Interview with Claire Swinarski, author of What Happened to Rachel Riley?

When Anna Hunt begins eighth grade at East Middle School, she quickly realizes there’s one thing unusual occurring. Rachel Riley, as soon as a key member of the favored crowd, is now shunned by everybody. When Anna casually inquires about why, she’s met with awkward silences and indignant appears. An aspiring journalist, Anna decides to examine What Happened to Rachel Riley? Peer stress, sexual harassment and the wrestle to do the precise factor collide in Claire Swinarski’s well timed and galvanizing feminist center grade novel.

What Happened to Rachel Riley? is devoted to “eighth grade girls everywhere,” and Anna’s older sister validates Anna’s feelings by telling her that “eighth grade sucks.” What was eighth grade like for you?
Eighth grade stank. Ha! I don’t know many individuals who look again fondly on their center college years, and it makes me unhappy. Like so many different girls, my center college years had been full of backstabbing, gossip and hurtful interactions. I want I might be extra constructive about it, and there are a handful of recollections I can look again on with pleasure. Because the 12 months was so onerous, these stand out all of the brighter. But general, I definitely struggled in center college. There had been so many moments of feeling awkward and neglected. And we didn’t even have smartphones!  

The novel is informed not solely via Anna’s narration but additionally via textual content messages, notes, emails, flyers and transcripts from the podcast Anna creates. Did you incorporate these codecs into the guide from the start?
The distinctive formatting of the guide was there because the very starting. I’ve at all times wished to write a guide on this sort of multimedia format. I really feel that it lends itself so properly to mysteries. As characters attempt to resolve a fancy query, they aren’t simply speaking to folks. They’re additionally paperwork, utilizing engines like google, sending emails. . . . It additionally simply is sensible for a center grade guide in 2023 to function textual content messages and social media feedback, since that’s how so many youngsters talk lately.

What was difficult about writing a guide with this format?
The most difficult half was arising with distinctive, unique methods to share info. I may have carried out all emails, or all textual content messages, however that may have gotten fairly boring fairly shortly. That’s why there are issues like police experiences, podcast transcripts and Christmas card letters too. Landing on the right thought for a way to transmit info at all times felt nice. The design group knocked it out of the park. When I first noticed the illustrations of issues like a crumpled-up party invitation, I actually squealed with pleasure!

Anna’s household, from her mother and father and older sister to her grandmother, who lives in Poland, play such a giant function in her life. Middle grade novels usually relegate their protagonists’ households to the background, however you made them a significant factor of Anna’s story. Why?
When I used to be in center college, my household performed an enormous function in my life. As a 13-year-old, you might have so little say in so many facets of your day. You aren’t deciding whether or not or not to go to college, or what courses to take, or what to have for dinner. You aren’t deciding who you reside with and even which bed room is yours! So I discover that household models have to play a big function in a terrific center grade story.

Beneath the veneer of college spirit at Anna’s new college lies a troubling secret that includes peer stress, bullying and misogyny. Anna quickly discovers that the stress to deal with it as no huge deal is intense and unrelenting. What drew you to exploring this topic for center grade readers?
I very clearly keep in mind being a center schooler and desperately wanting to come throughout as laid-back. You had been supposed to giggle every part off—imply jokes, bullying and sexual harassment. If you took something severely, you had been labeled as uptight or a drama queen. It was higher to be actually the rest. I obtained to occupied with why that was and wished to discover it in a narrative. Why is that individual age group so obsessed with not making waves in social settings?

Two of my favourite characters within the guide are the founders of a membership primarily based on world points. In our present time, we see loads of center schoolers getting enthusiastic about enormous political subjects. They need to be activists, and in the event that they’re preventing for good causes, that’s improbable. But typically one of the simplest ways to change the world is to change the hallway. Shedding that worry of being seen as dramatic, particularly for ladies, will be the first step.

What would you say to an grownup who thinks that center grade books shouldn’t embrace the varieties of topics, experiences or feelings depicted on this novel?
As a mother, I fully perceive wanting your youngsters to be surrounded by books which are good and hopeful. I feel it’s a mark of an invested father or mother to be involved with what media your youngsters are consuming. At the identical time, we will’t understate how essential it’s for youths to be surrounded by books that signify a real depiction of the world they reside in. 

No matter what your education scenario is, your center schooler is greater than seemingly going to witness, carry out or obtain sexual harassment. How are they ready to deal with that? Stories could be a secure house to work out these varieties of conversations collectively. Wouldn’t you moderately be the particular person speaking about that with them, versus no matter they’re going to decide up from mates or TikTok? I do know I’d be.

Kids can usually deal with greater than we give them credit score for. The center schoolers I do know are good, passionate, and curious—identical to Anna. What they want are adults who’re prepared to have these varieties of conversations with them.

Anna finally realizes that being courageous and talking out may give her classmates the braveness to do the identical. What do you hope younger readers may take away from this half of her story?
Telling the reality is a courageous act. But it’s additionally about how we inform the reality. What are we hoping to get out of it? Anna’s aim isn’t to destroy anybody’s life or to disgrace anybody. It’s simply to assist folks see the error of their methods and proper them. Also, Anna doesn’t have all of the solutions. She takes the posture of a learner all through the guide, bringing in adults she trusts to assist her. 

I hope younger readers stroll away from What Happened to Rachel Riley? realizing that it isn’t sufficient to need to be a change-maker or to need issues to change with out taking any motion. You have to make the change in a means that’s constructive and sort and truthful, after which you might have to keep hopeful when there are bumps within the highway. That staying-hopeful half can usually be the trickiest bit. But it’s important.

Author photograph of Claire Swinarski courtesy of Mary Clare LoCoco Photography.