A Middle School Novel that Gave Me All the Feels

My reading has been filled with so much Adult and YA fiction that it feels like it’s actually been a long time since I have read a middle grade novel for the first time.

I just finished One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt about ten seconds ago and immediately knew I wanted to post about it.

This book gave me all the feels. So much emotion in a book written primarily for middle school aged students- some pages made me want to close the book, but keep reading all at the same time. Some pages made me laugh out loud! Others made my heart warm.

One for the Murphys is about a twelve-year-old girl named Carley Connors who endured numerous hardships and tribulation in her short lifetime. She had never once suspected she would land in a hospital after experiencing an abusive situation.

Of course, she couldn’t go back home and was thrown into the foster care system. Being placed with the Murphys, she was determined to hate and dislike everything about them. However, as she lived day after day sharing a home with this family, she started hating the fact that maybe she just didn’t hate everything after all.

Hunt did a marvelous job in creating characters that will stick with you long after the final chapter. Carley and Mrs. Murphy are both characters that will have a forever place in my heart.

I have to say that it does shock me that the back of the book states in bold, black letters “For ages 9+.” The themes and mature situations in this book, at least in my opinion, seem to be written for a far older audience. Some scenes, although never graphic, I found remarkably difficult to read. It’s emotionally taxing to read about a child being abused, and I know that I would most certainly have been unable to finish this book at age nine.

Keeping that in mind, if you are looking into this book for a young child in your life, you know most what kind of mature content they are able to handle. And I definitely recommend for an older middle school and even early high school crowd!

Carley’s story teaches young readers the importance of kindness and empathy. Her friend, Toni, had no idea the kind of life Carley had come from, and Carley had no intention of sharing it. You never know what someone has been or is going through, and this story shows that.

I also really loved the way Mrs. Murphy was written. Her gentle, sweet, personality made me want to burst into tears of gratitude that Carley was placed with her. Her constant concern and calm demeanor made it seem like everything would be alright. Her genuine care was so heartwarming, and it definitely did seem like she saw Carley as one of her own. What a beautiful character. I love Mrs. Murphy!

As for Carley- Carley is such a strong female protagonist. In the beginning, she tried to keep her emotions stuffed deep down, thinking that crying was for the weak. She never wanted to be thought of as weak or timid. However, Mrs. Murphy showed her that being strong also meant allowing yourself to feel the emotions that make us human. Mrs. Murphy also dealt with Carley’s urge to deal with emotions using violence in a way that was both thoughtful and validating.

“So I can hit somebody?” I say, sitting in a chair. “Because, to tell you the truth, I would really like to hit somebody.”

She takes a deep breath. “I understand, Carley, but no, you can’t. But I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I meant fight as in determination.” She looks at me in a suspicious kind of way. “But I have a feeling you knew that.”

I look up at her. “Sometimes you need to fight, you know. Even if you don’t want to.”

She nods slowly and says, “I understand.”

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Without a doubt, I give this book five stars.

Trigger Warnings- Child abuse, violence.