About the Author
Claire Swinarski was born and raised in Wisconsin, where she still lives with her husband and two kids. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and many other publications. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is probably either wandering through a library or sitting by a lake at this very moment. To learn more about Claire, visit her online at www.claireswinarski.com.
Product Description
*NOW A REGIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER* In this engrossing and inventive contemporary middle grade novel that's Where'd You Go Bernadette? with a #MeToo message, an eighth grader uses social media posts, passed notes, and other clues to find out why a formerly popular girl is now the pariah of her new school.
Anna Hunt may be the new girl at East Middle School, but she can already tell there’s something off about her eighth-grade class. Rachel Riley, who just last year was one of the most popular girls in school, has become a social outcast. But no one, including Rachel Riley herself, will tell Anna why.
As a die-hard podcast enthusiast, Anna knows there’s always more to a story than meets the eye. So she decides to put her fact-seeking skills to the test and create her own podcast around the question that won’t stop running through her head: What happened to Rachel Riley?
With the entire eighth grade working against her, Anna dives headfirst into the evidence. Clue after clue, the mystery widens, painting an even more complex story than Anna could have anticipated. But there’s one thing she’s certain of: If you’re going to ask a complicated question, you better be prepared for the fallout that may come with the answer.
From School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up—As East Middle School's newest student, Anna Hunt has noticed that her classmate, Rachel Riley, is treated like a social outcast. When she is assigned an un-essay project for her Social Issues class, Anna decides to investigate why. Inspired by her favorite podcaster, Mimi Miller, and hoping to land a spot in her summer camp, Anna begins to dig into the past year, recording her process as a podcast. Her findings reveal a "game" wherein boys received points for "slapping girls' butts," which somehow led to a fire that canceled an end-of-year dance and is the reason for Rachel's predicament. When the harassing game is reignited this year in the form of snapping bra straps, and Anna herself is targeted, she's inspired to incite social change through her project. This book is incredibly relevant and empowering for readers and would serve as a powerful conversation starter. Anna is a determined yet vulnerable protagonist, who eventually realizes that change starts with her. Swinarski's writing is compelling and multifaceted, using traditional chapters, letters, emails, and text messages to tell the story. Tackling themes of friendship, betrayal, and harassment beautifully, while keeping them accessible to middle schoolers, this book will resonate with readers, and will inspire them to speak up about unjust situations. VERDICT A necessary purchase for all collections serving middle school readers. Hand to fans of Barbara Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You.—Amy McInerney
Review
"What Happened to Rachel Riley has every single thing a middle grade reader could want: a twisty mystery; relatable, authentic teen characters; and the kind of demonstrated courage that seeps into our souls and leaves us feeling brave. This book is going to change lives." — Carrie Firestone, author of Dress Coded
"What begins as a look into bullying and the social politics of middle school expands into a revealing study of sexual harassment. An empowering and empathetic companion to Barbara Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You and Brigit Young's The Prettiest." — Booklist (starred review)
"This book is incredibly relevant and empowering for readers, and would serve as a powerful conversation starter. Swinarski’s writing is compelling and multifa
