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wordyanchorite's review
5.0
An honest, realistic, and sweet story of a teenager in the modern foster care system. The short chapters are easily digestible and give the story a quick pace, and the experiences of everyone involved in the placement- including the foster family, the biological family, the social worker, and Carly herself- are depicted with unapologetic forthrightness.
eiliux's review
2.0
Leí buenas reseñas que me motivaron a leer este libro. A mí me pareció lindo pero nada más.
kristid's review
3.0
When we meet Carley she is being released from the hospital and finding herself in the care of a foster family. As a reader, we don’t initially know how Carley got to be where she is, but through flashbacks in the story we are made aware of the horrors that Carley has had to endure.
Carley has never known what a loving household is like. She hates herself for not hating this foster family. We watch her struggle as she comes to terms with herself and with the actions of her mother.
One for the Murphys was an incredibly touching novel. There were several times that I felt tears brewing in my eyes. (Although there were plenty times when I was laughing too!) I wouldn’t describe One for the Murphys as a sad story. It’s not a sad story, it’s a hopeful story. It’s about family and love. It explores different types of love and although they are different, one isn’t less powerful than the other.
To me, Carley seemed much older than her twelve year old/thirteen year old self. Although it worked, because Carley has seen and experienced things that no twelve year old should have to.
I really enjoyed all the characters. The three Murphy boys, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy…. Carley’s friend Tori, even Carley’s teacher Mr. Rueben. They were all incredibly written. I battled the most with Carley’s mother. I couldn’t decide if I felt sorry for her or not. I think perhaps she needed someone in her life like Mrs. Murphy and it’s a shame she didn’t have that.
We don’t get that fairy tale happy ending, but we get a realistic one. And we are left with the hope that Carley is a better person for her experiences and that she will continue to thrive because of her time with the Murphys.
You should add One for the Murphys to your reading pile! It’s a quick read and it will definitely touch your heart!
Carley has never known what a loving household is like. She hates herself for not hating this foster family. We watch her struggle as she comes to terms with herself and with the actions of her mother.
One for the Murphys was an incredibly touching novel. There were several times that I felt tears brewing in my eyes. (Although there were plenty times when I was laughing too!) I wouldn’t describe One for the Murphys as a sad story. It’s not a sad story, it’s a hopeful story. It’s about family and love. It explores different types of love and although they are different, one isn’t less powerful than the other.
To me, Carley seemed much older than her twelve year old/thirteen year old self. Although it worked, because Carley has seen and experienced things that no twelve year old should have to.
I really enjoyed all the characters. The three Murphy boys, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy…. Carley’s friend Tori, even Carley’s teacher Mr. Rueben. They were all incredibly written. I battled the most with Carley’s mother. I couldn’t decide if I felt sorry for her or not. I think perhaps she needed someone in her life like Mrs. Murphy and it’s a shame she didn’t have that.
We don’t get that fairy tale happy ending, but we get a realistic one. And we are left with the hope that Carley is a better person for her experiences and that she will continue to thrive because of her time with the Murphys.
You should add One for the Murphys to your reading pile! It’s a quick read and it will definitely touch your heart!
nssutton's review
3.0
I can't believe it took me until my 30s to appreciate middle grade stories. I picked this up after a positive review from the same 5th grade teacher who led me to Creech. It was an incredibly quick read, all in one morning, during which it plucked and tugged on all my heart strings. I still wish the ending had been different, although it was the only one it could be.
_cayti_'s review
3.0
I buy most of my books off ThriftBooks and while they are a DEAL, sometimes I don't know exactly what I'm getting because they send a different version of the book then what's shown in the listing. A lot of the time I pick a book out based on the cover - original I know - and this one was one of those. I only realized after I got it - and it was a different version, sporting different cover art - that it was for literal children. Not YA. Like 9 year olds. But I was committed. And I gotta tell you. It didn't feel like a kids book. It was funny, sad, moving. And really made me want to look more into foster care.
mrstalkativethompson's review
5.0
This book will rip your little heart out for Carley but it was so so good and I couldn't put it down!
jillmulhollandd's review
4.0
I loved this book. Carly's feelings are made so clear that I felt that I knew her myself. I would recommened this book to you if you drama.
aemaynard15's review
5.0
Love LMH, really humbled myself crying in front of my students when I finished it
dotorsojak's review
3.0
3 stars
I don’t read middle-school, YA books very often, so it’s a little difficult to assess this fairly. Still, I like the book overall. It’s bit sentimental, a bit of a tear-jerker, but it also includes lots of authentic touches.
