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A review by kailey_luminouslibro
Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway by Ashley Hards
3.0
Hannah's father has disappeared and the police don't seem to be doing much to solve the mystery. Hannah and her friend Sam are determined to find out what happened and find Hannah's father. Although Sam claims that he has seen a ghost that looks like Hannah's father, Hannah is not ready to admit that her father could be dead. They begin exploring the occult, using a Ouija board to try to contact the ghost.
Meanwhile, Hannah is struggling to concentrate in school, and the school counselor keeps pestering her. Hannah feels like her world is falling apart, but she wants to keep her perfect student persona intact, so she pretends that she is fine. Finally Hannah discovers that admitting that you are struggling is not a bad thing, but a great step to getting others on your team supporting you in meaningful ways.
I really loved the descriptions of Hannah struggling with ADHD. Her brain goes in these wild directions as her imagination and creativity unfold in new ways, but it makes it difficult for her to concentrate or sit still during class. She's incredibly smart and spunky. I just loved her character!
The writing is good, but I felt like the story lagged in the middle. The mystery could have been wrapped up a bit more quickly. It is interesting to see some elements of Hamlet included in the plot, but it's not a direct retelling. I liked that the story had its own direction.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.