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The Real Riley Mayes Hardcover – May 3, 2022

by Rachel Elliott (Author, Illustrator)
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  1. Stonewall Book AwardWinner, 2023
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A Stonewall Book Award Honor * A Sid Fleishman Humor Award Honor

Funny and full of heart, this debut graphic novel is a story about friendship, identity, and embracing all the parts of yourself that make you special.  

Fifth grade is just not Riley’s vibe. Everyone else is squaded up—except Riley. Her best friend moved away. All she wants to do is draw, and her grades show it.

One thing that makes her happy is her favorite comedian, Joy Powers. Riley loves to watch her old shows and has memorized her best jokes. So when the class is assigned to write letters to people they admire, of course Riley’s picking Joy Powers!

Things start to look up when a classmate, Cate, offers to help Riley with the letter, and a new kid, Aaron, actually seems to get her weird sense of humor. But when mean girl Whitney spreads a rumor about her, things begin to click into place for Riley. Her curiosity about Aaron’s two dads and her celebrity crush on Joy Powers suddenly make more sense.

Readers will respond to Riley’s journey of self-discovery and will recognize themselves in this character who is less than perfect but trying her best. And creative kids will recognize themselves in her love of art and drawing.

While often funny and light, Riley’s exploration of what it feels to be an outsider and how hard it can be to make a friend break your heart in the best way. And with all of Riley’s hijinks and missteps, this story is laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish.

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  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    224 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  6. Publisher
    Balzer + Bray
  7. Publication date
    May 3, 2022
  8. ISBN-10
    0062995758
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0062995759
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exploration of self-identity that is both LOL funny and touching.... Elliott brings readers crisp linework, a bright palette, expressive body language, rich narrative details, and (bonus!) kitty comics. Best of all is inimitable Riley, who endears herself to readers with her budding self-awareness and undeniable moxie." — Horn Book (starred review)

“Readers—especially fans of Jeff Kinney and Amy Ignatow—will love the mixture of realism and imagination that fuels Riley’s world. This story is real—and really great!” — Kirkus Reviews

"There is a lot going on in this story—finding real friends, first crushes, discovering gender identity—and all of it is handled tenderly and with respect for each of the main characters.... A fun, funny story that rings true." — Booklist

"This realistic and heartwarming story, filled with humor and angst, has a little something for everyone to enjoy.... [A] hit for readers who enjoy Raina Telgemeier’s books and Jennifer Holm’s “Sunny” series." — School Library Journal

About the Author

Rachel Elliott took her first drawing class at age eight at a neighbor's farm in Oklahoma. She now teaches writing and comics classes in Kentucky, where she lives with her partner. The Real Riley Mayes is her first book. You can learn more about Rachel at www.rachelelliott.me.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balzer + Bray (May 3, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062995758
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062995759
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Rachel Elliott

Rachel Elliott

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Rachel Elliott is an author-illustrator of comics and books for young people. Her debut middle grade graphic novel, THE REAL RILEY MAYES, was released in May of 2022. If you love secret codes, parallel cat universes, and dude-ish girls who act out humorous death scenes, you’ll want to read this book.

Rachel grew up queer during the 1980s in rural Oklahoma. She’s a big fan of baseball, tacos, cats, and comedians. She has worked as a plaster-caster, assistant zookeeper, crumpet baker, and a children’s museum grant writer. She now teaches first-year composition, multimedia writing, and writing comics at the University of Kentucky, as well as a variety of comic and zine workshops for kids and adults.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Gina
5.0 out of 5 stars Loveable and Relatable Main Character, Funny and Sweet
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2023
This was a super sweet story. Riley is a unique kid, but also really relatable (and funny!). Great themes of friendship, overcoming challenges, and being yourself.
2 people found this helpful
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Krista Weltner
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and heartwarming read. A great gift for kids 8-12
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2023
I love this book! It's hilarious and sweet. This is a very age appropriate introduction for children learning about LGBTQ+ people.
12 people found this helpful
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Kellye Crocker
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Real, Heartwarming
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2022
The Real Riley Mayes gave me a bit of a stomachache. That’s because debut Author/Illustrator Rachel Elliott does a stellar job of whisking readers onto the runaway roller coaster known as fifth grade. This inspiring and hopeful graphic novel made me laugh, too.

Since her best friend moved away, Riley’s unsure where she fits. No one gets her. Not the boys, who won’t let her play football at recess. Not the girls, who just want to crush on the latest boy band. She’s getting to know the principal, though, even though the school year has barely begun.

Fifth grade isn’t my kinda vibe, Riley says on page one.

Her teacher wants Riley to pay attention and stop drawing on her assignments. But Riley, who says she isn’t great with words, must draw! She’s an artist! Since the school has cut its art program, Riley’s parents promise to pay for community art lessons if she gets all Bs on her report card and doesn’t get into any more trouble at school. Riley’s response: “That’s impossible.”

She’s lucky to have kind parents and a sweet older brother who love her exactly as she is and encourage her to tiptoe past her comfort zone to connect with others. Riley succeeds in making new friends but—this is fifth grade, after all—there are harrowing swerves and loop-de-loops along the way.

When the Queen Bee calls her “lesbo,” Riley is confused. Lesbians go with other girls, she thinks, and she doesn’t go with anybody. Also, isn’t “lesbo” a mean word? Not wanting to risk having another note sent home, Riley decides to handle it herself.

As she works on a school project about her favorite comedian, a woman named Joy Powers, Riley wonders if she might have a crush on Joy? If so, would that “psych people out” or frighten away a new friend?

Readers will cheer for charming, kind-hearted Riley as she struggles to find herself, her place and her people. The story and its lively illustrations, which celebrate the power of art to connect people and bring positive energy into the world, is well-suited for the popular graphic novel format.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion about the book. I don’t review books that I didn’t finish or didn’t enjoy.
13 people found this helpful
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T. G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and poignant
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2023
A 5th grade girl just doesn't get why all her friends have crushes and she doesn't. She can't seem to figure out why she doesn't have any friends at school that understand her, or why the kids pick on her. Then, she meets Aaron, the new boy with an atypical family. The lightbulbs start coming on and Riley begins to realize a whole lot about herself.
10 people found this helpful
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ReviewerJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Sweet, and Smart
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2022
I absolutely loved Riley! She's such a fantastic main character, one that I'd love to be friends with. This book was funny, sweet, and smart and the artwork is fantastic and supported the story perfectly.
10 people found this helpful
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Anna M. L. Reeve
5.0 out of 5 stars My 8 year old daughter loved it
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2022
My daughter really liked this book and immediately wanted to know if the author had anything else or a sequel. She connected with the main character who seemed multidimensional and real.
10 people found this helpful
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