The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis

Book Description

When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys, and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.

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

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

Review

One thing I loved about The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis is how normal the story’s world feels.

Yes, this is a novel about cryptids, magical schools, and a hidden supernatural world. But emotionally, it’s grounded in familiar territory. Even as the story introduces increasingly fantastical elements, the characters are grappling with ordinary problems. Things like school politics, social hierarchies, and the quiet fear of getting things wrong when someone you love is counting on you.

Rozakis treats the quirky magical elements with the same casual realism as PTA meetings and school emails. This grounding makes the story feel believable — not because the fantasy world makes sense, but because the emotions do.

Vivian is a fish out of water character, a perspective that works beautifully. As she’s pulled into this new world, she’s constantly trying to keep her footing in situations she doesn’t fully understand. That sense of uncertainty feels real and human, even when the circumstances are anything but.

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association allows both things to coexist. The fantasy situation doesn’t replace everyday worries. Instead, it runs alongside them. Mean moms are still mean moms. School bullying is painful. And trying to support a child whose inner world feels unfamiliar is complicated.

Emotions Ground Fantasy

Despite the fantastical premise, the novel never loses sight of its characters’ emotional reality. The stakes aren’t just about navigating a secret world; they’re about showing up, doing your best, and learning how to be brave when you feel completely unqualified.

Rozakis has a wonderful sense of humor. It’s sharp, affectionate, and never cruel. And while the story made me laugh, the humor never undercut the emotional moments.

Although The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association is a contemporary fantasy, the tone reminded me of Rozakis’s novel Dreadful. Both share the same blend of warmth and wit. Stories that are self-aware without being cynical, funny without losing their heart.

This is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys fantasy that keeps a foot firmly planted in the every day. Or low fantasy stories where magic exists alongside awkward conversations, social discomfort, and human uncertainty.

Content Warning

Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child Endangerment, Classism, Emotional Abuse, Gore, Injury, Social Exclusion, Toxic Friendship, Violence, Vomit

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Element5 Digital on Unsplash