Books like One for the Murphys

If you liked One for the Murphys, read Fish in a Tree, A Night Divided, or El Deafo — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt? The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 6–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to One for the Murphys

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Why each is a match

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Fish in a Tree550L
Is by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, the same author, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
A Night Dividedgrades 5–8
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
El Deafo420L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
The War That Saved My Life580L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
When Stars Are Scatteredgrades 5–8
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
A Long Walk to Water720L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
A Tale Dark and Grimmgrades 4–7
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Alliesgrades 5–9
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like One for the Murphys for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech · grades 3–5 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass · grades 3–5 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed · grades 5–8 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea · grades 3–5 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs · grades 3–5 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list and the same era (2010s).

Books like One for the Murphys for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed · grades 5–8 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles · grades 6–8 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson · 990L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Buddy by M. H. Herlong · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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