HANNAH EDWARDS SECRETS OF RIVERWAY
By: Ashley Hards
Published: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Fabled Films Press
Middle-Grade Mystery
October is ADHD Awareness Month and Hannah Edwards is a neurodiverse character with ADHD. Over 9.8% of kids in the US have ADHD, with girls both under-diagnosed and under-portrayed in the media. This book shows a tween who struggles with fitting in, focusing at school, and finding ways to calm their mind and body.
Hannah lives in a small town called Riverway. Her dad owned a major business in their town and was the Canola King. Unfortunately, her dad has been missing for the last few months. Hannah struggles with the unknowns about his disappearance and misses their bike rides and conversations.
Hannah and her friend Sam are determined to find out what happened to her dad since the police seem to have finished their investigation into his disappearance. Plus, her Uncle Fergus is spending way too much time at their house and Hannah doesn’t like it. She needs something else to focus on because she can’t focus on anything at school.
Hannah likes to write in her journal and those entries are shared as part of the story. Hannah begins to struggle with keeping all her school assignments straight and is sent to meet with the guidance counselor. She instantly starts to feel like she has done something wrong and doesn’t want to disappoint anyone, a common feeling among neurodiverse kids.
“Before I was Hannah Edwards: good student, good community member, punctual. Now I was Hannah Edwards: decent student, good community member, missed an assignment-probably something secretly wrong with her.”
Hannah talks about her brain spinning in circles and feeling like she can’t pay attention or sit still in school. These are also common feelings in kids with ADHD. By the end of the story, Hannah is connected with a counselor who finds ways to help her concentrate in school.
Since this is a mystery, Hannah tries to find out what happened to her dad while also being a student, friend, and daughter. She has to be sneaky, go behind people’s backs, and keep secrets. Especially. when she talked to a ghost who appeared to be her dad. Hannah worries a lot about doing the right thing but when she finds out what really happened to her dad, she and Sam find a way to make sure everyone in Riverway knows what’s been going on.
Even though there is some sadness and bad things that happen in this story, it ends in a hopeful tone with Hannah being able to express her concerns to her mom and meeting with a different counselor at school. Hannah finds new ways to stay focused at school and how to work through her grief. This book combines a mystery element with a bit of adventure to keep kids turning the pages. Through the story, readers will see Hannah grow up and find out the type of person she hopes to be.
Debut author Ashley Hards was declared to be “gifted” at age 8 and was diagnosed with ADHD at age 22, and the world she creates in Hannah Edwards is deeply rooted in her own experiences. While Hards masterfully and authentically represents ADHD (and showcases neurodiversity as a positive asset), Hannah’s ADHD is not the focus of the story, but rather another element of her characterization. Neurodiverse and neurotypical kids alike will delight in Hannah’s adventures as she investigates her father’s mysterious disappearance, and relate to her need for agency and her unstoppable drive. Check out the website for Hards’ debut book including a video from the author, HERE.
Fabled Films Press LLC is creating original content for young readers and middle-grade audiences that combines strong literary properties with high-quality production values to connect books with generations of parents and their children. Each property is supported by websites, educator guides, and activities for bookstores, educators, and librarians, as well as videos, social media content, and supplemental entertainment for additional platforms. Check out another middle-grade series from Fabled Films Press, PIPPA PARK by Erin Yun.
To purchase a copy of HANNAH EDWARDS SECRETS OF RIVERWAY, click HERE.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
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Posted Under ADHD, Ashley Hards, Book Review, Children's books, grief, middle-grade, mystery, neurodiversity