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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Such a great book - a little heavy-handed/preachy at the beginning, but by the end I had fallen in love with the characters and didn't want it to end. It was a tear-jerker too!
Be someone’s hero.
Wow, I loved this book! This was our last read aloud of the year, and it was the perfect way to wrap things up before break. One For the Murphy’s explores the topics of foster care, family, accepting love, and never giving up. I laughed aloud and struggled to read multiple times due to so many tears, but it also had such a message of hope. I had so many beautiful discussions with my kids throughout this book and very highly recommend it!
Wow, I loved this book! This was our last read aloud of the year, and it was the perfect way to wrap things up before break. One For the Murphy’s explores the topics of foster care, family, accepting love, and never giving up. I laughed aloud and struggled to read multiple times due to so many tears, but it also had such a message of hope. I had so many beautiful discussions with my kids throughout this book and very highly recommend it!
Carley Conners has had an interesting upbringing...living in Las Vegas, dumpster diving for clothes at Goodwill, but nothing prepared her for the confrontation will her step-father and the role her mother played. As a result she ended up in the hospital and then was put in foster care with the Murphys. Julie Murphy is nothing like her mother and at first she can't stand it. She then learns what a real family can be like and is torn between the love she is starting to feel for Mrs. Murphy and the rest of the family and her confusing feelings about her mom.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Alright I don’t ever cry at books (much to my dismay) and this one actually brought me close…
I loved this book so so much and for a middle grade it is actually really deep and well done and I need to read it again soon
I love carley so much and hate dennis and I have so many thoughts I’m just going to go ponder them in a corner now bye ✨✨
I loved this book so so much and for a middle grade it is actually really deep and well done and I need to read it again soon
I love carley so much and hate dennis and I have so many thoughts I’m just going to go ponder them in a corner now bye ✨✨
One for the Murphys is a good read. I would recommend this to children 8-10 years old. The language is in line with 3rd to 4th grade. I gave this 3 stars because although it is a good read, it doesn't really have that intangible thing that makes me want to reread this book. In One for the Murphys we are introduced to Carly who has had a tough life and ends up in foster care because her mother isn't able to care for her. This is where we get to meet the Murphys in all their perfectly normal family life. Carly doesn't want to like the Murphys and at the beginning she doesn't but as they spend more and more time together Carly warms to the Murphys. She wishes that there were two of her, 'one for the Murphys' and one for her mother. As Carly grows she learns about Mrs Murphys background and why it matters to Mrs. Murphy that Carly has a good home.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
This review also appeared on my blog Taking It One Page at a Time.
Disclaimers: I received this book for review as part of the Debut Author Challenge Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Tara and Lisa.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: In one sentence: A poignant read that drew me in from the start. This book was nothing like I thought it would be and yet it was ten times better. I've always loved this genre and even thought it was about a younger girl, I found myself falling in love with the story.
Hunt's debut novel definitely is one of the best realistic contemporary fiction novels I've read this year. Hunt created an all-star cast from even the most minor character to the main character Carley. I found myself thoroughly entertained by all of the characters and loved nearly all of them.
Carley was a character that I really liked. She's been in an abusive situation and yet she is still so caring and such a good person. Naturally, she's got her "issues" but she was a character that left me smiling and one that I loved reading about.
Mrs. Murphy was amazing. There is no other way to say it. I admired her from the moment Hunt introduced her in the novel. However, like I mentioned earlier, all of the characters in this book were fantastic.
The writing was fantastic. Hunt wrote in a compelling manner that left me feeling like I really was in Carley's head. I felt connected with her and consequently the whole story. The story flowed nicely and didn't lag. Definitely an amazing read. Read this one you won't regret it.
In Summary: A beautiful novel that I loved reading. Captivating characters, an intriguing plot, and a poignant writing style made for a brilliant read.
Warnings/Side-notes: This book deals with violence and abuse, but in a manner that I won't hesitate to recommend this to anybody despite their age.
The Wrap-up: Books about abuse have always held a soft spot for me. I feel like this is an issue that people don't talk about enough. Abuse is real and its effects are life-altering and traumatic for the victims. I loved that Hunt focused on this theme and admired the way she tackled writing this tale. It was beautiful and I loved reading it.
Love,
Danica Page
Disclaimers: I received this book for review as part of the Debut Author Challenge Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Tara and Lisa.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: In one sentence: A poignant read that drew me in from the start. This book was nothing like I thought it would be and yet it was ten times better. I've always loved this genre and even thought it was about a younger girl, I found myself falling in love with the story.
Hunt's debut novel definitely is one of the best realistic contemporary fiction novels I've read this year. Hunt created an all-star cast from even the most minor character to the main character Carley. I found myself thoroughly entertained by all of the characters and loved nearly all of them.
Carley was a character that I really liked. She's been in an abusive situation and yet she is still so caring and such a good person. Naturally, she's got her "issues" but she was a character that left me smiling and one that I loved reading about.
Mrs. Murphy was amazing. There is no other way to say it. I admired her from the moment Hunt introduced her in the novel. However, like I mentioned earlier, all of the characters in this book were fantastic.
The writing was fantastic. Hunt wrote in a compelling manner that left me feeling like I really was in Carley's head. I felt connected with her and consequently the whole story. The story flowed nicely and didn't lag. Definitely an amazing read. Read this one you won't regret it.
In Summary: A beautiful novel that I loved reading. Captivating characters, an intriguing plot, and a poignant writing style made for a brilliant read.
Warnings/Side-notes: This book deals with violence and abuse, but in a manner that I won't hesitate to recommend this to anybody despite their age.
The Wrap-up: Books about abuse have always held a soft spot for me. I feel like this is an issue that people don't talk about enough. Abuse is real and its effects are life-altering and traumatic for the victims. I loved that Hunt focused on this theme and admired the way she tackled writing this tale. It was beautiful and I loved reading it.
Love,
Danica Page
This was actually 4.5 stars. Such a wonderfully written story of a girl who learns how strong she really is, and what she deserves out of life. Lots of raw emotion. The author spoke recently at my school, and gave a terrific presentation. Highly recommend Ms. Hunt, as well as One for the Murphys. I look forward to more books from this writer!