The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride follows a lonely centenarian who finds new purpose through an unlikely bond. Joe Siple’s award-winning novel centers on Murray McBride, a 100-year-old former baseball player grieving the loss of his loved ones. He meets Jason Cashman, a spirited 10-year-old boy awaiting a heart transplant. Jason has created a list of five simple yet meaningful experiences he hopes to achieve. Murray steps in to help make them happen, and their adventures bring joy, laughter, and reflection. Along the way, Murray reconnects with family and rediscovers the value of connection. Readers often praise the book’s emotional depth and themes of intergenerational friendship.
Quick Answer (H3)
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride is a touching novel by Joe Siple about a 100-year-old man who helps a young boy with a heart condition fulfill his bucket list. Their friendship highlights themes of purpose, loss, and joy in everyday moments.
Table of Contents (H3)
- Overview Of The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
- Plot Summary Of The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
- Main Characters In The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
- The Five Wishes On Jason’s List Explained
- Themes In The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
- The Murray McBride Trilogy And Reading Order
- Relationship Between Murray And Jason In The Novel
- Emotional Tone And Reader Reactions To The Story
- Symbolism And Motifs In Murray McBride’s Journey
- Genre, Audience, And Age Suitability For The Book
- Why Readers Choose The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
- How The Five Wishes Change Murray’s Life
- How The Five Wishes Change Jason And His Family
- Using The Book For Book Clubs And Discussion Groups
- Books Similar To The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
- Where To Buy Or Borrow The Murray McBride Books
- FAQs
- Conclusion
TL;DR (H3)
• Elderly man and sick child complete a powerful wish list.
• Story blends sadness, humor, and a hopeful afterglow.
• Strong focus on friendship, regret, and second chances.
• Works well for adults, older teens, and book clubs.
• Part of a small trilogy with sequel and prequel.
Overview Of The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
This section gives a quick book overview so you can decide if it matches your taste. The story premise sounds simple, but it hits surprisingly deep emotional notes for many readers.
You’ll also get an audience snapshot here: who tends to love this book, and what kind of reading mood it fits best.
• Contemporary adult novel set mainly in late-1990s America.
• Follows centenarian Murray McBride and ten-year-old Jason Cashman.
• Jason needs a heart transplant and time is running out fast.
• Murray has outlived nearly everyone and feels ready to give up.
• A chance meeting leads Murray to Jason’s handwritten wish list.
• The list has five things Jason wants to do before he dies.
• Murray chooses to help finish the wishes instead of fading away.
• Their journey brings in Jason’s tough, loyal friend Tiegan.
• The story explores loneliness, illness, and unexpected purpose.
• Tone stays gentle and warm even when the plot turns heavy.
• Ideal for readers who like emotional, character-driven stories.
• Especially good for fans of quiet, hopeful “found family” books.
Plot Summary Of The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
Here you’ll find a straightforward plot summary that stays fairly spoiler-light while covering the main beats. If you want every twist preserved, you can skim just the first few bullets.
The book opens on Murray’s 100th birthday. He’s healthy for his age, but emotionally empty after his wife’s death. He wonders if it’s worth taking the pill that keeps his heart and lungs going.
• Murray slips out of his routine and ends up at a hospital.
• There he meets Jason, a boy with serious heart failure.
• Jason uses humor, sarcasm, and video games to cope.
• Murray learns Jason may not live long enough for a transplant.
• When Jason misplaces his notebook, Murray discovers the wish list.
• The wishes are simple, bold, and very kid-like in spirit.
• Murray offers to help, and Jason slowly agrees to trust him.
• With Tiegan’s help, they arrange adventures around each wish.
• Some wishes require calling in old baseball contacts for access.
• Jason’s health dips and rebounds, adding tension to every outing.
• Murray also tries to reconnect with his estranged grandson.
• The story builds toward tragedy and an unexpectedly hopeful gift.
Main Characters In The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
To enjoy the story, it helps to know the character profiles and how they connect. This quick cast list shows the main relationships without drowning you in minor names.
• Murray McBride – 100-year-old former pro baseball player.
• Regrets spending more time on career than family.
• Grieves deeply for his late wife, Jenny.
• Feels useless until Jason’s wish list pulls him back to life.
• Jason Cashman – ten-year-old boy with a failing heart.
• Smart, funny, and sharp, but clearly frightened.
• Loves video games, superheroes, and big imaginative ideas.
• His five wishes drive the structure of the whole story.
• Tiegan Atherton – Jason’s fierce best friend and defender.
• Helps plan wish-list missions and keeps adults honest.
