Reviews

What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this inventive middle grade novel that creatively looks at bullying and harassment of middle school girls. The format of texts, podcast interviews, and emails really worked to help tell the story. With each new clue, the mystery deepens, revealing a more complicated story than Anna could have imagined. It's an important topic that is covered in an entertaining way. I will give it to my students who have read Maybe He Just Likes You but aren't ready for Moxie yet.

i_would_prefer_not_to's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

librarydosebykristy's review against another edition

5.0

This was a smart, engaging mystery told through emails, text messages and podcast episodes, along with first person narration. The subject matter was intense and close to home but I don’t want to give away the central mystery of what happened to Rachel Riley, so you will have to read it to find out…
A great conversation starter of a book that should be essential reading for middle schoolers.

booksandyarns's review

challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kristinajean's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

rpultorak's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

mbozarth's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

shanajade's review

4.0

This was a great story and a quick listen... some girls band together in middle school (thanks to the insufferably nosey new girl) to take a stand against the boys in middle school and their "game" that was "just a joke" ... aka sexual harassment. 

A good story for young girls to help reinforce the fact that they don't have to accept shit that makes them uncomfortable. 

I only grabbed one quote, but there were a few. :) 

"... if the earth gets ruined and we all die, no one is going to need to understand sentence structure." 

thriftylibrarian's review against another edition

4.0

4.5

This book has an enormously difficult topic to talk about, sexual harassment in middle school, but Swinarski does so with delicacy and grace.

Anna is a middle schooler through and through, with all the fears and insecurities that come along with that. She also has a fantastic support system of adults that "get it" which sets her apart from some of her real life counterparts.

I loved Anna's tenacity and growth throughout the book, and the realistic responses to things that happened to her. I love that the book ends with hope and realistic expectations.

rkate's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25