Happy & Sad & Everything True

Thayer, Alex. Happy & Sad & Everything True
November 12, 2024 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Dee is having a difficult year in sixth grade. Her best friend, Juniper, is in another class, and they don't have their Snack and Stretch Break together. Dee hasn't made any other friends, so she tries to spend the break in the bathroom, listening to the drip of the water and counting the tiles. After a while, she realizes that she can hear people talking through the grates in the bathroom, and has a pleasant interchange with Harry, who is in her class. Gym is after the snack break, and she is very embarassed when there is a Parent PE day and her mother shows up in a very short skirt and tall boots. Not only is she not really able to participate in a two legged race, but when she does, she is tied to the gym teacher and falls over, showing everyone her underwear! Dee is mortified, and knows that everyone is talking not only about her mother, but is also making unkind comments about Dee herself. Luckily, she is able to work on some group projects with Harry, and the two get along. Through the bathroom grates, she also helps several younger students with spelling, factual information, and some life advice. Her reputation at giving good advice spreads, and she helps out a 7th grader as well. Of course, spending this much time in the bathroom makes her teacher suspicious, and Dee is sent to the guidance counselor for a brief talk. At home, her mother, who gives spiritual readings as a way to earn money and who has been divorced from Dee's father for a long time, has Mr. Fender, Dee's gym teacher, over for dinner. When Juniper finds out about this from her mother (who is a friend of Dee's mother), she thinks it is weird and inappropriate. Harry's father, a well-to-do, motivated business man, has problems with the 6th grade curriculum, and meets with the teacher and principle to discuss his unhappiness. Dee overhears them talking, and worries that Harry will leave the school. Eventually, Dee is called to the office when Juniper complains about her conversations. Instead of punishing her for what Juniper thinks are inappropriate interactions, the principle offers Dee an advice column in the school newspaper. Dee realizes that while Juniper no longer wants to be her friend, Harry is a good person to have on her side, and some people do like her. 

Strengths: This is on trend with books addressing social emotional learning topics and with the idea that it is good to share one's problems with others. There are always students who, like Dee, find it hard to make friends, so it was good to see Dee have some successes, like getting to know Harry and being offered the advice column. I was glad to see that Dee was not able to spend a huge amount of time in the bathroom and have it go unnoticed. School security is usually better than that! Teachers and  librarians will enjoy this lyrical "heart print" book. 
Weaknesses: There is not a lot that happens in this book, so tweens might find it a little slow. Also, Juniper's concerns about having Dee as a friend are something that she should be allowed to have, although she should not have been allowed to try to get Dee into trouble. It's also not terribly surprising that Juniper's family wanted the girls separated, but Dee's mother should not have told her about that. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like contemplative books about relationships like DiCamillo's Ferris, Swartz's Hidden Truths, or Conklin's Crushed.