Bel Canto Books is delighted to host the book launch for IT'S ELEMENTARY by Elise Bryant, in conversation with Lauren Billings (of Christina Lauren), THE PARADISE PROBLEM.
Kindly RSVP so we can plan accordingly. Please stay home if you feel sick.
This event will be held indoors at KUBO LB (3976 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach CA).
E VENT SCHEDULE
3:45PM - Event check-in begins
4:00pm - Welcome & event start
4:15-5:00pm - Author reading, conversation, and Q&A
5:00pm-6:00pm - Book signing & shopping time
6:00pm - Event ends
ABOUT THE BOOK
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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elise Bryant was born and raised in Southern California, and for many years she had the joy of working as a special education teacher. Now she spends her days writing and eating dessert. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Long Beach.
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER
LAUREN BILLINGS is one-half of the combined pen name Christina Lauren (with Christina Hobbs), the New York Times, USA TODAY, and #1 internationally bestselling authors of the The Unhoneymooners, Love and Other Words, The Soulmate Equation and The True Love Experiment. Their latest novel, The Paradise Problem, was released in May.
ABOUT BEL CANTO BOOKS
Founded by Jhoanna Belfer, a Filipina-American poet and former hospitality executive, Bel Canto Books offers a curated selection of fiction, nonfiction and children's books, organized around a theme of the month, in particular celebrating books by women and people of color. Learn more at belcantobooks.net.
ABOUT KUBO LB
KUBO LB is a creative community space for Filipinx, BIPOC, LGBTQ, and Women led small businesses. KUBO LB is a space to support and educate small businesses through retail, business workshops and more. Learn more at kubolb.com.
