Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway WINS Children’s Book Council Teacher Favorites Award 2025
Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway by Ashley Hards is a 2025 Children’s Book Council* (CBC) Teacher Favorites Award winner for 3rd–5th grade!
4 Authentic Middle-Grade Books for ADHD Awareness Month
October is ADHD Awareness Month! These four middle grade novels feature relatable protagonists with ADHD who navigate school, friendships, and family.
Q&A with Ashley Hards from Foreword Reviews Children's Editor Danielle Ballantyne
“For readers with ADHD, having a realistic depiction of someone with this disorder can make them feel less alone.”
In an interview with children's book editor Danielle Ballantyne for Foreword Reviews, Author Ashley Hards shares why ADHD representation is so important.
Let's Talk About ADHD
The Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway Neurodiversity Discussion Guide was developed to help educators navigate accessible and age-appropriate conversations on neurodiversity with middle and high schoolers. It uses the perspective of Hannah—a girl with undiagnosed ADHD—as a lens through which students can view this common developmental disorder.
Expand students’ understanding of invisible disabilities, ableist perspectives, and barriers experienced by neurodiverse individuals. PLUS! A section for advanced readers comparing the novel’s themes to Ashley Hards’s original inspiration: Hamlet!
Editorial on School Library Journal: From ‘Hamlet’ to Hannah: How Understanding ADHD Made Me a Better Writer, by Ashley Hards
In the editorial, Ashley Hards discusses her journey with ADHD, Hamlet, and how the two combined to inspire her debut novel, Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway. Check out the full article on School Library Journal!