Louis Sachar is the author of the 1987 novel for young readers, There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom. The striking title makes it seem like the book is about gender identity. The book routinely addresses and subverts gender norms, but, more accurately, Sachar’s work of realistic children’s fiction centers on personal growth and transformation. Fifth-grader Bradley Chalkers, the main character, realizes he doesn’t have to be a “monster”: He can become a kind, likable person. Other themes include friendship and acceptance and confronting fears and insecurities. Aside from There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom, Sachar has authored several other books for young readers, including the well-known novel Holes (1998).

The page numbers in the study refer to an e-book version of the 1987 Yearling edition of There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom.

Plot Summary

Bradley Chalkers is the oldest, toughest kid in Mrs. Ebbel’s fifth-grade class. He had to repeat fourth grade twice and will likely have to redo fifth grade if he doesn’t change his unruly ways. Bradley has no friends and sits by himself in class. If he could, he’d sit in the closet. Mrs. Ebbel wouldn’t mind: Even she—the teacher—admits that no one likes Bradley.

Jeff, the new kid from Washington, DC, feels sorry for Bradley and sits by him. Maintaining his “mean-boy” persona, Bradley makes Jeff pay him a dollar so he won’t spit on him. Revealing his human side, Bradley then gives Jeff a dollar to be his friend. Though technically friends, Bradley acts like they’re not. He ignores him and makes it seem like they’re sitting at the same lunch table by accident. When Jeff takes out a tuna fish sandwich with apple bits in it, Bradley declares his hatred for tuna and apples though he’s about to eat an apple.

Bradley lies a lot. He tells his mom, Janet, he’s doing fine in school, but when she meets Mrs. Ebbel, Janet confirms her suspicions: Her son has trouble getting along. Mrs. Ebbel has 28 other students and can’t focus on Bradley, but a new counselor, Carla Davis, might be able to help him.

Bradley already has some help, but it’s not from people: It’s from his motley collection of toy animals. Foremost, there’s Ronnie the Rabbit and Bartholomew the Bear. Around his toy animals, Bradley’s creative and imaginative, but at school, he presents himself as a “monster.” With his animals in his room, Bradley reveals his compassion and intelligence.

As a new kid, Jeff meets with Carla. While trying to find her office, he accidentally enters the girls’ bathroom, causing a fifth-grade girl, Colleen, to scream, “THERE’S A BOY IN THE GIRLS’ BATHROOM!” (38). Jeff runs away and finds Carla. She’s pretty and has a peculiar style. She thinks of herself more as a child than an adult and bonds with Jeff and the other children by not telling them what to think but by helping them think for themselves.

Bradley meets with Carla but maintains his “monstrous” identity. He claims he hates her and tells her lies: His parents feed him dog food; he had a phone call with the president. Bradley’s “bad-boy” image doesn’t faze her. Though Bradley doesn’t admit it, his continued visits to her mean he’s opening up and developing a deep connection with her.

After finding out that Jeff was in the girls’ bathroom, Bradley wants to enter the girls’ bathroom and scare the girls. Jeff thinks of reasons to avoid it. He also tries to avoid a fight with Colleen and her friends, Melinda and Lori. Bradley thinks they should beat them up for saying hi to Jeff. Colleen has a crush on Jeff, and a fight occurs: Melinda gives Bradley a black eye.

To save face, Bradley says Jeff gave him a black eye, and the other fifth-grade boys congratulate Jeff for supposedly hitting Bradley. Now, Jeff isn’t nice and considerate. With eight new friends, he ignores Bradley. Yet Bradley’s relationship with Carla blossoms. Their meetings lead to a discussion about monsters, and Bradley has an epiphany: He doesn’t have to be a “monster.” In starts and stops, Bradley becomes “good.” He eats oatmeal (though he hates oatmeal) and does his math homework (though he rips it up). To assist him with his book report, Carla gives him a zany novel, and Bradley devours the story and praises the work.

Jeff gets into a fight with Colleen, Melinda, and Lori, and Melinda beats him up, and, to save face, Jeff says it was Bradley. As Jeff and Bradley are about to rumble, they say hi, and instead, Bradley plays basketball with Jeff and his friends. Bradley attributes the turnaround to Carla and the book she gave him—it’s magic.

Many parents don’t like Carla. They think a counselor is a waste of money. They can buy a computer for each classroom instead. Colleen’s parents don’t want her to see Carla, and Carla tells Bradley she’s transferring to another school to teach kindergarten. Upset, Bradley regresses and rips up his book report. Carla tells him he doesn’t need her. He can flourish on his own. Yet Carla helps Bradley by taping his book report and handing it in for him, thereby helping Bradley earn a gold star from Mrs. Ebbel.

Before she goes, Carla writes Bradley a letter: She says she loves him. She also gives him the zany book as a present. Bradley writes Carla a letter back. He gives her Ronnie and tells her he loves her.

Bradley and Jeff cement their friendship, and Colleen invites Bradley to her birthday party, so Jeff isn’t the only boy. Bradley worries about abiding by birthday party customs, but Jeff calms him down, and Bradley has a blast at Colleen’s birthday party. He isn’t a “monster” anymore. He’s a young person with complex feelings and several friends.