Ready-Made Family

Foster Children

by Frances Salomon Murphy

When Hedwig, Peter and Mary Rose Kowalski are told at the State Home and School that they are being fostered with a kind druggist and his wife - Mary Rose goes smilingly because she is only six, Peter goes sourly because at ten he has had enough mistreatment to learn how to lie, and twelve year old Hedwig with resignation for the bad things she'll probably encounter. But after the initial strangeness of a new life is over, life with the Kennedys gets better and better. The Kowalskis make their own young friends; Grandmother Kennedy gradually warms to the newcomers and when Hedy's aunt returns to try to claim her, new love and security keep Hedy where she is.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Fostering

Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Frances Salomon Murphy worked as a social worker and an elementary school teacher. She published two children's books about children in the foster care system, A Nickel for Alice (1951) (also published as Runaway Alice) (1951) and Ready-Made Family (1953). Shortly before her death in 1964, she completed a social studies textbook, History of Portland, Connecticut (1969), which was published posthumously.

Reviews

[Ruby Hollyberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent depiction of adoption. Specifically of the adoption of school-age children. Three siblings of Polish ancestry have been passed around in the city ghetto by relatives who abused and devalued them following their mother's death. The oldest girl has learned to be a household slave, the littlest, very pretty girl has learned to flirt and tattle, and the middle child, a boy, has learned that he is no good and developed problems with temper tantrums, nightmares and stealing. They are placed with a couple with a nice old house in a small town, and slowly they unfold and begin to blossom, winning over a few skeptics in their family and community as they go. I enjoyed this as a child and still enjoy it today. The Fifties seems to be the time frame, but the situation of good-sized kids with nowhere to go is always timely.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This afternoon I was working on a textile project when suddenly the name "Hedwig" floated to the top of my mind. For years I've been trying to remember the name of the book I loved as a child, about three children who are placed in a foster home. The story is told in the POV of the eldest child, who loves her foster parents but worries it's just temporary and they'll be shuttled off to another foster home. Suddenly I remembered her name was Hedwig. The book resonated with me, I think, because my parents were going through a bitter, protracted divorce probably around the time I read this and I, too, worried about my future.

I plugged "Hedwig" and "family" into Amazon, and up popped the familiar green cover of the book I liked so much over 40 years ago. I ordered a used copy and can't wait to revisit the story!

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember loving this book when I was growing up. I'd love to find it now & read it again.

[Wallene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had such an impact on me as a child!!!

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story. And Hedy, Peter and Mary Rose are all so special and real and just when I want to say something to one of them, or hug one, Mr. or Mrs. Kennedy do it for me. I love the setting of the small town where people know each other and where kids run back and forth to friend’s houses.
I don’t know how many times I’ve read this story, but I know this won’t be my last time.

There are a few euphemisms.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the three Kowalski siblings are placed together in a foster home, Hedy the oldest child worries: “No one would keep Peter, of that she felt sure. And no one would really want her unless they needed her help. Mary Rose was the one a family would want.” There are difficulties ahead, but also a realistically happy ending for all three children and their new family in this generally optimistic 1953 children’s book about life in a foster home.

[Clara Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story this is! Three siblings that have been passed from relative to relative and then to the care of the state...and how they come to find a home and family! I love how each child has a separate personality and separate reaction to being parentless - Hedy is just trying to keep the siblings together and hoping nothing goes wrong to ruin things with their new family, Peter has been mistreated so many times that he has trouble with nightmares and misbehavior, and little Mary Rose is young and well-liked and seems to adapt to her new situation easily. I felt I was right there with them going through the ups and downs of their new life, feeling worried that things wouldn't work out, and being so relieved when they do. I loved the little details the author gives, telling us the color of the wallpaper in Hedy's new room, the color of her new clothes, the kinds of flowers Hedy and her friends find on their outing in the Springtime woods, and the different foods packed for a picnic when the family goes to the lake for a swim. It was heartwarming to see that these kids who deserved love so much finally got it through their new parents' kindness and care!

[EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH a sweet and well-told story, and I love the thoughtful way the author approaches the subject matter and still makes time to keep the story light and fun.

[Tirzah · Rating 5 out of 5]

We do a book exchange at my family reunion and as older books are appreciated among us, I almost always find a good, old-fashioned book to read. Besides the exciting fact that the main character's name is Hedwig, I liked this story as it centers on how people can be loving families by adoption. I also like how it reflects a time that was much more simple with human interaction (picnics and treehouses instead of tablets and video games). Unfortunately, many children today would not pick up a cover that looks old. My ten-year old self never had a problem with that - in fact, the older and more yellow paged the better - but I was different than most. I hope somehow Scholastic reintroduces the book with a modern cover so today's kids can enjoy yesterday's good stories.

[Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a touching, charming, wonderful story.

Several times I had to stop reading to wipe the tears from my eyes. The love these children long for, and ultimately receive from their new parents--is palpable.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love those orphan books!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is one of the books I had to leave behind when I moved out of my parents' house and it was a childhood favorite...my bb found it for me on ebay for Christmas bc she is perfect :')

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely tale from childhood :)

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*, this was a very clear portrayal of foster life from the perspective of the 12 yr old MC Hedwig (pronounced Hed-vig). She is placed with her 10 yr old brother and 6 yr old sister with an older childless couple in a small town. The story really conveys her uncertainty, her worries, concerns, and struggles. It is a heartwarming story of seeing these children really get a chance at a family, of learning what that looks like.

It starts in late March and goes through the end of summer. It includes navigating new friendships, worry over braces, overcoming initial dislike of people, being truthful, apologizing, owning up to mistakes. The foster parents and the social worker, Miss Cannon, are amazing and wonderful examples of good adults you want in your life.

Part of my lower rating is due to the 6 yr old name calling of her brother, which in her defense is more repeating what she has heard. The foster mother really helps her to learn when to tell an adult regarding the actions of others and when it is not helpful. It was hard to read of the situations these children were in prior to this foster family but as a whole it is a good story and a window to what foster placement could feel like from the child's perspective.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites. A story of three orphans: two sisters and a brother trying to find a home. After being shuffled from relative to relative then finally into a State Home and School, they get one last chance to be together and hopefully adopted.

There’s adorable little Mary Rose who know how to use her cuteness to get her own way. Ten year-old Peter is sully and doesn’t like women or to be touched. And big sister (12) Hedwig, or Hedy, who worries about how to keep the three together and not be split up to different homes.

Footnote: 1) unfortunately my copy of this book is missing the last few pages, (Oh no) but what I do have ends at a good place.

Fave scenes: swimming at the lake and finding the two scarves.

[Wallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made a huge impression on me when I read it in the sixth grade. Before then, I had not given much thought to a future with children, but it was most likely to be my own birth children. Reading about the Hedy, her brother Peter and sister Mary Rose, I started to realize that there are many, many ways to have a family and I would now prefer to have my own "ready-made family."
Hedy had faced so much heart-ache and rejection she just came to expect it. With each "disaster", which was really just normal "kid stuff", Hedy became more resigned that they will be sent away. The ending, where her new "mom" tells her that she always wanted a "ready-made family" brought tears to my eyes.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is very dated, it must have been quite progressive for its time. 3 children, including a troubled boy, are fostered by an older couple with no kids of their own. The boy has been mistreated and abused by female relatives and has a difficult time with his temper among other issues. His pre-teen sister narrates the story, worrying about her troubled brother as well as some problems of her own. Well-done real-life drama for 1953.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring. A young woman with so much love for children that she wanted to adopt after hearing she could not have children. After that, her life was changed, she became bold and worked hard to become the oerson she was meant to be

[Angie Kaelberer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 5th grade (1973) and loved it. Would love to find a copy again.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an incredible sweet story about family and how families can be made. Dated, but so very very worth a read.

[Beth Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia reread, but it holds up very well. Also, there was a cameo by the characters from A Nickel for Alice, which I hadn't noticed on earlier reads because I hadn't read ANFA yet.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good childrens' story about foster families.

[Ashleigh Cartmill]

I haven't read this book in so long that I can't rate it. But I think I liked it.

[Elizabeth]

Ready-made family by Frances Salomon Murphy (1953)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as a child, and still have the copy.

[Aidan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter was a great character. :)

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. A wonderful read that I would have loved as a child. First published in 1953, it's rather dated -- but that's no drawback.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

childrens story of how foster kids become part of a real family- 1950's americana.

[Davethorson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a young teenager. This was a Scholastic publication, and every year before Summer vacation, the Scholastic catalog would come out and I would pick books from it to read over the summer. It had a great impression on me, as a young kid who wasn't sure how he fit in anywhere. Even though I had a solid family upbringing, and with two parents, I somehow identified with the young boy in the story who is one of three siblings placed in a foster home, and who has problems with honesty.

I reread this book a few years ago after searching for it again. It was just as good as I remembered. The plot is realistic in that all the story lines are not neatly tied up in a "happily ever after" type of context, unlike your usual coming of age young adult novel. The three children are believable characters because they are not especially talented, good looking, and even lovable. They seem like real children.

A well written, thoughtful book. I've come to where I try to give books away if I don't think I'll read them again. This one I'm keeping, because I'm sure I'll return to it from time to time.

Highly recommended.