Middle Grade Mystery Book Review
Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway by Ashley Hards is part ghost story, part Nancy Drew mystery, part Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This fun read offers a fresh perspective to the middle grade mystery. A key aspect to this fresh approach is our neurodivergent protagonist, Hannah. In the book, she comes to identify and understand her ADHD as she investigates a mystery in her small town. Secrets of Riverway hooks the reader right from the start. We immediately discover unexpected twists and turns. For instance, Hannah implores potential visitors to Riverway to pass on by. She recounts the town’s problems and inadequacies. She gives us something we’re not quite expecting.
Additionally, the tone of the book is inviting and relatable. Hannah is our narrator, writing in her journal. She effectively pulls the reader in immediately. She also drops the best hook of all at the end of Chapter 1. Hannah’s father, the Canola King, is missing. Further, Hannah is convinced she’s the only one who can crack the case and uncover what truly happen in her otherwise boring small town.
Hannah and Her Friends
As we follow Hannah’s efforts to find her father, we meet Hannah’s best friend, Sam. He plays multiple sports and can always be counted on to have Hannah’s back. The middle school hall monitor, Tim, also offers valuable support for Hannah and Sam. The duo, which sometimes works as a trio, must follow some key clues and decode the messages of a ghost. Hards offers characters for readers to connect to. And, in Hannah, she presents a protagonist struggling with focus, perfectionism, and a bent toward people-pleasing.
Ultimately, Hannah not only solves the mystery and is able to save her town and learn what happened to her dad. But, she also comes to understand herself and learns to trust various adults in her life that are supportive, understanding and intent on helping her navigate the challenges she is facing because of her neurodivergence. Hannah learns to accept herself and to be more open with her friends about who she is. I recommend Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway for budding detectives and middle grade readers eager for an engaging read with equal parts humor and mystery!
Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway – The Last Word
Spoiler Alert: It is important for caregivers to know that when the mystery is uncovered, we do learn that Hannah’s father drowned after a confrontation with his brother, who did not offer support, but who was jealous of the father, our Canola King, in town, and eager to usurp him both regarding the family business, which was left to Hannah’s father and not her uncle, and his prestige in the town of Riverway.
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Jennifer Fischer
Latest posts by Jennifer Fischer (see all)
- Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway - January 26, 2025
- Managing Anxiety: Tools and Books That Work for My Family - November 4, 2024
- Representation Matters: Afro-Latino Characters in the Media - October 7, 2024
“part ghost story, part Nancy Drew mystery, part Diary of a Wimpy Kid” sounds like a great mix!
Looks like a book my daughter would love to read. Thanks for the review and for participating in #ReadYourWorld book day!