booksblabbering 's review for:

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis

3.5

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Being a mother to a kindergarten is hard. It is even worse when your daughter is bitten by a werewolf and must attend a magical school within a hidden community.

Just because they have magic, it doesn’t mean that there is a fairy godmother to help out (even then, you have to pay and they can’t really do that much except babysit). 

I liked that Rozakis leaned into the Harry Potter comparison. Of course, with a magical school, this will always be the stats quo (unfortunately). However, she never names the franchise and instead cleverly alludes to it. 

<b>“Lucius isn’t from, uh,” Vivian stuttered to a halt, realizing exactly how odd it would be to name a Black mage’s kid after the racist villain in a series about child wizards.

</b>

This had a focus on adulting. On how to be a mother, a wife, a friend, an individual all at the same time. How do you balance everything?

Vivian finds she can’t and finds herself directing all her energy into Aria fitting in to this new environment. 

 

I think parents would probably appreciate this more than other readers, however I am a single 21 year old university student and I still found many moments to laugh at and empathise with. 

It is a magical world with unicorns, spells, elixirs, sirens, and much more… Yet, Vivian as a main character is very rooted in reality and her observations are bubbling on accepted hysteria - a running monologue that kept me entertained. 

<b>This semester, we’re pleased to offer a new hot lunch option for families who wish to purchase lunch for their child. We can support a number of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, raw meat only, liquid only, kosher, blood-based, gluten-free, and bottled emotions captured from living human souls.</b>

I have to shout out the Class WhatsApp’s group chat because it was funnily realistic - even if their problems tended more magical. Also, the school notices.

There is also representation of therapy and medication - yay! 

I think the pacing was slightly uneven and I just kept wishing Vivian would talk to others - which I guess is kind of the point of the book. 

I admit to seeing the reveal coming quite early on and I do wish we got more of the magic and the hidden town and the classes. 

But I would argue this is less plot focused and more close character development. 

Arc gifted by Titan.