PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Lynda received the Tassy Walden Award for her first draft of One for the Murphys, which is her debut novel. Lynda
has been Director of the SCBWI-NE Whispering Pines Retreat for six years. She
lives in Marlborough,Connecticut with her husband, two kids, impetuous beagle and beagle-loathing cat. Lynda’s
next MG novel, ALPHABET SOUP, will be released in spring, 2014.
A house in Connecticut,the color of dirt,tall trees surrounding it like guards on watch,a large number 66 on the mailbox.
Carley grew up in Las Vegas with her mother and her moms boyfriend.But when something goes wrong in their lives,Carley is forced to do things she doesn't want to do.
Carley is a primary character in this story. She is both a protagonist and an antagonist because she has conflict with herself. She is twelve years old and in middle school. She grew up in Las Vegas with her mother. They didn't have a lot of money and she wasn't used to being spoiled. This is why she isn't used to the environment at the Murphy house.
Mrs. Murphy is a primary character in this story. She is a loving mother to her three boys: Daniel, Adam, and Michael Eric. She is neither a protagonist nor an antagonist. At first, Carley isn't sure if she likes her or not. Mrs. Murphy cries a lot and this is unusual to Carley because she was taught that crying is a sign of weakness.
Daniel is a supporting character in this story. He is one of Mrs. Murphy's sons. At first, Carley and Daniel don't like each other. He was an antagonist at the beginning. Later on, they grow to like each other.
Adam is a supporting character in this story. He is one of Mrs. Murphy's sons. He is neither an antagonist nor a protagonist.
Michael Eric is a supporting character in this story. He is Mrs. Murphy's youngest son. He is Carley's favorite. He likes to play superheros with Carley. He is neither an antagonist nor a protagonist.
Carley's mom is a supporting character in this story. Carley isn't sure how to feel about her throughout the book. Carley's mom and her husband, Dennis, abused Carley one night. That's how she ended up in foster care. She is an antagonist but at the end of the book, she becomes a protagonist.
Dennis is Carley's stepfather, Carley's mom's husband. He is a supporting character. He abuses both Carley and her mother. This makes him an antagonist. Carley never liked him.
Toni is a supporting character. At first, Carley doesn't like her. She was very mean to her. They later become friends when they have to work on a project together. Toni is an antagonist at the beginning but later becomes neither a protagonist nor an antagonist.
Mr. Murphy is a supporting character. He is Mrs. Murphy's husband. He is a fan of the Boston Red Sox. He is a firefighter. he is neither a protagonist nor an antagonist.
The man vs.self conflict in this story is between Carley and herself.She isn't sure who she should trust or what decisions she should make.She doesn't know whether she wants to stay with the Murphys or live with her mother.There is no man vs.society conflict in this book so i replaced it with a man vs. man conflict.When Carley goes to visit her mother, they end up in a fight.Carley's mother is angry at Carley because she is living a better life than she can supply at the Murphy's home.
Conflicts continued.The man vs. man conflict in this story is between Toni and Carley.They do not like each other.They have conflict when they are assigned a project together.There is no man vs.nature conflict so I am replacing it with a man vs.man conflict. Daniel and Carley don't get along well at the beginning of the story.Daniel doesn't like the fact that Carley is staying at his house and getting attention from his mother.
The theme of One for the Murphys is being lucky.The word lucky comes up often in the book. Carley’s definition of the word lucky changes during her stay
with the Murphys. She uses the word sarcastically at the beginning of
the book, but those same things that made her feel unlucky in the beginning,
make her feel lucky toward the end.
I loved this book.It showed true emotion and feeling in the way real life does.I enjoyed reading it and would recommend this book to any of my friends.It is funny,happy,sad,and friendly all raped up in one really awesome book.
