At The Shadow Project, we believe every child can succeed. Our mission is to make school more accessible and engaging for children with disabilities, so they can achieve their full potential. This October, for ADHD Awareness Month, we are excited to highlight a great book for readers ages 9-12: Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway by author Ashley Hards.

This novel is a mystery story told through the personal journal of the main character Hannah Edwards. She is a smart and creative girl with ADHD. The book lets readers see the world through Hannah’s eyes. She learns how to handle the challenges of her ADHD, and she discovers its unexpected strengths. The story is a true-to-life adventure about learning to accept yourself. It’s also a thrilling journey to uncover the truth about her father’s disappearance. This book is a lot like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but for today’s kids!

A Story for All Readers

Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway is important because it shows what ADHD can look like for middle school students. It is especially good at showing how ADHD affects girls, who are often not diagnosed. The book breaks down old ideas about ADHD. It shows that it is not a “deficit” but simply a different way of experiencing the world. Hannah is a confident and capable hero that young readers with ADHD can relate to. All readers can use her story to understand a new perspective.

The book’s authenticity comes from the author’s own life. In an interview with School Library Journal, Ashley Hards shared about her experiences with ADHD. The signs were there in her childhood but her grades were never affected. She would write short stories in class instead of taking notes and was always the first to raise her hand. But it wasn’t until she was in college that her ADHD started affecting her life in a significant way.

Getting her diagnosis as an adult helped her see herself in a kinder light. Suddenly, her procrastination and executive dysfunction made sense, and she had a reason for her big feelings. With this knowledge, she was able to approach her work with self-understanding instead of judgment.

Resources for a More Inclusive Community

This book is a fantastic tool for starting important conversations. We are happy to make it available to students in the Shadow Store and in our Family Reading Kits. This story helps students to see themselves as the heroes they are.

Beyond the book, the author’s website offers a full set of helpful resources. Designed to help teachers, librarians, and parents, you’ll want to give them a look!

• Neurodiversity Guide for educators
• Tween Book Club Activity Kit
• Language Arts Guide that aligns with Common Core curriculum
• Printable Mini-Posters to celebrate ADHD Awareness Month.

The Shadow Project envisions an education system that normalizes and celebrates learning differences, and supports every student to thrive in school. Learn more about our school based programs for students with disabilities.