• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

This authentic ADHD reimagining of Hamlet is a fresh and unconventional take on a classic–that’s also a mystery! It’s Nancy Drew and Sammy Keyes mixed with Turtles All the Way Down and Honestly Elliott.

Cheer on Hannah Edwards in this exciting mystery and relatable coming-of-age story about ADHD, friendship, school, and family.
Hannah has a lot on her mind. Her father—the Canola King—is missing, and no one in her small town seems to care. With the support of her best friend Sam Castillo, and their sidekick Tim the Hall Monitor, Hannah embarks on a journey to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance.
Along the way, she uncovers secrets that she records in her journal, confronts challenges in school due to her ADHD, talks to a ghost, and learns the true meaning of determination and friendship.

GREAT FOR READERS AGES 9-12
The novel’s blend of prose and inventive journal entries make it a compelling read for anyone looking for an engaging story with heart.

Perfect for School, Classroom, or Library!

• The book is a Contemporary Reimagining of Hamlet
• Interior font designed for increased reader accessibility

Complimentary Educator Guides:

• Neurodiversity Guide
• Common Core Language Arts Guide
• Tween Book Club with printable activities

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.

Ashley Hards' profile page

A strong retelling that…captures the middle-grade spirit…this debut novel is perfect for fans of mysteries, ghost stories that feel rooted in the real world, and strong characters.

Booklist

Through depictions of Hannah’s skepticism and can-do attitude, debut author Hards introduces a heroine who handily propels this familiar yet exciting supernatural mystery.

Publishers Weekly