• Follows the family motto “strong, brave, kind” in tough moments.
• Jason’s parents – loving but exhausted and fearful.
• Torn between protecting Jason and letting him live fully.
• Sometimes clash with Murray over risk and boundaries.
• Chance – Murray’s grandson, distant and resentful at first.
• Represents Murray’s biggest parenting regrets and failures.
• Becomes key to Murray’s own emotional healing arc.
The Five Wishes On Jason’s List Explained
Jason’s bucket list is short, but each item carries big emotional weight. The book doesn’t always present them in a tidy numbered list, but readers consistently describe five main wishes.
• Share a first kiss and feel ordinary kid romance.
• Hit a home run in a real Major League stadium.
• Play superhero and help someone in a meaningful way.
• Find a good partner for his mom so she’s not alone.
• See or perform something that feels like real magic.
• Each wish blends kid fantasy with real emotional needs.
• The list gives Jason a sense of control and purpose.
• It gives Murray a mission beyond simply staying alive.
• Some wishes are playful and funny on the surface.
• Others cut straight into grief, fear, and family love.
• Completing the list becomes a kind of therapy for everyone.
• The final wish connects directly to the story’s closing frame.
Themes In The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
Like many books built on strong friendship themes, this novel works because its ideas feel universal. You don’t need to match the characters’ ages to see yourself in their struggles.
The story explores a redemption arc for Murray and a meaning-of-life journey for everyone involved.
• Regret over past parenting mistakes and emotional distance.
• Late-life chances to do better with a new generation.
• Living fully even when time is clearly running out.
• Facing illness honestly without losing all hope.
• Intergenerational friendship between a child and elder.
• How small acts of kindness ripple through many lives.
• The tension between safety and truly living.
• Balancing personal pain with care for other people.
• Accepting that love always carries risk of loss.
• Seeing “real magic” in loyalty, sacrifice, and courage.
• Remembering that purpose can return at any age.
• Holding both grief and gratitude at the same time.
The Murray McBride Trilogy And Reading Order
If you enjoy this book, a clear series order helps you follow Murray and Jason’s world across all three related titles. The stories connect but focus on different life stages.
The trilogy is usually presented in this reading order:
• The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride – main, original novel.
• The Final Wish of Mr. Murray McBride – direct sequel.
• The First Wish of Mr. Murray McBride – later-written prequel.
• The first book centers on Murray at age 100 and young Jason.
• The second follows Jason as an adult helping a new child.
• The third looks back at Murray’s earlier life and marriage.
• You can start with the original and then read both others.
• The sequel deepens Jason’s arc and long-term growth.
• The prequel adds context to Murray’s love story with Jenny.
• Reading in publication order preserves the emotional build.
• Readers who fall in love with Murray often want all three.
• Each book reinforces the trilogy’s focus on empathy and service.
Relationship Between Murray And Jason In The Novel
The heart of the book is their intergenerational friendship. Without this bond, the wish list would feel like a gimmick instead of a life-changing adventure.
Their emotional bond grows slowly, with plenty of jokes, irritation, and stubbornness on both sides.
• At first, Murray sees Jason as a chance to feel needed again.
• Jason, meanwhile, sees Murray as weird and intrusive.
• Shared humor and sarcasm break the ice between them.
• Murray learns modern kid culture through Jason’s eyes.
• Jason learns about baseball, aging, and old regrets.
• They tease each other but fiercely defend each other.
• Murray starts acting more like the grandparent Jason deserves.
• Jason gives Murray someone to love in the present tense.
• Their time together softens Murray’s bitterness about the past.
• Jason gains courage to face surgery and possible loss.
• By the end, each has saved the other in a different way.
• Their bond shows how care can cross any age gap.
Emotional Tone And Reader Reactions To The Story
Many readers describe this book as a gentle tearjerker with an ultimately hopeful feel. It’s the kind of story that may make you cry and still leave you strangely lighter.
The uplifting ending doesn’t erase the pain, but it honors it alongside joy.
• Expect both laughter and heavy, quiet moments.
• The writing stays simple and accessible, not showy.
• Scenes with Jason and Tiegan bring a lot of humor.
• Murray’s reflections add weight and tenderness.
• The hospital and heart-failure details feel honest, not graphic.
• Reviews often mention “I cried, but in a good way.”
• Many readers praise the balance of sad and sweet.
• Some find parts a bit predictable but still satisfying.
• Book-club readers often rate it highly for discussion.
• Others appreciate that it’s emotional without being cynical.
• It’s a safe pick for people who enjoy heartfelt fiction.
