THE HAT DIARIES™ The Secret Life of Ryan Rigbee

THE HAT DIARIES™ The Secret Life of Ryan Rigbee by award-winning author Nadine Haruni is the debut novel in THE HAT DIARIES™ middle-grade fantasy trilogy and marks the start of a coming-of-age story resonating with readers of all ages. This imaginative, action-packed novel follows a teen struggling with loss, love, bullying, and loneliness.


By day, 13-year-old Ryan Rigbee is the shaggy-haired loner getting bullied, still reeling from losing his dad. By night, it’s another story. He puts on magical hats that whisk him and his dog, Shadow, into adrenaline-rushing roles. The imaginary adventures he writes about in his diary transform him from an awkward teen into someone confident who can handle anything. Ryan's mentor Merlo helps him navigate clues that lead to startling discoveries, as the distinction between Ryan's real life and exciting world of adventures becomes hard to discern.


"The language and storyline fall within the standard practices for middle-grade reading. I thoroughly enjoyed the story concept, sensing a reader would enjoy connecting dreams with characters from Ryan’s life and the empowerment and self-realization the story's experiences give him." —Stacey McMackin, a National Board Certified Library Media Specialist K-12