Book Summary and Reviews of It's Elementary by Elise Bryant

Book Summary

A fast-paced, completely delightful new mystery about what happens when parents get a little too involved in their kids' schools, from NAACP Image Award nominee Elise Bryant.

Mavis Miller is not a PTA mom. She has enough on her plate with her feisty seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, an exhausting job at a nonprofit, and the complexities of a multigenerational household. So no one is more surprised than Mavis when she caves to Trisha Holbrook, the long-reigning, slightly terrifying PTA president, and finds herself in charge of the school's brand-new DEI committee.

As one of the few Black parents at this California elementary school, Mavis tries to convince herself this is an opportunity for real change. But things go off the rails at the very first meeting, when the new principal's plans leave Trisha absolutely furious. Later that night, when Mavis spies Trisha in yellow rubber gloves and booties, lugging cleaning supplies and giant black trash bags to her waiting minivan, it's only natural that her mind jumps to somewhere it surely wouldn't in the light of day.

Except Principal Smith fails to show up for work the next morning, and has been MIA since the meeting. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Mavis, along with the school psychologist with the great forearms (look, it's worth noting), launches an investigation that will challenge her views on parenting, friendship, and elementary school politics.

Brilliantly written, It's Elementary is a quick-witted, escapist romp that perfectly captures just how far parents will go to give their kids the very best, all wrapped in a mystery that will leave you guessing to the very end.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Mavis has proudly "mastered the swift, no-small-talk drop-off." Why is she so reluctant to interact with the other parents at Knoll? If you have kids, do you avoid eye contact like Mavis, or are you a card-carrying member of the PTA?
2. Throughout the book, we see all the work that Mavis does at night, after Pearl goes to sleep. Can you relate to this "second shift"? Is this labor respected and valued in our society?
3. Mavis is constantly worried about being seen as a Bad Mom, and she makes many decisions based on how she'll be perceived by others. Do you worry about getting the Bad Mom label, too? Do moms hold themselves (and other moms) to unfair standards?
4. After being out of the dating game for a while, Mavis makes ...