• Sensitive readers may want tissues nearby, just in case.
Symbolism And Motifs In Murray McBride’s Journey
The book uses several symbols and recurring images to deepen its emotional impact. You don’t need to hunt for them, but noticing them can make a reread feel richer.
Baseball is one of the clearest motifs, tying together Murray’s history and Jason’s dreams.
• Baseball represents both lost chances and new hope.
• Murray’s old career connects Jason to big-league settings.
• Hitting a home run becomes more than a sports moment.
• The wish list itself symbolizes fragile but stubborn hope.
• Each wish marks a step in both characters’ emotional growth.
• Murray’s daily pill becomes a symbol of choosing life.
• Taking it means he hasn’t given up yet, even when tempted.
• Hospitals symbolize fear, but also unexpected community.
• “Magic” symbolizes transformation through love and courage.
• SBK (“strong, brave, kind”) becomes a living family motto.
• Time markers, like birthdays, highlight life’s limited span.
• The final gift in the story symbolizes love carried forward.
Genre, Audience, And Age Suitability For The Book
This section clarifies the target audience so you can tell if the book is right for you, your teen, or your club. It’s marketed as adult fiction but has wide crossover appeal.
Think of it as gentle, emotional, contemporary storytelling with serious topics handled in a careful way.
• Genre blend: contemporary, coming-of-age, and family drama.
• Strong emphasis on relationships over plot twists.
• Best primary audience: adult readers who like quiet stories.
• Works well for older teens comfortable with sad content.
• Younger readers may struggle with the emotional heaviness.
• Topics include illness, heart failure, and child loss.
• There are moments of despair and thoughts about dying.
• Romance is light and mostly in backstory or side plots.
• Language and content are generally mild, not graphic.
• Great choice for readers who enjoy reflective narratives.
• Good fit for fans of cross-generational friendship stories.
• Parents can pre-read if recommending it to sensitive teens.
Why Readers Choose The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
Here we focus on reader appeal: the qualities that keep this book popping up in word-of-mouth, clubs, and recommendation lists.
Even when readers mention flaws, they often call the emotional payoff worth it.
• Short, approachable length makes it a quick read.
• Simple writing style suits tired brains and busy schedules.
• Emotional impact feels genuine, not cheap or shocking.
• The premise hooks people who like heartfelt stories.
• Readers often recommend it to friends and family.
• It’s easy to discuss without needing deep literary training.
• Themes resonate with caregivers, grandparents, and parents.
• Fans of “found family” fiction see it as a standout.
• The trilogy offers more if you want to stay in the world.
• Many reviewers say it restored a bit of faith in humanity.
• Strong pick when you want something sad but ultimately hopeful.
• Works as a “bridge” book between light and heavier reads.
How The Five Wishes Change Murray’s Life
This section looks at Murray’s character growth. His arc may be even more powerful than Jason’s, because he starts the book ready to stop living.
Through the wish list, he discovers that late-life change is still very possible.
• At the beginning, Murray feels useless and bitter.
• He thinks his best days and chances are long gone.
• Meeting Jason confronts him with unfair childhood suffering.
• Helping with the wishes gives his days structure and meaning.
• He starts to open up about his regrets as a father.
• The missions force him to reconnect with old parts of himself.
• He gradually acts more like the grandparent he wishes he’d been.
• Facing Jason’s fragility softens his anger at the world.
• He takes responsibility instead of hiding behind his age.
• Even his view of his own mortality shifts over time.
• By the end, he chooses engagement over quiet withdrawal.
• Jason’s final wish shapes how he spends whatever time remains.
How The Five Wishes Change Jason And His Family
Jason’s side of the story is deeply tied to family dynamics. His parents, Tiegan, and Murray all feel the weight of his illness in different ways.
The wish list gives Jason more than fun experiences; it helps everyone process fear and potential loss.
• The wishes let Jason feel like a normal kid again.
• Each completed wish builds courage for medical uncertainty.
• Spending time with Murray broadens his sense of family.
• Tiegan sees that adults can be reliable allies, not just rules.
• Jason’s parents learn to loosen their grip without abandoning safety.
• They start to value memories as much as pure protection.
• The family sees how much Jason still wants to give others.
• Murray’s presence exposes unspoken tensions at home.
• Conversations around risk become more honest and open.
• The final chapters show how love persists past loss.
• Jason’s impact continues shaping his family’s choices later.
• The story honors grief while still pointing toward healing.
Using The Book For Book Clubs And Discussion Groups
Because it works so well as a book club guide, this novel appears on many club lists and discussion blogs. It raises big questions but stays easy to read.
