The Real Riley Mayes

A warm, lightly comic middle-grade graphic novel series from HarperCollins, The Real Riley Mayes follows a fifth-grader navigating friendship, family, and her own identity. Written and illustrated by Rachel Elliott, this debut volume introduces Riley as she uses her love of comedy and her vivid imagination to make sense of the world around her. The series stands out for its gentle, authentic portrayal of a young girl exploring her feelings and finding her voice, earning a place in the growing landscape of thoughtful, character-driven comics for young readers.