Swinarski, Claire. What Happened to Rachel Riley? Quill Tree Books, 2023. 978-0-06-321309-8. 343 p. $16.99. Grades 4-8.

What happened to Rachel Riley? How did Rachel go from being the most popular girl in school to being a “Complete Social Outcast of the First Degree”? That’s the question that Anna Hunt, the new eighth grader at East Middle School, seeks to answer in her un-essay for Social Issues. Anna is also a podcast enthusiast, and as she plunges into this middle school mystery she sees an opportunity to craft her investigation into a podcast of her own. She might even be able to use it to apply for a spot in a podcasting workshop for young people with her podcasting idol, Mimi Miller. Anna perseveres with her investigation despite her teacher’s misgivings about a student researching another student. Not all of her classmates are eager to open up about what happened during 7th grade, but with the help of her older sister, ace coder Nik, Anna uncovers clues including a barn fire, stolen hall passes, and a recently scrubbed website. She soon learns that “harassment” is more than just a big word that only applies to adults. It’s alive and well in the halls of East Middle, slipping through the lines of the school’s well-intentioned sexual harassment policy. She also learns about the courage needed to take a stand when it would be easier to stay silent. What Happened to Rachel Riley? is told through notes, letters, emails, texts, podcast snippets, and conventional chapters. The combination makes for a fast-paced reading experience.

THOUGHTS: This is an absorbing mystery with an important (but not too heavy-handed) message about harassment and the culture of silence that enables it. Readers of Janae Marks’ Zoe Washington novels will love it!

Mystery