On Sale: September 10, 2024
$16.99 USD | 268 pages
Lexile: 750L | Fountas & Pinnell: W
Also available as an eBook
It’s Nancy Drew and Sammy Keyes mixed with Turtles All the Way Down and Honestly Elliott.
Hannah Edwards has a lot on her mind.
For starters, her father—the Canola King—has been missing for months. And no one—not her distracted mother, her meddlesome guidance counselor, or her evil Uncle Fergus—seems to care. Luckily, she has her secret journal to keep her focused and her best friend Sam Castillo for support in solving the case.
So when Sam tells Hannah he thinks he saw her father’s ghost down at the old Riverway Mill, Hannah decides to take matters into her own hands. She soon learns that Uncle Fergus has a plan to steal the family farm, drain the river, and find a hidden treasure.
On the edge of going from being a GOOD KID to a BAD KID, Hannah stops pretending to pay attention to her endlessly boring classes. With Sam, her secret journal, and eventually a whole lot of Riverway frogs, Hannah sets out to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance.
Hannah Edwards is a heartfelt story of a young neurodiverse girl with a whole lot of determination to do the right thing.
Trade Reviews for Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway
“A strong retelling that…captures the middle-grade spirit…this debut novel is perfect for fans of mysteries, ghost stories that feel rooted in the real world, and strong characters.”
– Booklist
Children with ADHD will find solace in Hannah's struggles and admire her coping mechanisms. At the same time, neurotypical readers will gain a deeper understanding of their neurodiverse peers while thoroughly enjoying the plot as it unravels.”
– The Children's Book Review
“Through depictions of Hannah’s skepticism and can-do attitude, debut author Hards introduces a heroine who handily propels this familiar yet exciting supernatural mystery.”
– Publishers Weekly
"A delightful middle grade novel whose ghost story pairs with a refreshing window into the lives of the neurodiverse."
– Foreword Reviews
"This book should appeal to lovers of ghosts and small-town mysteries and I recommend you give it a shot.”
– YA Book Central