Introduction

In 1972, on Mudas Summers' seventeenth birthday, her beloved Mama, Ella, is found hanging from the rafters of their home. Most people in Peckinpaw, Kentucky, assume that Ella's no-good husband did the deed. Others think Ella grew tired of his abuse and did it herself. Muddy is determined to find out for sure either way, especially once she finds strange papers hidden amongst her mama's possessions.

But Peckinpaw keeps its secrets buried deep. Muddy's almost-more-than-friend, Bobby Marshall, knows that better than most. Though he passes for white, one of his ancestors was Frannie Crow, a slave hanged a century ago on nearby Hark Hill Plantation. Adorning the town square is a seat built from Frannie's gallows. A tribute, a relic--and a caution--it's known as Liar's Bench. Now, the answers Muddy seeks soon lead back to Hark Hill, to hatred and corruption that have echoed through the years--and lies she must be brave enough to confront at last.

Kim Michele Richardson's lush, beautifully written debut is set against a Southern backdrop passing uneasily from bigotry and brutality to hope. With its compelling mystery and complex yet relatable heroine, Liar's Bench is a story of first love, raw courage, and truths that won't be denied.

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Excerpt

1


The Scars of Others





August 11, 1972

It could’ve easily been left unnamed, but like most small towns carved out from the back roads of Anywhere, USA, Peckinpaw, Kentucky, had its staple—its Liar’s Bench. Used for both the telling of tales and for courting, the bench sat on the curb, nes- tled between two geranium-filled copper pots positioned in front of a Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner dream-themed leather goods store: the Parton & Porter. Next door, the scents ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

a) The South of 1972 was not far removed from freedom riders, police dogs and water blasts attacking peaceful protesters. How does the Civil Rights movement influence Mudas? How does it affect her actions, her fears, and her relationship with Bobby?

b) In the large majority of divorces, mothers retain primary custody of the children. In LIAR’S BENCH, Muddy remains in her father’s care, which would have been particularly unusual in the 70s. Is Adam a good father? Does his gender make him ill-equipped to parent a teenage girl? How might Mudas’ life turned out differently if she had continued to live with her mother?

c) Grammy Essie explained “true love” to Muddy through scent. Our sense of smell plays a powerful part in our lives. How does the sense of smell affect your life and how does it influence us, either romantically or in our culture? How does smell trigger emotional responses? Are there any particular scents that evoke childhood memories for you? What are they?

d) LIAR’S BENCH is infused with descriptions of the plants, the sky, the soil, the birds and their songs. Have we, today, lost the ability to see, feel, and appreciate our natural surroundings? Have we become disconnected from nature?

e) Today, we live in the age of information. Everything is accessible, right at our fingertips. With that in mind, consider how Muddy’s story would be different if it happened today. Would it be easier for her to find out the truth about her mama’s death? Or would the wealth of information be a smoke-screen, making it harder than ever to distinguish fact from fiction?

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»	Author Kim Michele Richardson's web site
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