Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of book that stays with you—and that's both its strength and its challenge. Hunt doesn't sugarcoat what it's like to be a kid in foster care after domestic violence, but she also doesn't wallow. Carley is prickly and funny and self-protective in ways that feel earned, not manufactured.

The Murphy family could have been annoyingly perfect, but they're not—they're just stable and loving, which feels revolutionary to Carley. The book's real power is in showing how hard it is to accept love when you've learned that people hurt you.

This isn't a light read. It's emotionally heavy, and some kids will find it genuinely sad. But for the right reader—one who's ready for stories about hard things—it's excellent. Foster parents on Reddit are recommending it to each other, which tells you it rings true.

The 2013 publication date hasn't aged it badly; family dynamics and foster care issues are timeless. If your kid is emotionally mature enough for the content, this is a strong pick that builds empathy and understanding.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-14, particularly mature middle schoolers who can handle emotionally complex stories about trauma and foster care. The content isn't graphic, but the emotional weight is real. Younger kids might struggle with the heaviness; older teens might find it too middle-grade in voice.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Models kindness, empathy, and healthy family dynamics through the Murphy family. Shows a traumatized child learning to trust and accept love. Handles difficult topics (abuse, foster care, abandonment) with age-appropriate sensitivity while maintaining emotional honesty. The stable, nurturing Murphy household provides a positive contrast to Carley's past trauma.

Imaginative

72

Strong character development and emotional depth as Carley navigates her new reality. Uses humor and street smarts as creative survival mechanisms. The 'alien in a cookie-cutter household' metaphor invites readers to see family dynamics from an outsider's perspective. Less about fantastical creativity, more about imaginative empathy—seeing the world through a foster child's eyes.

Safe

65

Contains references to domestic violence (Carley and her mother are hospitalized after an 'altercation' with her abusive stepfather), emotional trauma, and foster care system challenges. The violence happens off-page but its aftermath is central to the story. No graphic descriptions, but the emotional weight is heavy. Age-appropriate for middle grade readers who can handle difficult topics, but not a light read.

Enriching

91

Deeply empathetic exploration of foster care, trauma, resilience, and what family really means. Builds understanding of how abuse affects children's ability to trust and accept love. Award-winning (Tassy Walden Award) with strong reviews praising its 'fearless' and 'compassionate' storytelling. Teaches about emotional walls, healing, and belonging. The central dilemma—choosing between birth mother and foster family—is genuinely thought-provoking.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Authentic, unflinching look at foster care that foster parents themselves recommend reading
Carley is a genuinely compelling character—funny, defensive, and heartbreakingly real
Shows kids what trauma and healing actually look like, not a sanitized version
From the author of Fish in a Tree, with a Tassy Walden Award for New Voice in Children's Literature
The Murphy family models healthy attachment and unconditional love without being preachy

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What to Watch For

The inciting incident involves domestic violence that lands Carley and her mom in the hospital—it's not described in detail, but it's the reason she enters foster care
Heavy emotional content about abandonment, worthiness, and choosing between birth family and foster family
Some kids will find this story deeply sad, even though it's ultimately hopeful
Best for emotionally mature readers who won't be overwhelmed by the subject matter

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Carley uses humor to keep people at a distance? Have you ever done something similar?"
"What makes a family a 'real' family—is it biology or something else?"
"How would you feel if you were Carley and had to choose between your birth mom and the Murphys?"
"Why is it so hard for Carley to accept the Murphys' kindness at first?"
"What do you think the 'gifts' are that the Murphys gave Carley?"

Deep Dive

The "Perfect Family" Friction

If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in a room where everyone else seems to know the secret handshake, you’ll get why Carley Connors is so prickly. When she’s dropped into the Murphy household, she doesn't see a safety net; she sees a threat. To a kid who has survived by being tough and cynical, the Murphys’ brand of organized, middle-class stability feels like a foreign language she has no interest in learning.

This is where the book succeeds where others fail. It would have been easy for Lynda Mullaly Hunt to make the Murphys a collection of cardboard cutouts, but they function as a mirror for Carley’s own trauma. Her resistance to their kindness isn't just "teen angst"—it’s a survival mechanism. Watching her slowly realize that she’s allowed to be a child is the real heart of the story. If your kid is currently navigating their own "alien" phase at school or in a new social circle, Carley’s internal monologue will feel incredibly resonant.

Why the Ending Hits Different

Most middle-grade novels about kids in "the system" follow a predictable arc toward a permanent, tidy resolution. One for the Murphys refuses to take the easy way out. The choice Carley eventually has to make between her biological mother and the life she’s built with the Murphys is brutal. It’s the kind of narrative tension that leads to the best late-night "but what would you do?" conversations with your kid.

Because it deals so heavily with the idea of "chosen family" versus biological ties, it’s a natural companion to our guide on Books About Adoption. While foster care and adoption are different journeys, the underlying questions about where a person truly belongs are the same. This book doesn't give a "right" answer, which is exactly why it stays with you long after the final chapter.

The Hunt Connection

If your kid has already read Fish in a Tree, they’ll recognize the author’s talent for writing characters who feel like they’re being misunderstood by the entire world. Both books specialize in that specific brand of middle-grade empathy. However, One for the Murphys is the heavier sibling. If you’re trying to decide if they’re ready to level up from the classroom drama of Ally Nickerson to the higher stakes of Carley Connors, check out our Fish in a Tree Parents Guide to compare the emotional weight.

How to Handle the "Heavy"

This isn't a book you just hand to a ten-year-old and walk away. The backstory involves a violent altercation that is referenced enough to be a presence throughout the book. It’s handled with care, but the emotional scars are visible. For parents, the move here is to treat it as a bridge. It’s a way to talk about the fact that some kids are dealing with things that aren't visible on the surface.

If you want a deeper look at the specific resilience-building themes here, our guide to One for the Murphys: Navigating Trauma, Healing, and the True Meaning of Family breaks down the big emotions chapter-by-chapter. This is a "tissue box" book, but it’s also a "growth" book. It’s for the kid who is starting to realize that the world is complicated and that sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is let someone be nice to you.