As you might be able to tell from the title, this is a Magical Realism story based around the dark and political world of Parent Teacher Associations. Some of you just shivered in terror, didn’t you?
I have never been a parent or a teacher, but I couldn’t resist picking this book up. And apparently, I managed to grab it on the day that it came out, which is pretty amazing. I barely ever let myself go book shopping, so what perfect timing!
After Vivian and Daniel’s daughter, Aria, is attacked by a werewolf, she recovers but is now a 5 year old werewolf. And apparently, there just aren’t enough schools for magical kids because when Aria goes to The Grimoire Grammar School, her parents find out that for her to graduate kindergarten (which is a thing in the US apparently??) she is going to have to pass various trials. These trials are a Talent Show, a Science Fair, and a Sports Day. She needs to do well at all of these, or at least two of the three, so that she will be accepted to the school next year. That’s the big threat of the plot, at least it is in the beginning. Strange events start to occur that whisper (and shout, scream, and hauntingly wail) that something else is going on. It was really interesting to see a book that made people act like people. They were petty and awful, but also sometimes deeply kind and forgiving. I loved it.
One thing I was not expecting was how mentally healthy this book would be for me. Vivian, the main character in the book, visits her therapist several times and the reminders that you can only control yourself and that remorse doesn’t change things, actions do, is something that honestly I think might have reset my brain a little? It sounds mad, but I think this is one of those situations where reading about someone going through something is more powerful than when you go through it yourself. I suppose it is because you get that perspective change and it allows you to look at it with a bit of distance. You have enough space that you can learn from the other person’s actions because you are not the one in the middle of the panic of the actual events.
Has this persuaded you into picking up a copy yet? I hope so, I found it really interesting and well written. The only problem I found is so picky I’m honestly embarrassed to bring it up, but early in the book, Vivian says she spends a lot of time fixing her daughter’s stuffed rabbit, and then later in the book she says she can’t sew. Like that’s it. That is the only thing I can think of that really caught my eye as a problem, and like I said that is me being very, very picky.
Here is a link to where you can read the book. I got the paperback and I love the orange sprayed edges with fun magical icons, so definitely get that edition if you can!
See you soon!
K
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