One for the Murphy's by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

When you think of the word hero, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Is it a firefighter, a police officer, or a teacher?
How do you qualify someone as being a hero?
I know one thing for sure, when I finished this book, I realized the unsung heroes are those who are foster parents. This book weaves the story of a foster parent, with that of a foster child. The beautiful intricacy of this book is that this author has given children the ability to see both perspectives. Even though Carley Connors has been treated horribly by her mother, and step-father (unimaginable atrocities), she is still grief-stricken to leave her mother. Luckily for Carley, she is placed in a very loving home. Mrs. Murphy is what Carley always wanted in a mother. She's Carley's dream parent. Mrs. Murphy is loving, compassionate, and patient. She's everything Carley's mother never was. Unfortunately, not all of the Murphy's are so enthusiastic about Carley's presence. The Murphy's have three boys, and the oldest, Daniel, lets Carley know how little he wants her to be there. She navigates her way through adolescence, and being a foster kid. Will Carley ever fit in? How will she ever find a way to belong? Does she actually want to belong? One thing is for certain-you MUST buy and read this book (Click Here to Buy the Book). If you take my advice, and buy and read the book, I promise you will see the beauty of the story. You will weep at the end. You will feel both relief, and at the same time, a sadness. You will wonder what happened to those characters as their story continues on in your head. I know I have my perfect ending all tucked away in my brain. I am charged to share this book at my school site and beyond. The story is just that good.

There's a Book Trailer on You Tube you can show your students. It is one of my favorite book trailers. Please tell me you know about book trailers! It's a great way to do a "book talk" with your students without having read the book yourself. The best way to sell a book to your students is to have read it yourself, but book trailers are the next best thing.

One Final Thought
Think of how incredibly difficult it must be to leave your parents, and be put into the home of a complete stranger. The shocking fact is that there are way too many foster kids out there. Some of these foster children may be in your class, and you may not even know! Hug your babies tighter, love your students more, and remember that we are all a product of our environment. Be patient, be kind, be compassionate. Most importantly....