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John Riley's Daughter by Kexi Matthews

Summary

John Riley's Daughter opens in a small South Carolina town in the early 1970s with the disappearance of Memphis Riley's 29-year-old mentally handicapped aunt, Clover. Memphis and Clover have never gotten along, which is just one of the things Memphis's grandmother will never forgive her for. Six years ago Memphis's folksinging father, John Riley, dropped her off at her grandmother's house "temporarily" after her mother died; he hasn't been back since. Now Memphis's life is a constant round of domestic battles and uneasy truces. And she can't rely on her mother, Rosie, who no longer appears in her daughter's dreams. After Clover disappears, Memphis finds herself on the defensive yet again, and even her grandmother suspects that Memphis may have harmed Clover. In this powerful story told in the first person and set over the course of three sweltering July days, Memphis must come to terms with her life, her attitudes, and her options.

122 pages, 5th grade and up

Discussion questions

Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Describe the relationship between Memphis and her grandmother. How do they get along. Compare it to her relationship with Aunt Birdie.
  2. Why does the guitar matter so much to Memphis? To Clover?
  3. Is it fair the way Naomi treats Memphis? Do you think children should be held responsible for their parents' actions? Why do you think that happens?
  4. What is Memphis's reputation around town? How did it develop? Does she deserve it?
  5. What did you predict had happened to Clover? Were you right?
  6. Why did Clover write her name over Memphis's on the report card?
  7. Describe Memphis's friendship with Samson. Is he a good friend? Do you think their friendship will turn to romance someday?
  8. Do you agree with Memphis when she says, "But you can't take back one second of your life. It just moves on to the next and the one after that, on and on for as long as you live" (pg. 98). Why or why not?
  9. At any point in the novel, did you think John Riley would appear? Why do think this novel is titled John Riley's Daughter
  10. Do you have hope for Memphi at the end of the story? What do you predict for her future?

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