September 2, 2024
Now that they’re in different sixth grade classes, Desdemona “Dee” Hiller worries about her friendship with bestie Juniper, who’s grown distant following an embarrassing incident involving Dee’s mother. While hiding in the bathroom during “snack and stretch” time, counting beige tiles and thinking about Juniper, Dee is interrupted by a noise coming from the grate: her classmate Harry, upset about his father, is kicking the grate in the boys’ bathroom. The two start talking through the opening, and Dee offers support and a listening ear. Demand for Dee’s impromptu therapy sessions soon spreads throughout the school, and as she begins helping other kids, she realizes that she has “no room to feel lonely,” despite still longing to reconnect with Juniper. When Dee starts receiving notes from an anonymous admirer, she wonders if it’s Juniper trying to mend their friendship, prompting Dee to uncover the identity of the sender. A persuasive blend of observant and oblivious stream-of-consciousness riffs punctuates Dee’s first-person narration, throughout which debut author Thayer explores summarily developed school-based elements and subplots. Juniper, Dee, and Harry read as white. Ages 10–up. Agent: Alexander Slater, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc.
Starred review from January 1, 2025
Gr 5-7-Prolific aural expert Kelly empathically ciphers Thayer's debut novel with spunky charm, enhancing protagonist Dee's struggles with inspiring tenacity and celebrating Dee's triumphs with humorous delight. Sixth grade is off to a horrible start-bff Juniper is drifting away, while laughing with the whole school at Dee's embarrassing mother with her too-short dress that doesn't cover her lacy, blue-flowered underwear during Parent PE Day. Dee's taken to hiding in the bathroom but finds she's not alone-and maybe her own travails might help others through theirs, from classmate Harry struggling with his own parent, to other kids, both younger and older. While Thayer's narrative occasionally veers toward paralyzing naval-gazing, Kelly's bubbly energy manages to keep listeners actively, entertainingly engaged. VERDICT Kelly convincingly provides a soothing balm to navigating the precarious pitfalls of middle school dramas.
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
