Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Lynda Mullaly-Hunt, Neag graduate and former third-grade teacher, admits that she wasnt always an aspiring author. Most authors say that theyve wanted to write since they could chew on a crayon, says Mullaly-Hunt, but that wasnt true for me.

She says she wrote One for the Murphys, a middle school-aged novel published in May by Penguin Group for Young Readers, more because it bugged her not to and because she kept hearing the voice of 12-year-old protagonist Carley inside her head. At the time, she had no idea whether the story would sell.

Called a beautiful book and an astonishing debut, the novel follows 12-year-old Carley Connors as she tries to adapt to a foster family environment. Coming from a less-than-ideal family situation and not used to having an attentive mother or stable family, Carley rebels against the attention she receives in this loving home. Conflict arises in the form of an unsupportive foster sibling and a biological mother who might just want Carley back in her life.