Who is Miss Riley from Rocket Boys: A Memoir and what is their importance? Rocket_Boys English & Literature Miss Riley | Rocket Boys: A Memoir

Miss Riley is the Big Creek High School chemistry and physics teacher who believes in and inspires Sonny Hickham to pursue science fair competition to bring honor to the school and town, which isn't known for academic excellence. Starting with the McDowell County Science Fair, she helps prepare him to compete. After Sonny is unable to find a book on rocketry, she gifts him with a rocketry textbook entitled "Principles of Guide Missile Design," which inspires Sonny to learn calculus, differential equations, and design nozzles, and do the calculations to design a rocket, with a De Laval nozzle, which ultimately leads to even greater rocket success and a win at each science competition level including the National Science Competition. Miss Riley tells Sonny that, although it may take him a while, she believes he can learn everything in the book. Miss Riley is one of many of Sonny, and the rocket boys, supporters, and is one of the few people who believes in him and provides critical emotional support.