Murray Out of Water

by Taylor Tracy Narrated by Sarah Beth Pfeifer

Overview

Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Natalie Lloyd, and Jasmine Warga, this beautiful novel in verse explores one girl's struggle to regain her magic after a hurricane forces her to move away from her beloved ocean that, she believes, has given her special powers.

Bighearted and observant twelve-year-old Murray O'Shea loves the ocean. Every chance she gets, she's in it. It could be because the ocean never makes her apologize for being exactly who she is-something her family refuses to do-but it could also be because of the secret magic that Murray shares with the ocean. Though she can't explain its presence, the electric buzz she feels from her fingertips down to her toes allows her to become one with the ocean and all its creatures, and it makes Murray feel seen in a way she never feels on land.

But then a hurricane hits Murray's Jersey Shore home, sending the O'Sheas far inland to live with relatives. Being this far from the ocean, Murray seems to lose her magic. And stuck in a house with her family, she can no longer avoid the truths she's discovering about herself-like how she feels in the clothes her mom makes her wear, or why she doesn't have boys on the brain like other girls her age.

But it's not all hurricanes and heartache. Thankfully, Murray befriends a boy named Dylan, who has a magic of his own. When Murray agrees to partner with him for a youth roller-rama competition in exchange for help getting her magic back, the two forge an unstoppable bond-one that shows Murray how it's not always the family you were given that makes you feel whole...sometimes it's the family you build along the way.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Heartfelt and magical, Tracy's debut will make you forget where the ocean ends and you begin. I cannot recommend this one enough." — Andrea Beatriz Arango, Newbery Honor Award-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All

"A lyrical journey through the surf and swell of becoming who you truly are, Murray Out of Water pulled my heart into its magical current from the very first poem and stayed with me long after the last." — Kate Fussner, author of The Song of Us

"Joyful and deeply moving, Tracy couples lyrical writing with beautifully realized characters to paint a vivid picture of Murray’s changing world. Filled with magic of all kinds, Murray Out of Water offers a lifeboat for queer youth who need to weather choppy waters." — Caroline Huntoon, author of Skating on Mars and Linus and Etta Could Use a Win

"This magical yet achingly realistic story is a love poem to finding surprising new faces and places to call home. Murray's growing determination to be true to herself in the face of overwhelming change—climate, familial, geographic—will inspire hope in young readers struggling to find their place in a world that constantly shifts beneath their feet." — Jules Machias, author of Both Can Be True

"Murray Out of Water is a stunning, lyrical story that showcases the grief of losing one home, and the magic in discovering ourselves in a new one. From one Jersey kid to another, Murray is a character I could have spent hours with at the shore." — Nicole Melleby, author of Hurricane Season

"I was immediately immersed in the beautiful, brilliant depths of Murray Out of Water. It is a tender exploration of queer identity and friendship with hope and heart that will not only captivate young readers but show them that they are powerful, loveable—and above all—magic."
— Justine Pucella Winans, author of The Otherwoods

"Taylor Tracy's sea swept, magical novel-in-verse beautifully swirls up a tender tale of a middle schooler learning who they are, longing for family acceptance and support, and discovering rock solid friendship on the tumultuous backdrop of climate change. A truly important book that will find its way to the hearts of those who need it most." — Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, author of The League of Picky Eaters

"Beautiful in its simplicity yet swirling with emotion, this book deserves a place in all libraries serving upper elementary and middle school readers. Hand to fans of Starfish by Lisa Fipps and Wave by Diana Farid." — School Library Journal (starred review)

"This lovely, moving novel in verse combines beautiful language with emotional honesty to create a resonant story of identity and growing up. A heartfelt examination of queer identity through the lens of one lovable kid." — Kirkus Reviews

"Imagery is sensory and engaging while Murray’s voice is accessible." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Told in verse that flows like the waves in the ocean, this queer-friendly, open-hearted look at what it means to find yourself should find fans among readers who like the works of Jasmine Warga, Alex Gino, and Lisa Fipps." — Booklist

School Library Journal

★ 05/31/2024

Gr 5 Up—When a hurricane forces Murray and her strict family to leave the Jersey Shore, she finally gets a chance to explore her authentic, gender nonconforming self as she is surrounded by the supportive relatives they have sought refuge with. A new environment allows her to make new friends who introduce her to rollerskating, and offers the opportunity to express herself through drag. Though welcoming, Murray longs for the ocean, which she believes gives her a sense of power. Hints of magic dot this otherwise realistic story of identity, belonging, and found family. This novel in verse is mainly free verse, with a few concrete poems sprinkled in. Tracy has crafted fully fleshed-out secondary characters that help Murray's world come to life for readers—from Murray's villainous mother who cast out her oldest child for being gay, to her nonbinary cousin, Blake, in whom she has found a confidant and defender, and her new best friend, Dylan, who has magical qualities of his own. An author's note includes information about her being inspired by Hurricane Sandy and "the restorative joy of relationships." VERDICT Beautiful in its simplicity yet swirling with emotion, this book deserves a place in all libraries serving upper elementary and middle school readers. Hand to fans of Starfish by Lisa Fipps and Wave by Diana Farid.—Monisha Blair

Kirkus Reviews

2024-02-17
A magical preteen explores her identity in the wake of a life-changing storm.

Twelve-year-old Murray feels a deep connection to the ocean, which manifests as the ability to control small amounts of water: “It swirls / around my ankles, / moving in circular currents / that match the / twirl / of / my hand.” After a hurricane hits her New Jersey town, badly damaging her beachfront home, Murray and her older sister go to live with their aunt and uncle in upstate New York. There, Murray feels her “ocean magic” slip away. On the bright side, she bonds with Blake, her cousin who uses they/them pronouns; Patrick, her formerly estranged older brother; and Dylan, a new friend who’s bullied at school for being gay. Through books, roller skating, and drag, Murray starts to realize that she might like girls and be nonbinary and that family can be chosen, all while trying to get her magic back. This lovely, moving novel in verse combines beautiful language (“Sometimes, when I’m swimming, / I don’t know where Murray ends / and Ocean begins”) with emotional honesty to create a resonant story of identity and growing up. With everything Murray and her family are juggling, the magical element almost feels superfluous, although it does create some charming scenes between Murray and Dylan, who has powers of his own. Major characters read white.

A heartfelt examination of queer identity through the lens of one lovable kid. (author’s note) (Verse fiction. 9-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160562025
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/21/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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