It's Elementary (Mavis Miller Mysteries)
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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.
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.
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Community Reviews
It's Elementary blends lighthearted inner monologues and the stress of being a working, single mom with in suburb drama of stay-at-home moms whom live for the PTA meetings and gossiping behind each others backs. Mavis is know as the "yes, girl" to those closest to her and even when she's approached by the Queen Bee of the PTA committee to take charge of a DEI program that she really, really doesn't want or have the time for--she says yes.
I admit that I loved Mavis' daughter Pearl the most in this book; she legit stole the show. And Mavis's character wasn't too bad. The microaggressions from her boss, Trisha and the other mom's from the elementary school were hella annoying. A big part of me wanted to just shake Mavis inwardly admitting she picked up on them but would not call people out or address them.
I understand that the gentrification of the neighborhood was always going to be an adjustment and maybe the microaggression were just something people in neighborhood like that...ignore? IDK It just rubbed me the wrong way.
And having figured out who was connected to the principles disappearance at the first PTA meeting she was set to announce being the DEI chair, I stuck around for the slow-burn puppy romance with the school psychiatrist Jack. He was exactly the right person to join Mavis on the case of the missing principle.
The writing in this book is clean, consistent and balanced. Even with the question of murder in the air, It's Elementary is a lighthearted amateur sleuth book with a dash of stepford wives drama and parenting antics.
I admit that I loved Mavis' daughter Pearl the most in this book; she legit stole the show. And Mavis's character wasn't too bad. The microaggressions from her boss, Trisha and the other mom's from the elementary school were hella annoying. A big part of me wanted to just shake Mavis inwardly admitting she picked up on them but would not call people out or address them.
I understand that the gentrification of the neighborhood was always going to be an adjustment and maybe the microaggression were just something people in neighborhood like that...ignore? IDK It just rubbed me the wrong way.
And having figured out who was connected to the principles disappearance at the first PTA meeting she was set to announce being the DEI chair, I stuck around for the slow-burn puppy romance with the school psychiatrist Jack. He was exactly the right person to join Mavis on the case of the missing principle.
The writing in this book is clean, consistent and balanced. Even with the question of murder in the air, It's Elementary is a lighthearted amateur sleuth book with a dash of stepford wives drama and parenting antics.
This book deals with black woman who has struggles with the school system. She also independently investigates mystery that occurred at the school grounds of an elementary school.
This started out a great read but seem to transition all over the place and ending could have been better.
Figured out the mystery about halfway through but still a great summer read. The ending is definitely set up for a series and I’m not mad about it.
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