Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway

Ages 9 to 12, Grades 4 to 7

Authentic Neurodiverse Reimagining of Hamlet that is an Unconventional Mystery and Coming-of-Age Story. It’s Nancy Drew and Sammy Keyes mixed with Turtles All the Way Down and Honestly Elliott.

Readers will root for Hannah Edwards to solve the mystery in this relatable coming-of-age story about neurodiversity, friendship, school, and family. Great for Kids 9-12.

Hannah Edwards has a lot on her mind.

For starters, her father—the Canola King—has been missing for months. And not her distracted mother, her meddlesome guidance counselor, nor her evil Uncle Fergus seem to care. Luckily, she has her secret journal and her best friend Sam Castillo for support.

So when Sam tells Hannah he thinks he saw her father’s ghost down at the old Riverway Mill, Hannah decides to take matters into her own hands. She soon learns that Uncle Fergus has a plan to steal the family farm, drain the river, and find a hidden treasure.

On the edge of going from being a "good kid" to a "bad kid", Hannah stops pretending to pay attention to her endlessly boring classes. With Sam, her journal, and eventually a whole lot of Riverway frogs, Hannah sets out to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance.

A heartfelt story of a young neurodiverse girl with a whole lot of determination to do the right thing.

About the Author

Ashley Hards was declared to be “gifted” at age 8 and was diagnosed with ADHD at age 22. When forced to sit still in class, she finds books and writing to be the most engaging, especially Shakespeare. She received both her BA and MA in English Literature from McGill University where she now teaches writing and continues her research on Shakespeare and ritual. She grew up in Calgary, Canada.

Always the adrenaline lover, she enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and opera (hey, it’s exciting). She spent many weekends driving across Alberta and hanging out at a ski hill near Pincher Creek where the vision for Riverway developed over many dark, stormy nights.

Like Hannah, she enjoys journaling. Unlike Hannah, she has not solved any mysteries (yet).

This is her first book.