I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, Vivian and her husband Daniel have moved to a new town and put their kindergartener Aria in a new school. The most unusual part of this, however, is that Aria has recently been bitten by a werewolf, and she now transforms into an angry, furry version of herself often. And this new school, Grimoire Grammar, is a school for various magical beings, from selkies and sirens to vampires and deer-headed people. Vivian feels the typical uncertainty when trying to find her place among these other parents, but it’s especially worse for her since she and Daniel have no magical powers. The feeling of being outsiders only increases when murmuring of a prophesied disaster, the Reckoning, start up—and signs point of Aria being its harbinger.

I was delighted to receive this ARC, because I really enjoyed Rozakis’ previous novel, Dreadful. And luckily, this book has a similar dry wit and quirky fantasy setting with fun characters.

I quite liked Vivian as a protagonist. She’s a bit of a fish out of water, stuck in a situation she didn’t ask for and having to feel her way through (in that way, she’s similar to Gav in Dreadful. I guess Rozakis likes that type of lead, and I’m right there with her). Her attempts to fit in while also keeping her family together make her sympathetic. I also think the way that her relationship with Daniel shifted and changed over the course of the story was handled very well, and in a way that I think will ring true with a lot of married couples. And Aria stands out as a compelling character, a well written kid who’s both full of personality and is also struggling with adjusting to a new life.

The setting is also fantastic—Grimoire Grammar perfectly captures a charming primary school, but with the cutthroat underbelly of a private school whose patrons have too much money and not enough morals. Plus, the assortment of magical beings is amazing. I especially liked Steve and Sasha and Madhuri, and Cecily as an antagonist was great. Everyone feels distinct and like someone you yourself have known—even if in our world they probably aren’t able to conjure spells.

I do want to note that, while this book is often very funny, there are some darker elements. The Reckoning, an Armageddon-like prophesied event, is preceded by various dangerous occurrences, many of which happen at the school (though kids aren’t really hurt) and which Vivian seeks to protect Aria from. And there’s a scene in which Vivian recalls the day that the werewolf attacked Aria, and how brutal and traumatic it was. I imagine if you’re a parent with a child around her age, this scene might be kind of upsetting to you as well.

However, in the end, I had a wonderful time reading Grimoire Grammar School. The characters, the setting, the plot—everything was marvelous. If you, like me, grew up reading books about magical schools but now are well into adulthood, this story will work for you. Rozakis’ settings and humor also reminds me of Terry Pratchett (though granted, I’ve only read The Color of Magic and Good Omens so far, but still). This is a quick read, but one full of clever elements and solid emotional arcs, especially for Vivian. As an exploration of motherhood (particularly of a child with special needs, as Aria’s situation clearly is a metaphor for), of family, and of community, this book succeeds effortlessly. I think I said something similar in my review of her debut, but I can’t wait to see more from Rozakis!

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association will be published on May 27th, 2025!