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Room9. Erased by a number.

A series of rebellious stories blending creativity, school, and self-discovery.

Discover Room 9, the new YA coming-of-age novel by Elena Venieri, which gives a voice to teenagers tired of being reduced to a mere number in the register. An immersive, ensemble-driven story that combines powerful school-based storytelling with practical design thinking tools, guiding young people, parents and teachers beyond the labels of grades to rediscover the profound value of learning and personal growth.

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  • TARGET: 11-16 anni
  • PAGES: 217 pages
  • FORMATS: paperbook/ebook
  • RATING: 4,9/5
  • ISBN: 979-8265719867

Synopsis

What to learn

The series

Author

Perfect for

Extra content

What people say

Di cosa parla "Il voto che ti cancella"?

Amira, Leo and Izan have one thing in common: the feeling that school is reducing them to mere numbers. When they find themselves in the mysterious Room 9, they decide to stop complaining and start doing something different: challenging the system and imagining a better one.

Using creative tools inspired by design thinking, the three teenagers launch a clandestine project that attempts to reveal what grades fail to show: emotions, talents, questions and personal growth.

Under the Desk. The mark that erases you. is a young adult novel told through diaries, notes and torn-out pages. A story of friendship, identity and change that shows how frustration can become the starting point for building something new.

Because no number can truly tell who you are.

What does a Room 9 train?

  • Empathy

    Seeing from different points of view

  • Creative confidence

    Trusting your own ideas

  • Critical thinking

    Questioning systems and imagining alternatives

  • Self-awareness

    Understanding strengths, limits, and emotions

  • Collaborazione

    Building with others, not against

  • Problem solving

    Turning challenges into experiments

  • Communication

    Expressing emotions and thoughts clearly

About the Author

I am a digital designer, a mum and the founder of Junior Design. My work (and my mission) is to help young people and children develop creativity, empathy and critical thinking through play, storytelling and discovery.

I work every day with teachers, educators and families because I believe that schools and personal growth need strong partnerships. In my projects, I always combine compelling stories with practical tools, convinced that the fundamental skills for the future are learnt from a young age… and yes, above all, through fun!

The Gaia saga was born from this vision. With Room 9, however, I wanted to delve deeper into the world of teenagers, creating not only a story in which they could see themselves reflected, but a practical tool to help them reclaim their self-worth, beyond the marks in their school registers.

The saga

Explore the saga of Room 9

Room 9 is a series that reimagines what school can be — not just a place for grades, but a space for imagination, courage, and connection.
Each book invites readers to look “under the desk,” where real thoughts, fears, and dreams live. Through storytelling inspired by Design Thinking, students explore how to turn frustration into creativity and how to leave a mark in systems that try to erase individuality.
It’s not just a novel — it’s a movement that teaches teens to think differently, collaborate, and believe that their ideas matter.

Perfect for teachers

Teachers, parents, and schools who want to bring creativity and reflection into learning — and for teens who feel unseen, measured, or “erased” by grades.
It’s ideal for middle and high school students who love stories that challenge the norm and encourage them to dream, design, and express who they truly are.

Each book contains

  • A powerful YA story about students

  • Design Thinking–based activities

  • Real-life classroom ideas

  • Creative exercises and prompts

  • Inspiring quotes, illustrations, and stories

What people say about Room 9

A really good book that appeals directly to young people because it speaks their language... I bought it for my 13-year-old son, who had lost confidence and the carefree attitude he had in his early school years... This book helps children's self-esteem, encouraging them to be brave and not be seen as numbers, especially those special, intelligent children who are overlooked because they do not fit in with the school system and are left in a corner and then assessed by grades that write them off... Unfortunately, the school system has remained unchanged for 40 years... but times have changed and, above all, children have changed... I highly recommend this book.
Cristian
An important reflection on the subject of school assessments. To be read in secondary schools!
Fulvia
I liked it because there isn't just one voice, but many: students, teachers, different points of view. And above all, it talks about something real: when you feel like you're just a number at school. It makes you think without being boring; in fact, it's rebellious and creative.
Luca
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