With the help of Ana's podcast, Rachel Riley is the main subject of interest, and the question, "What happened to Rachel Riley" was last year's most popular student who is now shunned by the rest of the student body but why? Following Ana's investigation to find the answer to her question comes with many challenges and self-discoveries that change Ana's perspective toward the true understanding of fitting in with the rest. Ana is determined to discover the answer to questions no matter what the 8th-grade class throws her way as she peels back each revealed clue one by one. ( )

Gr 5 Up—New girl Anna knows something has happened to Rachel, the formerly popular girl who is now an outcast.
This burning question leads Anna down a road of deep research and opens up dark secrets about sexual
harassment at her school. A compelling, age-appropriate #MeToo narrative for tweens.

This novel is a 2024 Lone Star selection. Students will enjoy reading this novel, as the evidence slowly unfolds.

Anna Hunt begins a new school year at a new school. She isn't your normal student who seeks to fit in. She's comfortable in her own skin and wants to be friends with people who like her; she doesn't change to be accepted. She notices that Rachel Riley always sits alone. Looking at social media and information from the previous year, Anne can see that Rachel was one of the most popular students at the school. Now, no one will say her name or talk to her. There is a contest to attend a podcast summer institute that Anna really wants to attend, so she decides to create a podcast titled "What Happened to Rachel Riley?" With each interview, the reader learns a bit more about Rachel.

The students at East Middle School are friendly. Several of the "popular" girls invite Anna to different activities. No one seems mean. The boys are weird, of course, as it's middle school, but Anna enjoys meeting the girls. She pushes social boundaries, however, by constantly asking about Rachel Riley. They begin to tire of Anna's focus and want her to just get over it and just be friends. Eventually, the truth does come out. Not to give anything away, but there are certain books girls need to read. This novel is one of them. Society teaches girls to put up with silliness, but in reality, girls should fight back for their own agency and rights. The book is a page turner; it's interesting and keeps you wanting to know more. I did get annoyed some with Anna because she seemed pushy and seemed to ignore social cues. ( )

1. Recommended for students who are interested in "whodunnits" that don't have to do with murder
2. Author interviews: https://www.bookpage.com/interviews/claire-swinarski-interview-what-happened-to-... and https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article...
3. Text format includes podcast interviews, text messages, and emails
4. Book talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgS1BzFXZb8
5. Activity idea: Create your own "un-essay" on a topic that you care about ( )

Trigger 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 and I wanted to know if Anna got into her podcast summer camp!.

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. ( )