One for the Murphys Paperback – May 16, 2013

I loved this book. It's about Carley Connors who is finds herself in the foster care system and placed with the Murphys. The book is told in first person from the perspective of Carley and I felt the author really captured the angst, worry and vulnerability of a 12-year old child put with a family she doesn't know. The Murphys are a loving family who talk and hug and express themselves opening. This is all foreign to Carley. Mrs. Murphy tries to reach out to Carley and be her friend and confidant but Carley doesn't trust that - doesn't believe it's real. She's afraid to let her guard down and afraid that if she does, it will all disappear.Carley does start to warm up to the family and find a place for herself with the Murphys but it's hard and not rushed and the author tells it in a way that is totally believable. This is the kind of book will pull at your heartstrings and make you want to go out and help a child in need or, if you have kids, hug them and let them know they are loved. It's very moving.The one flaw with this book is the placement of Carley is totally unrealistic. Essentially Mrs. Murphy goes down to family services and says she wants to take in a foster child and they say "we just have one in . . . here you go". No background checks, no interviewing the family (the husband isn't keen on the idea of having a foster child), nothing. Just a "Hey I'm interested" and a "here you go" to having Carley placed. The rest of the story was so well told though that I could totally overlook that though.Definitely one of the best books I've read this year - highly recommend it.

One for the Murphy's is such an inspirational story. 12 year old Carley Connors is a very strong and courageous girl. She can't remember everything that happened that night but she knows that her mother helped her step father hurt her. She thought her mother loved her deep inside, but this night changed it all. Carley was put into foster care, and the Murphy's were her foster family. She wasn't used to people loving her and buying her new clothes and acting like she belonged. She was used to living in Vegas, and waiting in the casino lobby for her mother, not having family dinners every night and having people to play with around the house. Carley hated the fact that she had to live with the Murphy's for the first few weeks. She felt like the Murphy's didn't want her there so she ran away. Mrs. Murphy was so scared and worried about her and when she found her she comforted Carley and made her feel loved. Carley began to feel like she was fitting in. She finally made a friend at her new school, but didn't tell her she was with a foster family and that was a big mistake. She kept calling Mr. and Mrs. Murphy mom and dad when Toni was around until one of the Murphy boys made a comment about Carley's mom coming and taking her away. After that Toni stopped talking to her and Carley really needed her back. Carley stayed strong during this whole thing and finally Toni began talking to her again, Carley explained the foster care and family thing and Toni forgave her. Carley felt like she was an older sister to the three Murphy boys, and they liked that. One day the foster care called and said that her mother was in rehab and would like Carley to visit. Carley did not want to go, she felt like she belonged with the Murphy's not her own mother. After a few weeks her mother was being released and was aloud to take Carley back and move home. She did not want to go. Carley was talking with Mrs. Murphy before she left, only to find out that she too had been in foster care for four years. Mrs. Murphy told Carley that no matter where she was or what she was doing with her life, she would always remember her.

Love this compelling, middle grade novel! The writing is absolutely incredible, and the characters are so raw and believable. This story takes you on an emotional journey, warming your heart along the way! It’s written with the perfect balance of humor and heart!!

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a lot of emotion, and to anyone who has ever wondered about foster care. This book made me laugh and cry on every page. I could feel the emotions Carley was feeling even though I'm not in foster care, and have no idea what it's like. You need to read this book, so JUST BUY IT ALREADY!