Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Engaging mystery looks at middle school sexual harassment.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In WHAT HAPPENED TO RACHEL RILEY?, eighth-grader Anna Hunt is bothered by something happening at her new school in Madison, Wisconsin. There's a girl named Rachel Riley who everyone ignores -- she sits alone at lunch, and nobody cheers when her birthday is announced over the P.A. system. Anna finds out that Rachel had lots of friends the year before. So, Anna decides to create a podcast devoted to this mystery. Why's Rachel Riley being shunned? What did she do to turn the entire school against her?
Is It Any Good?
A budding podcaster investigates a school mystery in this engaging story with an educational, eye-opening twist. What Happened to Rachel Riley? captures the insecurity and excitement that young teens, especially girls, experience in the hallways of middle school. Being vulnerable can be dangerous, and trust is difficult: not every problem has an easy answer. Chapters cover different media -- sometimes the narrative is in chat form, sometimes in an email, or in a podcast interview. The variety helps move the plot forward to a rewarding conclusion. Tweens and young teens will enjoy this astute read the most.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about courage in What Happened to Rachel Riley? Some kids in this book let things slide that they know are wrong. What happens when people speak out?
The main character feels that her empathy and sensitivity can make it hard to have friends. How does she learn to set boundaries?
Some of the kids set up a website that bullies kids online. What can you do if you're bullied online?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Activism , Cooking , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Quill Tree Books
- Publication date : January 10, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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