Behind a simple bathroom vent, a sixth grader finds an unexpected way to mend a lonely school community.
Alex Thayer, a former classroom teacher and actress, brings a deep sense of empathy to her debut middle-grade novel, Happy & Sad & Everything True. The story follows Desdemona—better known as Dee—who walks into sixth grade only to realize her best friend has been placed in a different class and is moving on to new social circles. Feeling sidelined and anxious, Dee starts spending her breaks hiding in the girls’ restroom. There, she discovers a grate that connects to the boys’ bathroom, turning a secret hiding spot into a makeshift counseling office. Dee begins dispensing anonymous advice to her classmates, balancing her role as a school-wide confidante with the realities of her mother’s new dating life and her own need for connection. This novel has already earned significant acclaim, including a starred review from Kirkus and a place on the Mass Book Awards longlist, thanks to its authenticity.
This story is an excellent addition to any collection focused on UN SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. While many books discuss mental health, Thayer shows it in action through Dee’s grassroots approach to peer support. Her initiative demonstrates the IB Learner Profile trait of being caring in a way that feels achievable for twelve-year-olds. Educators can use the restroom-grate setup to spark a classroom “Kindness Wall” where students exchange anonymous notes of encouragement or practice active listening strategies in pairs. By moving the focus from Dee’s own sadness to the shared worries of her classmates, the narrative shows how small, anonymous acts of kindness can shift a school’s entire culture. It’s a clear example of student agency that doesn’t require a grand stage, reminding readers that helping others is often the quickest way to find your own footing.
