John Riley's Daughter

A parent might reach for this book when their child feels unfairly blamed or is struggling to connect with a difficult caregiver. Set in 1973 South Carolina, it tells the story of thirteen-year-old Memphis, who lives with her stern grandmother and her beloved, intellectually disabled aunt. When her aunt disappears, Memphis is held responsible, pushing her already strained relationship with her grandmother to a breaking point. The story gently explores heavy themes of guilt, loneliness, and the weight of family responsibility. For readers aged 11 to 14, this is a quiet yet powerful character study. It's an excellent choice for a sensitive child navigating complex family dynamics, as it validates feelings of being misunderstood while modeling resilience and the slow, difficult work of finding empathy for others, even when they cause us pain. It opens a door to conversations about grief, duty, and how love can be complicated.