger, regret, and self-worth both balance and deepen this coming-of-age tale. . . . Speaks to the universal experience of growing up but will especially resonate with readers who have questioned the hands they have been dealt and wonder how to move forward nonetheless. . . . Vacillates between uplifting and heartbreaking as Carley learns to love, be loved, and let go."

(The Horn Book )

"Undeniably affecting. Hunt's writing is strong and her characters well-developed and believable . . . readers will . . . be drawn into this story of a girl's struggle against the ingrained belief that she is undeserving of kindness and generosity."

(Publishers Weekly )

"This debut novel holds its own. . . . Affectingly told. Believing that she can, someday, have a loving family of her own . . . makes a different kind of happy ending. Middle grade and teen readers will find this an engaging story."

(Voice of Youth Advocates )

About the Author

Lynda Mullaly Hunt has the best job in the world! She is also a former teacher and Scenario Writing coach. She is active in SCBWI-NE, where she is the Director of the annual Whispering Pines Writers' Retreat in Rhode Island. Besides reading and writing, Lynda enjoys juggling and watercolor painting--but not at the same time. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two kids, impetuous beagle, and beagle-loathing cat. She is now working on her next middle-grade novel.
 

Product Details

• Age Range: 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (May 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399256156
• ISBN-13: 978-0399256158
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A foster family drama May 12, 2012

By A&D

Format:Hardcover

The foster children and foster families make a good drama. This book is no exception.
This is a touching story of a Las Vegas -born girl named Carley Conners. She is twelve years old. She is placed in the state's foster care system. It is hard to fit if you are a child and placed to a new home.
She finds herself in a foster home full of Murphys. The Murphys are nice. Carley isn't used to accept love and kindness. As the story unfolds, you will understand how a foster child like Carly can think and how she can feel that she does not deserve happiness and a place like Murphy's. What happens when Carly's mom wants her back? She will have to give up her new home and her new best friend.... The author has written an interesting internal monologue of a teenager and her thoughts going through the foster care system and learning what the life could be in a different family than her own with her mother.
A truly inspirational story!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring July 24, 2012

By Paige Bradish

Format:Hardcover

Received from DAC ARC Tours. One For The Murphy's was such a amazing story. I haven't read many books about Foster Care but I hope to read some more very soon because I loved reading Carley's story it was so inspirational! This book is about a 12 year old girl who finds herself in foster care after an incident with her mother and step father. At first she doesn't want to let herself like the family because she's scared but throughout the story she learns to love the caring family that took her in.

Carley the main character is very strong and courageous. She can't really remember everything that happened to her for her to end up with a whole new family but she does know that she has her mother and step father to blame for it. Carley has a tough time getting used to having someone to take care of her and having people be nice to her. Which is horrible for a little girl to not know what if feels like to have people care for her.

The Murphys are a great family and I wish every foster care family was like that. Most of the time when books or movies about foster care came out I never wanted to pick them up because usually when you see or hear things about foster care the parents are always crappy and I just don't understand how some people can qualify to be a foster parent when they're so horrible. The kids that are in foster care have already had a tough life that's why they're there they don't need crappy parents to make it worse. (Sorry about that I go off easily)

I have to say that my favorite characters had to be the three boys. We didn't get much of Adam but I really liked Daniel & Michael Eric. Now some might think why Daniel he was such a jerk! But I understood why Daniel was they way he was towards Carley. She was this strange girl who was coming into his home taking his brothers room and some of his moms attention away. Yes that sounds selfish but I didn't hold anything against him because I would've felt the same way.

Little Michael Eric was my absolute favorite! He was such a sweet little boy and so innocent. He didn't really understand why this girl was coming into his home but he didn't care because it gave him someone to play with. It broke my heart when he had a seizure because I didn't know what was going to happen to him.

In the end I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was incredible it was able to make me laugh and cry at the same times. I recommend it to anyone who needs a bit of a sad story to make them feel better and cute little boys to make you laugh!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic story about finding where you belong... May 10, 2012

By Liz

Format:Hardcover

This is a touching account of a girl named Carley Conners who finds herself in a foster home full of Murphys. The Murphys are good people, willing to let Carley into their hearts and home, but Carley isn't used to that concept. As the story unfolds, you begin to understand how a girl could feel she somehow doesn't deserve a stable place with people who love her. There are revelations that are truly surprising, and took my breath away. Lynda Mullaly Hunt's writing is spot on- you feel like you are in Carley's head, navigating these uncharted waters right along with her. If you think you know how a book like this might end, you probably don't. I didn't see it coming, and I am glad I didn't. It's an engaging story right up to the authentic end. Give this one a read and you're apt to gain some real insight into what it means to belong and what is truly important in your own life.