One for the Murphys Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
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One for the Murphys has 50 chapters · 240 pages
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Inside the journal: 50 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Written for this book Questions about this story, good after any chapter.
Which moment in your reading so far best shows what Carley Connors is going through? Explain why that moment matters.See all 50 questions ↓
About the book
A moving debut novel about a foster child learning to open her heart to a family's love.
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One for the Murphys questions by chapter
We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. One question per chapter, across all 50 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
Which moment in your reading so far best shows what Carley Connors is going through? Explain why that moment matters.
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Chapter 2
How does Carley seem to view the Murphys' home so far? Use a detail from your reading to explain her feelings.
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Chapter 3
What have you learned about Carley's life before she came to the Murphys, and what do you still wonder about?
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Chapter 4
Based on what you know now, what might make it easier or harder for Carley to adjust to living with the Murphys?
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Chapter 5
What does Carley's response to Mrs. Murphy's kindness reveal about her? Support your idea with something you have read.
Example answer: I think Carley's response shows that kindness is not easy for her to trust. Mrs. Murphy tries to care for her, but Carley does not simply feel comfortable right away. I think Carley's earlier experiences help explain why she keeps her guard up. This makes me see her as someone who needs time to feel safe, not someone who is just being rude.
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Chapter 6
Which choice has helped you understand Carley better so far? Explain what that choice shows about her.
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Chapter 7
What part of Carley's foster-care situation would you like someone to explain more clearly? Describe why you have that question.
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Chapter 8
Choose a conversation involving Carley from your reading so far. What do the characters' words help you understand?
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Chapter 9
Where do you notice fairness or unfairness in Carley's story so far? Explain your opinion with a detail.
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Chapter 10
Find a word in your recent reading that helps describe Carley's feelings. What does it mean, and why does it fit?
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Chapter 11
What difference between Carley's earlier life and life with the Murphys seems important so far? Explain its effect on her.
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Chapter 12
When does Carley seem to protect her feelings rather than share them? Explain what might make her act that way.
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Chapter 13
Which relationship in Carley's life do you think could change next? Describe a clue that supports your prediction.
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Chapter 14
Where do you see the idea of belonging in the story so far? Explain what belonging might mean to Carley.
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Chapter 15
What small detail about Carley or the Murphy family has caught your attention? Explain what it might help readers understand.
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Chapter 16
Which member of the Murphy family would you most like to understand better at this point? Describe what you would ask that person.
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Chapter 17
What evidence suggests that trusting other people is easy or difficult for Carley? Explain your thinking.
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Chapter 18
How does the title, One for the Murphys, connect to what you have read so far? Give your current idea without guessing the ending.
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Chapter 19
If you could give Carley one piece of advice right now, what would it be? Explain why it could help.
Example answer: I would tell Carley that she does not have to share all her feelings at once. She could start by telling Mrs. Murphy one small thing she needs. I think that would be easier than trying to explain everything about her life. It might also help her discover whether she can trust someone to listen.
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Chapter 20
Choose an unfamiliar word from your latest reading. How do the nearby words or events help you figure out its meaning?
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Chapter 21
What do Carley's thoughts about her mother help you understand about her feelings so far?
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Chapter 22
Which character's actions seem to have a reason that is not stated directly? Explain what you think that reason might be.
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Chapter 23
Where has Carley shown courage so far, even in a small way? Describe what made that moment difficult.
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Chapter 24
Which problem in Carley's life feels most urgent at this point? Predict one possible way she might try to handle it.
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Chapter 25
Pick two characters who might see Carley's situation differently. How could each person's experiences shape that view?
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Chapter 26
What would someone meeting Carley at school need to understand about her, based on your reading so far?
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Chapter 27
Choose an act of kindness from the story so far. Why might it mean more to Carley than someone else realizes?
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Chapter 28
What has surprised you most about Carley or the Murphys up to this point? Explain how it changed your thinking.
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Chapter 29
Which place in the story seems most comfortable or uncomfortable for Carley so far? Use a detail to explain why.
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Chapter 30
Find a word or phrase that makes a moment feel tense, warm, or sad. How does that language affect your understanding of Carley's story?
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Chapter 31
What kind of support does Carley seem to need most right now? Explain which person might be able to offer it.
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Chapter 32
Which decision in the story so far is hard to label simply right or wrong? Explain both sides.
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Chapter 33
What do you predict Carley might learn from Mrs. Murphy? Connect your prediction to what you have read.
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Chapter 34
How has the story encouraged you to look at Carley's behavior with understanding instead of judging her quickly?
Example answer: At first, I might think Carley should just accept the Murphys' kindness. But learning about her difficult experiences helps me understand why that is hard. I can see that someone may act tough when they feel scared or hurt. The story reminds me to think about what a person has been through before deciding what their behavior means.
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Chapter 35
How does hearing the story through Carley's point of view shape what you know about the Murphys? What might another character notice instead?
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Chapter 36
What question about family has your reading raised for you? Explain how Carley's situation led you to that question.
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Chapter 37
Which detail gives you hope for Carley at this point? Explain why that detail feels hopeful.
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Chapter 38
When has your reaction to a situation been different from Carley's reaction? Explain why you might see it differently.
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Chapter 39
What two wants or needs seem to pull Carley in different directions so far? Explain why choosing between them could be difficult.
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Chapter 40
Select a sentence from your recent reading that feels especially meaningful. Explain how it connects to Carley, the Murphys, or the idea of family.
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Chapter 41
What feeling might Carley be hiding at this point? Describe a clue in her words or actions that supports your idea.
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Chapter 42
Which character might be misunderstood by others in the story so far? Explain what people could be overlooking.
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Chapter 43
How do details about the Murphys' home help you picture Carley's new surroundings? Explain why one detail matters.
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Chapter 44
What emotional risk might Carley face next, such as asking for help or sharing a feeling? Explain why you predict that risk.
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Chapter 45
Based on your reading so far, what makes people a family besides living in the same house? Connect your answer to Carley and the Murphys.
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Chapter 46
What kind of friend would be helpful to Carley right now? Explain which qualities would matter most.
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Chapter 47
How could a small action make someone a hero to Carley? Use what you know about her needs and experiences so far.
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Chapter 48
Which part of Carley's behavior has been hardest for you to understand? Explain what information might help you understand it better.
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Chapter 49
Choose two words to describe the mood of your latest reading. Explain how the events or language create that mood.
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Chapter 50
What idea from Carley's story will you keep in mind as you continue reading? Explain what you will watch for next.
Discussion questions for after One for the Murphys
Bigger questions for when the book is finished, each printed on its own ruled page at the end of the booklet.
- How does Carley change from the beginning of One for the Murphys to the end? Explain which relationships and experiences most influence her, using details from different parts of the book. Also describe something important about her that stays the same.
- What does One for the Murphys suggest about the meaning of family and belonging? Explain how Carley and the Murphys help develop that message. Use several moments from the book, and describe how the story affected your own thinking.
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How to use this One for the Murphys reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 50 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for One for the Murphys. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Questions about this story, good after any chapter. We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.
Browse: All books by Lynda Mullaly Hunt