Analysis Of One For The Murphy's

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Have you ever felt like people are being too nice, almost that it's fake? How about being the new kid with no friends? Lynda Mullaly Hunt, the author of One For The Murphy’s, perfectly captures the life of a teenager and the trepidation that one may have being “the new kid.” One For The Murphy’s is a coming of age story about Carley Connors, a twelve-year-old foster child, trying to navigate through the difficulties of being away from everyone she knows. Carley has to live with a delightful foster family who takes great care of her after Carley’s mom gets beat up and can’t take care of her own daughter anymore. Although, the Murphy’s are a great family, it’s very hard for Carley to adapt to a completely different life. Carley has to deal with …show more content…

It becomes intolerable when she can’t deal with her new family anymore and decides to run away. Carley says, “I fall. Slowly. My palms and face rest on the dirt before I fall to my side, curled up like a caterpillar that’s been touched,” (Hunt, 29). This shows that in the beginning of the book, Carley doesn’t give Mrs. Murphy, or any of the Murphys, a chance and runs away. On top of all of this, Carley has to start at a new school, where the girl that has a locker next to Carley is very obnoxious and not welcoming. With all of this on Carley’s plate, she is very overwhelmed, but convinces herself not to let any of her emotions out. When Mrs. Murphy comes hysterically crying looking for Carley, it was the first step to Carley coming to the realization that the Murphys might not be that …show more content…

One day, Carley decides to go the library with Mrs Murphy’s library card and Carley finds out Mrs. Murphy has a book about adoption. When Carley sees this she is ecstatic and tries really hard to be a great person to the Murphy family. Carley states “‘Oh. You have an overdue book here. Navigating the World of Adoption. Shall I renew it for you?’ Talk about stunned. ‘Mrs. Murphy?’ she asks. ‘Oh, yeah. Uh, yes, please.’ And although I leave with a backpack full of books, I’ve never felt lighter,” (Hunt 89). This is important because Carley comes to the realization she might become a Murphy! This is the point in the book when Carley decides to finally give the Murphy’s the chance they deserve. Therefore, Carley is now able to lean on the Murphy’s when she needs it most, and she feels like she is a daughter of the