“We’re pals together, rootin’ pals, tootin’ pals, birds of a feather.”
Carley's mom
Where did Carley live before going to live with the Murphys?
Las Vegas [Nevada]
What secret nickname does Carley give Mrs. Murphy?
Perky Murphy
What do Carley and Mr. Murphy bond over?
Baseball
What is Carley's habit when she is stressed?
She counts numbers
Why does Carley hang Jimmy Partins in a tree by his overalls?
He keeps bullying / punches Michael Eric
“All these gifts you have, Carley. All these gifts you have."
Mrs. Julie Murphy
Where do Carley and her mom get clothing from in Las Vegas?
Salvation Army drop boxes
What is the big reveal about Mrs. Murphy at the end of the novel?
She was also a foster kid
In an effort to make peace, Carley coaches Daniel in....
Basketball
What emotional expression does Carley refuse to use?
Crying
What name does Michael Eric give to Carley's stuffed giraffe?
Mr. Longneck
"Someday, Carley, you're going to have to realize that being angry at the whole world only hurts you."
Mrs. MacAvoy
[Carley's social worker]
Why does Carley incite Dennis?
She wants to prove to her mom how bad of a person he is
What is Mrs. Murphy's favorite book?
The Giving Tree
What song from her childhood is important to Carley? Why?
"Kiss the Girl" from the Little Mermaid;
it was important to Carley because it is tied to a happy memory with her mom
What is Carley's super hero name?
Super High Tops Girl
In the book, how old does Carley turn when she is with the Murphys?
13 years old
"Well, you say we aren’t supposed to lie, and I want her to go."
Daniel
Why did Carley and her mom move to Conneticut?
Carley's grandfather died, so they moved into his apartment to settle the estate
What horrible event occurs that becomes a turning point for Carley where she realizes she loves all of the Murphys?
Michael Eric has a seizure and is taken to the hospital.
Why does Toni feel betrayed by Carley?
Carley doesn't tell Toni that she is a foster child / Carley passes off the Murphys as her birth family
What is Rainer's nickname for Carley?
Oliver (after Oliver Twist, a book about an abandoned orphan)
What was Toni's real first and last name?
Charity Byars
"I've decided that you shall all suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune... I'll do this—force you together and invite conflict—because I want you to think about what the world would be like if we all worked to understand people who are different than we are."
Mr. Ruben
[Carley's quirky History teacher at Smith Middle School]
Who is the person who tried to get custody of Carley when she was little?
Her grandfather
What is the motto Carley associates with the Murphys?
Be Someone's Hero / Family Sticks Together
What gifts do Toni and Carley exchange before she leaves the Murphys?
Toni gives Carley her jacket and a CD
Carley gives Toni her Converse high tops
When can Carley contact the Murphys again?
When she is 18
What day of the year was Carley born on?
April 1st / April Fools Day