Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek Into It's Elementary & Other Friday Fun

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

I don't see her coming. 

If I had been on top of my game, if I had been alert, there's no way she would've got me. I've mastered the swift, no-small-talk drop-off in the years that Pearl has gone to Knoll Elementary. Head on a swivel, sunglasses on, don't make eye contact, keep it moving. I can do it in my sleep. (And, well, I actually do sometimes, in this recurring stress dream, which is why my only nighttime companions are my mouth guard and a double dose of magnesium melatonin). [opening of It's Elementary]

I think this is a great start and introduction to Mavis, who I liked instantly. You can't help but wonder who it is she's avoiding. She's certainly had a lot of practice even if this time she wasn't successful.   

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Our wonderful host Freda of Freda's Voice is on a break, and Anne of My Head is Full of Books  has stepped in to host! 

I follow Mrs. Nelson's directions, speed walking to the door, and once I hit the hallway, I figure it can't hurt to upgrade to a light jog. I'm sweating and shaky, and it's fairly likely my heart's going to thump right on out of my chest, and those feelings only intensify when I slam right into another body. [excerpt at 50% of It's Elementary]

Oof! That was unexpected. I wonder who Mavis has run into. I have reached this part in the novel and am anxious to see where it goes from here. I am enjoying It's Elementary and have no idea yet how this is all going to turn out!

It's Elementary by Elise Bryant

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. [Goodreads Summary]

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

How do you keep up with your favorite blogs? 

I tried quite a few different sites before settling on Inoreader. It may not be the prettiest site, but it's straightforward, and I like being able to create folders to categorize the blogs I follow. I use their free service, which limits the amount of blogs I can follow, but I haven't run up against the limit yet; so it hasn't been a problem. There are a very small few of blogs I subscribe to via e-mail--usually ones that I am unable to subscribe to through Inoreader. I may not always be able to keep up with all posts by the bloggers I follow, but I do enjoy seeing what everyone is reading and up to, and I enjoy discovering new blogs along the way. 

What about you? How do you keep up with your favorite blogs? 

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. What role have libraries played in your reading journey? Do you have any fond recollections involving libraries? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Libraries have long been a part of my life. From the summer reading programs I attended as a child at the local library, story time in the school library, research projects, studying, tutoring ESL students, typing papers and projects for school, mastering the internet (I didn't have a personal computer until I finished graduate school!), browsing the shelves for books to check out and read, to working behind the circulation desk and shelving books at the university library where I worked during my undergrad years. And then there was the joy of introducing my daughter to the library. When she was younger, we often spent Saturdays at the library, reading and doing crafts together. I may not put my library to use as much as I used to, but I still find it to be a treasure trove of books and resources. My library system does not offer Libby services but does have Hoopla. Think of the audiobooks I could access! Try as I might, I haven't been able to get it to work for me, unfortunately. Hopefully I will be able to get that resolved one of these days.

What about you? What role, if any, have libraries played in your life? 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading!

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