Carley, the 8th grade first person narrator, is a relatable, interesting young girl who has a penchant for irony and word-play. She seems to be a no-nonsense person, but gradually Hunt (LMH) reveals to us that she is actually starved for love and affection. What pleased me most about the book were the secondary characters, though everyone’s attitude towards Carley was a little too heartwarming for my taste. Even Daniel, the oldest of her foster brothers and at first a suspicious enemy, comes to cheer for her in the end.
My favorite supporting player was the frenemy, Toni. Indeed the development of the Carley/Toni friendship is the most affecting and believable part of the book. I suspect that LMH wants some of her readers (i.e. adults reading the novel) to identify with adult character Julia Murphy, but “Mrs. Murphy” is just too perfect and understanding to be true. Her husband, the foster dad, though not given much to do other than watch Red Sox games, is a more believable character. I also really liked the teacher character, Mr. Rueben, though this may just be a function of my having been a teacher myself.
The book is predictable in lots of ways—we quickly figure out that Toni is going to turn out to be the BFF—but the ending is not totally obvious. Of course if you know anything at all about the foster-care system, then there is only one way the book can end. However, much depends on how LMH will portray Carley’s biological mother. If she is to be a total villain, then one outcome, if not, then another. Once you get to the last pages of the book, there are three or four spots where LMH could have ended. Ultimately, she keeps going and I don’t think the book is stronger because of her inclination to tie up loose ends. I’m sure I’m not spoiling anything by saying the novel is a major tear-jerker.
Ultimately, this is a book about love and how one can and should express that love. It has a nice message, but part of that message is that love is not always sweetness and light. Also sometimes one has to give up things, even love.
I don’t read middle-school, YA books very often, so it’s a little difficult to assess this fairly. Still, I like the book overall. It’s bit sentimental, a bit of a tear-jerker, but it also includes lots of authentic touches.
Carley, the 8th grade first person narrator, is a relatable, interesting young girl who has a penchant for irony and word-play. She seems to be a no-nonsense person, but gradually Hunt (LMH) reveals to us that she is actually starved for love and affection. What pleased me most about the book were the secondary characters, though everyone’s attitude towards Carley was a little too heartwarming for my taste. Even Daniel, the oldest of her foster brothers and at first a suspicious enemy, comes to cheer for her in the end.
My favorite supporting player was the frenemy, Toni. Indeed the development of the Carley/Toni friendship is the most affecting and believable part of the book. I suspect that LMH wants some of her readers (i.e. adults reading the novel) to identify with adult character Julia Murphy, but “Mrs. Murphy” is just too perfect and understanding to be true. Her husband, the foster dad, though not given much to do other than watch Red Sox games, is a more believable character. I also really liked the teacher character, Mr. Rueben, though this may just be a function of my having been a teacher myself.
The book is predictable in lots of ways—we quickly figure out that Toni is going to turn out to be the BFF—but the ending is not totally obvious. Of course if you know anything at all about the foster-care system, then there is only one way the book can end. However, much depends on how LMH will portray Carley’s biological mother. If she is to be a total villain, then one outcome, if not, then another. Once you get to the last pages of the book, there are three or four spots where LMH could have ended. Ultimately, she keeps going and I don’t think the book is stronger because of her inclination to tie up loose ends. I’m sure I’m not spoiling anything by saying the novel is a major tear-jerker.
Ultimately, this is a book about love and how one can and should express that love. It has a nice message, but part of that message is that love is not always sweetness and light. Also sometimes one has to give up things, even love.