Here are ways to get strong conversations going with almost any group.
• Start with first impressions: sad, hopeful, or both?
• Ask how people felt about Murray’s early despair.
• Discuss which wish on the list hit hardest.
• Explore how the kids talk about illness and fear.
• Compare Murray’s parenting past with his behavior now.
• Talk about SBK (“strong, brave, kind”) as a life motto.
• Ask if anyone has known a Murray-type figure in real life.
• Consider how you’d react as Jason’s parent or guardian.
• Debate whether the ending felt earned or too neat.
• Invite members to share favorite quotes or scenes.
• Use the book as a springboard to discuss elder care.
• Pair it with another intergenerational friendship novel.
Books Similar To The Five Wishes Of Mr. Murray McBride
If you love read-alikes, this section helps you keep your emotional reading streak going. We won’t list dozens of titles, just a few familiar comparison points and what they share.
You can then search for full “books like…” lists using those anchors.
• Look for novels with older protagonists and big hearts.
• Stories about grumpy elders softened by new friendships.
• Books that mix humor and grief in everyday settings.
• Narratives where illness forces honest conversations.
• Titles with unlikely friendships saving everyone involved.
• Stories that center on found family and community.
• Novels where regrets become fuel for late-life change.
• Books marketed as uplifting despite heavy topics.
• Coming-of-age stories that include older characters, too.
• Club favorites that spark talk about mortality and meaning.
• Search your store or library using “heartwarming tearjerker”.
• Ask staff for recommendations similar in tone and feeling.
Where To Buy Or Borrow The Murray McBride Books
Finally, some practical purchase options and borrowing routes. Exact availability depends on where you live, but these general paths usually work well.
Formats now include updated editions from a major publisher, plus earlier printings and digital versions.
• Check large online bookstores for current paperback editions.
• Look for ebook versions on common digital reading platforms.
• Audiobook versions may be available via major providers.
• Local independent bookstores can often order copies in.
• Library catalogs may list both regular and large-print editions.
• Interlibrary loan can help if your branch is out or missing it.
• Used-book sites often carry older or discounted paperbacks.
• Some retailers sell bundle sets with sequel volumes.
• Publisher sites sometimes list signed copies or bonuses.
• Author’s website may link to preferred purchase options.
• For clubs, bulk orders can sometimes reduce per-book cost.
• Always verify edition details if you want matching spines.
FAQs
Is The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride based on a true story?
No, the novel is fiction. The characters and events are invented, though the emotions and situations feel very realistic. The author draws on familiar experiences of aging, illness, and regret rather than retelling one specific true story.
Is The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride suitable for teens?
It’s marketed for adults, but many older teens can handle it. The book deals frankly with serious illness, child mortality, and grief, so it’s best for mature readers. Parents or teachers may want to read it first before recommending it to sensitive teens.
Do I have to read the sequel and prequel too?
You don’t have to. The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride stands on its own with a full emotional arc. The sequel and prequel simply expand the world, following Jason later in life and exploring Murray’s earlier years in more detail.
How sad is this book really?
It is definitely sad in places, especially around Jason’s health and the possibility of loss. However, the story balances that sadness with humor, kindness, and a strong sense of hope. Many readers describe finishing it feeling moved but not crushed.
What makes this book different from other “sick kid” novels?
The biggest difference is the point of view from a 100-year-old man who’s also facing the end of life. The book focuses as much on his second chance and growth as on Jason’s medical struggle, highlighting mutual rescue and intergenerational love.
Do I need a study guide to understand the themes?
Not at all. The writing is clear, and the themes are easy to follow on your own. Study guides and discussion questions can help if you’re using the book in a classroom or club, but casual readers should be comfortable without them.
Is there a lot of medical detail or graphic content?
There are hospital scenes and discussions of surgery and heart failure, but the details stay general and character-focused. The book leans more on feelings and relationships than on clinical description or graphic moments.
Conclusion
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride reminds readers how relationships can transform lives at any age. Through Murray and Jason’s journey, the story explores grief, hope, and the power of small acts of kindness. It leaves a lasting impression with its warm portrayal of unlikely bonds and renewed outlook on living fully. Pick up the book today.
Olivia Hunt is a USA-based wishes and greetings expert with years of experience helping people express emotions through meaningful messages. She focuses on love wishes, sympathy messages, gratitude notes, and encouragement quotes, bringing a blend of emotional intelligence and literary skill to every piece. Her writing is clean, empathetic, and perfect for readers looking for the right words at the right time.