TL;DR: One for the Murphys is a middle-grade powerhouse that tackles foster care, trauma, and the terrifying vulnerability of opening up to a new family. It’s a "cry-it-out" book for the 10-14 age range that manages to be hopeful without being cheesy. If your kid is moving past the "brain rot" phase of Skibidi Toilet and looking for stories with actual emotional stakes, this is a top-tier choice.
Quick Links for Emotional Resilience Reads:
- Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (The author’s other massive hit)
- The War that Saved My Life
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
One for the Murphys follows 12-year-old Carley Connors, a girl who has learned the hard way that "trust" is a dangerous word. After a violent incident involving her stepfather and a mother who failed to protect her, Carley is placed in foster care with the Murphys—a family that feels like they stepped out of a Netflix Christmas special.
They have a "Welcome Home" sign. They eat dinner together. They actually care about each other. For Carley, who is used to surviving on Las Vegas grit and sarcasm, this "perfect" life feels like a personal insult. The book tracks her journey from being a guarded outsider who tries to alienate everyone to someone who realizes she is actually "one of the Murphys"—even if the legal paperwork doesn't say so.
We spend a lot of time worrying about how TikTok or Snapchat are shortening our kids' attention spans or distorting their body image. But the antidote to "shallow" media isn't just "no screens"—it's high-quality, high-empathy narratives.
One for the Murphys is the kind of "slow media" that builds emotional intelligence. It forces kids to sit with uncomfortable feelings: resentment, betrayal, and the confusion of loving two different "mothers" at once. In an era of 15-second clips, a 200-page deep dive into a character's internal trauma is basically a workout for a child's empathy muscles.
If your kid is currently obsessed with Roblox or spends their time watching MrBeast, you might think a book about foster care is a hard sell. But Lynda Mullaly Hunt writes with a specific kind of "no-BS" voice that appeals to modern kids.
- Carley is Snarky: She isn't a "perfect" victim. She’s prickly, she’s sarcastic, and she makes bad decisions. Kids relate to her defensive shell because many of them use the same humor to navigate middle school social hierarchies.
- The "Fish Out of Water" Trope: There’s something universally satisfying about watching someone enter a world they don't understand. Whether it's a new kid at school or a foster kid in a suburban home, that feeling of "I don't belong here" is a core middle-school experience.
- It’s a Tear-Jerker: Don't underestimate the "sad book" trend. Just like adults like a good cry with a movie like The Whale, middle schoolers often seek out books that let them process big, heavy emotions in a safe way.
Recommended Ages: 10-14
While the writing style is accessible for a 4th or 5th grader, the subject matter is heavy. We’re talking about physical abuse (off-page but described in aftermath), the foster care system, and parental neglect.
Content to be aware of:
- The Incident: The backstory involves Carley’s stepfather being physically violent toward her while her mother held her down (or failed to stop him). It’s visceral and can be triggering for kids who have experienced domestic instability.
- Language: Very mild. The "heck" and "shut up" variety.
- The Ending: (Slight Spoiler Alert) This isn't a "Disney" ending where the foster parents adopt her and everything is perfect. Carley eventually returns to her biological mother, who is in rehab/recovery. For some kids, this is frustrating or even upsetting, as they want her to stay with the "nice" family.
Check out our guide on talking to kids about difficult book endings
If your child is reading this, it’s a great opportunity to move past the "did you finish your chapters?" conversation and into something real.
1. The "Mask" Conversation
Carley uses sarcasm and "toughness" to hide how scared she is.
- Ask: "Do you ever feel like you have to put on a certain 'personality' at school or online to keep people from seeing how you're actually feeling?"
2. Redefining Family
The Murphys aren't Carley's "real" family by blood, but they provide the safety she needs.
- Ask: "Who are the people in our lives who feel like family even though they aren't related to us?"
3. The Digital Parallel
In the book, Carley is obsessed with the Boston Red Sox and uses her interests to connect with the Murphy boys.
- Ask: "How do the things you like—like Minecraft or certain YouTubers—help you make friends when you feel like an outsider?"
If One for the Murphys actually got them to put down the iPad for an hour, keep the momentum going with these:
Same author, different struggle. This one is about Ally, a girl who is brilliant at math and art but has hidden her dyslexia for years by being a "troublemaker." It’s the gold standard for books about neurodiversity and "different" kinds of intelligence.
The "classic" version of this story. Gilly is even more of a "problem child" than Carley, and the ending is equally complex. It’s a great comparison read if your kid wants to see how foster care stories have changed over the decades.
If the draw was "learning to be kind to the outsider," Wonder is the obvious next step. It’s a bit more "polished" than Hunt’s work, but it hits the same emotional notes.
Wait, a movie? Yes. If you want to talk about family dynamics and the pressure of being "the perfect one" (like the Murphy kids) versus "the one who doesn't fit in" (like Mirabel or Carley), Encanto is the perfect visual companion.
Here’s the thing: One for the Murphys is a "good" book in the way that broccoli is "good" for you, but it’s actually written like a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos—it’s addictive and fast-paced.
It doesn't pull punches about how much the foster care system can hurt. It doesn't pretend that "love is all you need" to fix a broken kid. Carley’s journey is messy. She’s mean to the youngest Murphy kid. She’s suspicious of Mrs. Murphy’s kindness.
As a parent, you might find the bio-mom’s character frustrating. It’s hard to read about a mother who allowed her child to be hurt. But that’s the reality for a lot of kids, and seeing it represented in a book like this can be incredibly validating for children who feel like their own lives aren't "picture perfect."
One for the Murphys is a 10/10 recommendation for the middle-grade years. It’s a bridge between the "kiddie" books of elementary school and the more intense YA novels of high school. It deals with trauma with a light enough touch to be age-appropriate but with enough honesty to be meaningful.
If your kid is currently "stuck" in a loop of YouTube Shorts or Roblox obbys, hand them this book. Tell them it’s about a girl who hates her foster family. Tell them she’s a Red Sox fan. Tell them it might make them cry.
Sometimes, the best digital wellness strategy is just a really, really good story.
- Read it together: This is a fantastic "buddy read" or audiobook for a road trip.
- Check the WISE score: See how this book ranks against others in its genre on the Screenwise Media Page.
- Discuss the ending: If your kid finishes it, ask them if they think Carley made the right choice. There’s no right answer, and that’s the point.
Ask our chatbot for a list of "books that make you cry" for 12-year-olds