It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant tells the story of Mavis Miller, a single mother to seven-year-old Pearl. She’s just trying to keep afloat and balance all her responsibilities, so the last thing she wants to do is add something to her plate—but the PTA president Trisha is a little terrifying and hard to say no to. So Mavis agrees to head the new DEI committee, but at her first PTA meeting, something happens. Trisha and the school’s principal get into an argument, and after, out back, Mavis witnesses Trisha dragging black trash bags into her van. Mavis thinks nothing of it, until Principal Smith never comes back to work. The school is in disarray, and Mavis can’t stop thinking about what she witnessed. Surely Trisha couldn’t be responsible for the disappearance, can she? So Mavis—with the help of the handsome school psychologist—sets out to uncover the truth.

I’ve read all of Bryant’s books so far, so I was excited to hear that she was branching out into adult fiction, and a new genre for her at that! And this was a very fun book!

Mavis has a fantastic narrative voice, full of wit and personality. She sounds like a real person, casual and relatable. I enjoyed following the story through her eyes, and seeing how she deals with the various problems she encounters, whether it’s self-doubt or confusion about what happened to Principal Smith. Her journey of learning how to value her own time and contributions is well paced and well-written.

As for the other characters, they’re all excellent. Pearl is a wonderfully characterized little girl; it’s clear that Bryant knows how to accurately portray the lives of children with reality and compassion. Her own subplot is touching. I also liked Pearl’s bond with her father, Corey, who travels for work. Though he and Mavis aren’t together anymore, it’s nice to see an example of unconventional but earnest teamwork when it comes to their daughter. I also liked the characters of Jack, Corinne, and Jasmine. It’s a solid cast.

As for Trisha, she’s probably the star of the show other than Mavis. She’s just the sort of entitled parent that would head up a PTA at an affluent school (not that all PTA presidents are like this, I’m sure). But certainly there are parents like this, and Trisha captures this brilliantly. Further, the scenes involving the PTA are excellent at showcasing the complexities of being inclusive. Mavis deals with microaggressions as well as well-meaning but condescending attempts to acknowledge diversity. It highlights how awkward and strange it is to be one of the only people of color in a group.

And as the plot pans out, we also touch on topical subjects, like cyberbullying and the banning of books with queer people of people of color. These are excellent conversations to have, and I loved the way the latter subject is condemned so thoroughly. Bryant gets it.

There’s also a touch of a love story, which was charming enough. The banter between Mavis and Jack is entertaining and sweet. Some of the drama was a little tiring, but overall, I liked how they were together. Though ultimately, this isn’t a romance; it’s a story of a woman learning to reclaim her own strength.

In the end, It’s Elementary is a light read, but with substance. It tackles important subjects about embracing diversity, about being good parents, about the various ways to get justice for wrongdoing. The characters are full of life, the pacing is excellent, and the mystery is intriguing. Bryant continues to be a powerful writer, and I look forward to what she creates next!

It’s Elementary is available now!