The Grimoire Grammar School PTA by Caitlin Rozakis Book Review

Let’s dive into the book of the moment: The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlyn Rosacus. She came onto my radar when I read her book Dreadful, which was quirky and fun. It featured a wizard or sorcerer who had lost his memory and learned he had been a bad person.

As he started over, he realized he didn’t want to be that person anymore. His minions were terrified of him because he used to explode them, but now he wanted to be better. He had kidnapped a princess but no longer wanted to keep her prisoner. It was a story full of self-reflection, and since I enjoyed that book, I picked up this one.

Summary:
Two parents and their recently bitten werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magical aristocracy, but deadly terrors await them—ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies, and even a PTA bake sale. When Vivian’s kindergartener Arya gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools.

Reeling from the sudden move, Vivian finds herself picking the right sacrificial dagger for Arya, stocking up on chew toys, and playing PTA politics with sirens, chthonic nymphs, and people who can literally set their hair on fire.

As Vivian dodges hellhounds in school corridors and demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with the arcane secrets of her new society—shops accessible only by magical portals, brutal trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents’ WhatsApp group.

Looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it’s about Arya. Vivian might be facing the end of days—just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out the door.

The story is lighthearted and fun. I don’t think I’ve read a chosen one story told from the perspective of the parents dealing with the ramifications of their child suddenly gaining supernatural powers. It’s like hearing Spider-Man’s story from Aunt May and Uncle Ben’s perspective—how they handle his powers and high school life—but in this case, it’s Vivian and her five-year-old daughter Arya.

Vivian and Arya were on a nature walk when they were attacked by a werewolf. Arya was bitten, and Vivian soon found herself watching her daughter’s body knit itself back together. A pack of werewolves showed up to help, explaining that Arya would now become a werewolf. They apologized for the attack and welcomed Vivian to the supernatural neighborhood.

Vivian and her husband are forced to move closer to a magical school for Arya. They can barely afford it because Vivian has to quit her job to monitor her unpredictable daughter. Money is tight, and the family struggles to adjust.

Vivian must buy special supplies for Arya’s new school, including magical items and sacrificial daggers. The magical aristocracy they’ve joined seems wealthy, full of sirens, nymphs, and other supernatural beings.

Arya is one of the few werewolf cubs at school, and while others are familiar with werewolves, they remain wary. The school holds talent shows and magical trials where students are scouted for advancement, even in kindergarten. Vivian worries about helping Arya prepare for these events. At one such show, things get chaotic when a demon escapes and hellhounds appear, preventing Arya from competing.

Vivian also faces discrimination from other parents. As a mortal surrounded by supernatural beings, she’s excluded from the PTA and nearly removed from the parents’ WhatsApp group. Meanwhile, Arya struggles to control her powers, so Vivian begins working with the werewolf pack to help her daughter.

I really enjoyed this book. Though I don’t have children, it was interesting to see a story from a parent’s point of view—a normal mortal navigating the supernatural world when her child has powers. It’s a fresh perspective since most stories focus on the child discovering their abilities.

The story is cozy and heartwarming, with some darker undertones involving prophecies and mysterious forces. There’s also a layer of history to uncover about whether the prophecy truly concerns Arya. Prophecies, as we know, usually only make sense in hindsight, so the mystery adds depth to the plot.

A Goodreads reviewer named Jamie described this book as Harry Potter meets Pink Glass Houses. Pink Glass Houses is a social satire about a wealthy PTA mom in an elite Miami school, compared to Big Little Lies and Pineapple Street. I thought that was an interesting comparison.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book centered around a parent-teacher association before. It’s a fun, quirky premise. Personally, I liked Dreadful a bit more, but this one was still very enjoyable. I’ll probably recommend it to my mom since she also liked Caitlyn Rosacus’s Dreadful.

It’s cozy, lighthearted, and blends fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and a touch of urban fantasy. If that sounds like your kind of read, give it a try.

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