What Happened to Rachel Riley?

By: Claire Swinarski

Genre: Middle Grade

Number of Pages: 352

Published: January 10, 2023

Publisher: Quill Tree Books

Dates Read: February 2, 2024 - February 3, 2024

Format: Library Book / Hardcover

rigger Warnings: sexual harassment, #MeToo

Anna Hunt is the new girl at East Middle School, but it doesn’t take her long to notice former popular girl, Rachel Riley, is now the social outcast no one talks to, or about. As a lover of podcasts, Anna decides to create her own podcast around the question, “What Happened to Rachel Riley?”. Told through first person narration from Anna, emails, texts, notes, podcast transcripts, letters, and flyers compiled together through Anna’s journal in finding out the truth.

I really enjoyed this book and the conversation it brings up for the middle grade readers. As Anna kind of discovers – harassment is still harassment, even if it’s meant to be “funny” or “a game”. This also gives these girls the courage to speak up and out about anything that’s not right.

I’m a little grippy about the ending though, cause I felt like it was super rushed <spoiler> and I wanted to know if Anna got into her podcast summer camp!</spoiler>.

Overall though, I will be recommending this novel to so many – middle grade, YA, and adult readers alike! It’s an important message, and with all the different types of format that the reader gets information from, it keeps your attention.