You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Well this book and a box of tissues will complete your day. Try not to fall in love with the Murphy family, I just dare ya!
Awesome book! You will feel EXTREMELY happy and also EXTREMELY sad while reading this story about a girl and her experience living with a foster family that is completely different from her own. The mother in her foster family teacher her the true meaning of unconditional love.
Bought a signed copy for my niece and snuck in a reading of it before I gave it to her. Loved it! Bittersweet in all the right ways.
I read this in one afternoon! I couldn't put it down. This is such a good book! Carley, the main character, is compelling and one I won't soon forget.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
W.O.W SUCH A GOOD BOOK! WOULD REALLYYYYY RECOMEND.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Written for middle school/high school age readers but as an adult/mom, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and read it in 2 days because it was so hard to put down.
I tend to read whatever I can find about the foster system -- this is juvenile fiction - but to me it read more like a 4th-5th grade book than a middle school book - which may have been the author's intent? Aside from the ending, everything was a little too black and white in this story to see how it might make an impact on a juvenile reader. It was short so there wasn't much depth there - so that led way to things like the foster mother looking through a book to suddenly being able to care for a foster child. A little too simplified.
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heartwarming story and gave my kids a glimpse into foster care while showing some of the complexities.
Carley Conners has had a difficult life so far. She used to live with her mom in Las Vegas; they would shop for clothes from the Salvation Army dumpsters. Then her mom moved them to Connecticut and married Dennis who hated her. Now Carly finds herself in foster care after Dennis beat her and her mother and they both ended up in the hospital. She is placed with the Murphy family. Mrs. Murphy is kind and loving and wants the best for Carly, Mr. Murphy is distant, the three Murphy boys react to Carly's presence in the house in different ways from resistance and resentment to loving acceptance. Carly has to find her way with a new family, a new school, and new friends.
Carly's story is heart-breaking and heart-warming. I felt like she reacted like a normal kid in that situation would; she was distant, sarcastic, guarded and hopeful. She finds herself in a safe, stable loving home for the first time. She finds herself falling in love with the Murphys and feels conflicted about her mom. Carley's journey in this book is a wonderful one as she finds her strength and learns to stand on her own. While I feel like Carley could definitely be a real kid in this situation I wonder about the other circumstances in the book. I can't believe her mom got out of criminal charges and got custody of Carley back so easily. You would think there would have been counseling for both of them at some point. I also can't believe how uninvolved the social worker is. I think she would take a more active role in Carley's situation. But Carley's story is wonderful and I would definitely recommend this book.
Carly's story is heart-breaking and heart-warming. I felt like she reacted like a normal kid in that situation would; she was distant, sarcastic, guarded and hopeful. She finds herself in a safe, stable loving home for the first time. She finds herself falling in love with the Murphys and feels conflicted about her mom. Carley's journey in this book is a wonderful one as she finds her strength and learns to stand on her own. While I feel like Carley could definitely be a real kid in this situation I wonder about the other circumstances in the book. I can't believe her mom got out of criminal charges and got custody of Carley back so easily. You would think there would have been counseling for both of them at some point. I also can't believe how uninvolved the social worker is. I think she would take a more active role in Carley's situation. But Carley's story is wonderful and I would definitely recommend this book.