Teacher’s Guide
John Riley’s Daughter by Kezi Mathews

Knowledge:

1. Explain what is wrong with Clover Martin and how it happened.

2. Describe who the following characters are: Naomi, Memphis, Clover, and Aunt

Birdie.

Comprehension:

1. Retell what has happened between Memphis and Clover in the opening chapters.

2. Who is Samson, and why is he so important to Memphis?

Analysis:

1. Tell how this story would be different if told through the eyes of Clover rather

than Memphis.

2. In Chapter five a stranger takes Memphis by surprise at home. Explain what you

would do in similar circumstances.

Synthesis:

1. What would happen today if a child (or an adult with pretty severe disabilities)

disappears? How would it be different than 1973?

2. How would you feel if you were John Riley’s daughter?

Evaluation:

1. In the end, Memphis says, “ I’m coming to understand that home isn’t brick or

board. It’s a feeling of belonging, of being at peace right where you are.” Explain

what helped Memphis come to this conclusion. And, if you were Memphis, would

you have?

Prediction Guide: John Riley’s Daughter

Pre-Reading:

1. Who do you suppose is John Riley’s Daughter? Why would someone refer to

herself as someone’s daughter rather than by her own name?

2. Before the opening of chapter one, the author quotes a passage from the bible. Job

28:12. What could this seven word question tell you about what might happen?

Chapter 1:

1. When and where do you think Clover will be found?

2. Will Naomi forgive Memphis for starting another battle with Clover and making

her run off?

3. What do you suppose that guitar is so important to Memphis?

Chapter 2:

1. Do you think John Riley will show up through the course of the book?

2. Will they find Clover at the store? Will Memphis own up to starting the fight with

Naomi?

Chapter 3

1. Do you think Clover is truly lost or is she, like Memphis said, “ What is Clover

trying to prove?”

2. At the end of chapter three why is Naomi “in the front yard, running back and

forth screaming, “No! No!”

Chapter 4

1. Why would folks be talking about Memphis and the Greely boy?

2. Why did Rebecca Simmons mother tell her “to stay a country mile away from the

likes of you!”

3. What do you think happened to Memphis’ guitar? Why?

Chapter 5

1. Why would Memphis look in Clover’s room?

2. Describe the man who comes to the door.

3. Will she tell Aunt Birdie and Naomi about the man at the door? Why?

Chapter 6

1. Why do you suppose Memphis doesn’t really believe Clover is missing? What

purpose does this serve her?

2. “Its canopy of pines and live oaks met way up overhead, dripping down Spanish

moss laced with wild pink and white azaleas. Every living thing in there knew

when you showed up.” Describe a natural place in your own neighborhood. Also,

explain why Memphis is going there.

3. Why does Memphis think the Sheriff wants to talk to her?

Chapter 7

1. “But when it seen me, it knowed who to come to, who’d take care of it.” Who will

do this for John Riley’s daughter? Who loves her best?

2. What kind of trouble is going to come from Memphis stepping on that red rock?

3. Samson says, “ in no way did it remind me of clover [the possum]” but does it?

How?

Chapter 8

1. Who does Naomi blame?

2. What is the sheriff trying to find out?

3. Who else does Naomi blame? Find a quote to prove it.

Chapter 9

1. What is Naomi implying with the words, “nobody in my family ever looked like

that.”

2. Who did Aunt Birdie want to marry? How would all the things be different then?

3. Will the famous bloodhound find her? What makes you think so?

Chapter 10

1. What do they need to track her?

2. What surprise happens at the end of chapter ten? Will it happen again?

Chapter 11

1. What does Memphis do during the terrible wait?

2. What story does Samson’s mama tell to maker her feel better?

3. Do they find her?

Chapter 12

1. How did Memphis learn about Clover’s condition?

2. What really hurts Memphis at the end of chapter 12?

Chapter 13

1. “ I know you’re sorry, Memphis. But that doesn’t make things right. That doesn’t

undo the damage.” Who do you agree with here?

2. Are you glad Aunt Birdie asks her to stay with her, why?

Chapter 14

1. Does Naomi ever really forgive Memphis?

2. Does Memphis forgive John Riley?

3. What happens to Samson, and in the end, how is Memphis changed?

Multiple Intelligence projects for
John Riley’s Daughter by Kezi Mathews

Verbal/ Linguistic

Pretend you are Memphis and write a letter of apology to Naomi for what happened.

Logical/ Mathematical

Create a venn diagram (intersecting circles) comparing Naomi to Aunt Birdie. Be sure to

list what they have in common, and differences too.

Visual/ Spatial

In chapter 6 Mathews describes the pine woods. Using whatever natural elements you

can, create a piece of art that depicts the mood of that description. (for example: moss,

leaves, bark, etc.)

Body/ Kinesthetic

In small groups, pick a key scene to recreate. It can be one that played on or off screen in

the book. Use the book as a guide for your screenplay of the scene, but add in details like

gestures or set design of your own.

Musical/ Rhythmic

Listen to the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” that is mentioned on the first page of the book.

What do you think of it and why? Have you ever heard any other music from this era?

How are they different from the music of today?

Interpersonal

As part of the scene to re-enact decide how to divide the labor of the project fairly.

Decide who should be in charge of what, and how each member will be held accountable

for their contribution. Should grades be given by the teacher or partly by team members

too? Think about all aspects of the production before assignments are decided upon.

Make a contract, and hand it in to your teacher before you begin work.

Intrapersonal:

Journal slam. Write at least five notes back and forth between you and a friend who is

also reading John Riley’s Daughter. Be sure not to give anything away to your friend, but

discuss the book at length. Be sure to comment on characters, and plot…especially what

you think will happen next and why. Comment on any descriptions you think are

especially well drawn, and even admit to each other if you got lost and why. All letters

must be turned in together.

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