One for the Murphys

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2012

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-10

Chapters 11-20

Chapters 21-30

Chapters 31-40

Chapters 41-50

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Themes

Caring Emotions Behind a Facade of Toughness

Because Carley’s mother extolled the virtues of appearing tough and emotionless, so Carley has some inclination toward doing so. Nevertheless, she quickly grows to have a soft spot for Michael Eric and Adam. She genuinely enjoys playing with them the afternoon before she begins school. She worries about Michael Eric the night he has a seizure and jumps into the role of caretaker for Adam when Mrs. Murphy asks. (She tries to tend to Daniel too, but he insists that he doesn’t need her help). When Mrs. Murphy is ill, she offers to keep both Michael Eric and Adam busy with books and get them ready for bedtime. She isn’t angry when Michael Eric inadvertently reveals her secret about being in foster care in front of Toni. Though she strongly dislikes any physical contact from adults for most of the novel—allowing Mrs. Murphy to hug her only after great encouragement—she doesn’t shy away from the younger boys’ touch; while she reads to them in the closet, they lean on her, and when she leaves, they hug her tightly.

Her natural love and tenderness toward Adam and Michael Eric indicate that Carley has immense potential for familial love. This potential shows again in her patience and desire to work through her problems with Toni so that the two of them can repair their friendship. Even when Carley isn’t getting along well with Daniel, she agrees to support him at basketball tryouts by coming along to watch; soon after, she wants to help him improve his skills and is genuinely thrilled for him when he achieves some success at the game. Carley puts a small amount of her toughness to work in helping with Daniel, offering just the right number of jokes to prompt him to accept her help.

Carley’s mother dislikes the emotions she reads in Carley during their first visit and speaks derisively toward her: “You crying now, Carley? They turned you into a sucker, didn’t they?” (185). However, Carley shows tremendous strength in the scenes that follow, as she doesn’t allow her mother’s opinions to influence her anymore. She lets herself remember the rest of the night when Dennis hurt her, accepts that she’ll return to a life with her mother, and allows herself to cry and accept help—and a strong shoulder—from Mrs. Murphy. Carley learns that the vulnerability of feeling and showing emotion is not a lack of toughness but instead helps her grow stronger in the face of challenges.

Influences that Shape Identity

The novel demonstrates how interests help define one’s identity. Mr. Murphy loves baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox; his banter with Carley and Toni surrounds his vigorous support of that team. Mrs. Murphy focuses on creating an organized, nurturing, and supportive home environment that includes family mealtime and group outings. Carley knows that she’s a skilled basketball player and has good memories of playing on a team in Las Vegas. Toni loves Broadway musicals—especially Wicked—and wants to be a performer someday. The story uses these interests to highlight character development or change: Mr. Murphy shows how much he loves Carley and Toni by getting them their own baseball caps. Mrs. Murphy wants Carley to benefit from her happy, well-organized home. Carley uses her basketball prowess to help Daniel and promote a friendlier bond between them. Toni gives Carley her beloved Broadway jacket and a copy of the Wicked soundtrack when Carley leaves, showing the extent to which she cares for her friend.

Family relationships influence individual identity as well. This is Carley’s most important life lesson in the story, as she’s very cognizant of the person she is when she arrives at the Murphys—thinking, “I don’t want someone else’s family” (6)—but soon wonders if she can ever fit in enough to be a Murphy. She often feels as though the life she has with her mother will dictate her future path; for example, in her conversation with Mrs. Murphy about college, Carley tells her, “People like me don’t go to college” (198). Mrs. Murphy reminds her that no one—not even her mother—can prevent a dream like college from coming true. In Carley’s most significant coming-of-age moment, she realizes that while one’s family certainly influences one’s upbringing and can influence one’s identity, family members can’t ultimately define or control who become: “I remember how my mom used to say we were the same. That the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I think, now, that although the apple can come from the tree, it can land on the ground and roll down a hill and end up in a totally different place. A …totally…different place” (206).

Forgiveness as a Path to Fulfillment

Throughout the first half of the story, Carley’s reluctant to forgive. The memory of her mother holding her by the foot on the night of the abusive incident, giving Dennis a chance to catch her and kick her in the stomach, back, and chest, is still vivid and frightening. In addition, she remembers her mother’s harsh words that preceded Dennis’ out-of-control behavior: “Honey, I got her! I got her by the foot!” (31). That moment of betrayal causes Carley to doubt the closeness she thought she and her mother shared; Carley’s bitterness and hurt swell with her sweeping realization in the Murphy household that family can offer a level of love, kindness, and support that she didn’t know existed. Only the sudden memory of what happened after her mother grabbed her by the ankle—her mother’s switch to protector and defender—prompt Carley to begin to forgive. She indicates that she feels drawn to begin repairing their relationship when she says, “She would never call me at school on my birthday!” (202) after her mother asks pointedly if Carley wants “that Murphy woman” to be her mother now. Carley gradually forgives her mother. Her acceptance of moving back to Las Vegas shows Carley’s desire to heal their relationship and enables her to let go of anger and embrace the idea that she can work to create whatever kind of life and future for herself that she wants.

Carley is occasionally upset with Mrs. Murphy throughout the story. The most significant instance occurs when Mrs. Murphy gently refuses Carley’s request to call her “Mom.” Carley’s hurt feelings after this incident lead to anger and embarrassment, and she tells Mrs. Murphy cruelly to leave her alone for the rest of her stay—and then purposefully avoids Mrs. Murphy as much as she can. Carley feels terrible, though; she regrets destroying the Mother’s Day card, appreciates Mrs. Murphy’s attempt to support her mother’s decisions, and eventually goes to Mrs. Murphy to cry and express emotions that she can’t keep inside any longer. Not only does she forgive Mrs. Murphy, but she also sees her with new eyes after finding out that Mrs. Murphy was once in foster care too. Carley feels tremendous fulfillment when she sees how she, too, can rise above her upbringing, changing her identity and goals as she sees fit and forgiving herself as well as others for mistakes.