Editorial on School Library Journal: From ‘Hamlet’ to Hannah: How Understanding ADHD Made Me a Better Writer, by Ashley Hards
"[The popular depiction of ADHD] infuriated me and compelled me to rewrite the conventional narrative portrayed through characters like Bart Simpson.
Why? Well, because I, Ashley Hards,
have always been—and will always be—a pleasure to have in class."
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.
Connections to Hamlet
Ashley Hards was declared "gifted" at 8, and diagnosed with ADHD at 22, while studying Shakespeare at McGill University. The following resources explore connections between Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway and Ashley Hards's original inspiration for the novel: Hamlet.
Hannah and Hamlet - Extension for Advanced Readers
Pg 4 Section 4 from the Hannah Edwards Neurodiversity Discussion Guide
Compare and contrast the characters and themes in Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway to Hamlet. Themes include action & inaction, grief & death, appearance vs reality, and family.
Comparison to Hamlet - As an Intro to Shakespeare
Pg 4 from the Hannah Edwards CCSS ELA Guide
Use Hannah Edwards to introduce students to Hamlet before they encounter the text to help them connect to Shakespeare's work.
About the Book
In this award-winning mystery, middle school perfectionist Hannah Edwards teams up with friends, a ghost, and a whole lot of frogs to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance. Told through a blend of prose and inventive journal entries, author Ashley Hards’s debut novel provides a fresh take on Hamlet that brings an authentic ADHD voice to tween girls.