# What Happened to Rachel Riley?

**Author:** Claire Swinarski
**Grade range:** Grades 6–8
**Age range:** 11–14
**First published:** 2023
**Genre:** Middle Grade Mystery
**ISBN-13:** `9780063213098`
**ISBN-10:** `0063213095`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/what-happened-to-rachel-riley
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

New eighth-grader Anna uses social-media posts, passed notes, and interviews to uncover why once-popular Rachel Riley became the pariah of her middle school — a #MeToo-era mystery and ALA Notable Children's Book. Claire Swinarski's grades 6-8 novel is a 2025-2026 Virginia Readers' Choice (Middle School) nominee.

## Themes

- mystery
- school
- courage

## Where this book is assigned

### Georgia Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 6th grade · Georgia — [source: Georgia Children's Book Award 2025 Nominees (Grades 4-8) — University of Georgia Libraries](https://guides.libs.uga.edu/c.php?g=868748&p=10220606)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Georgia — [source: Georgia Children's Book Award 2025 Nominees (Grades 4-8) — University of Georgia Libraries](https://guides.libs.uga.edu/c.php?g=868748&p=10220606)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Georgia — [source: Georgia Children's Book Award 2025 Nominees (Grades 4-8) — University of Georgia Libraries](https://guides.libs.uga.edu/c.php?g=868748&p=10220606)

### Virginia Readers' Choice

- **recommended** · 6th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)](https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/english-reading-literacy/virginia-readers-choice)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)](https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/english-reading-literacy/virginia-readers-choice)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Virginia — [source: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)](https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/english-reading-literacy/virginia-readers-choice)

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