The first few days in a new school are always a little stressful and a little exciting, but, in Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly’s Classroom?, they’re also quite intriguing and strange. In her first week at her new school, Grace, who “always put[s] her hand up in class,” confidently volunteers to return a book to Mr. Grimly on behalf of her teacher Miss Flytrap—even though she doesn’t know how to find him and “was not even sure she knew who Mr. Grimly was.”
But no matter, it’ll be an adventure! And it certainly is, as Grace traverses a seemingly endless number of curving staircases and winding hallways filled with creaky old doors. There are dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, too, but “It just [gets] darker and darker and more and more cobwebby.” Delightful weirdness abounds as she passes by a science classroom hosting multiple skeletons, a crow admiring itself in a bathroom mirror and a giant crocodile suspended from the ceiling of a multifloor library.
How will she ever find Mr. Grimly? Humorously named staff like librarian Miss Endpaper and school cook Mrs. Macaroon pop out of the shadows to offer assistance; young readers will gasp along with the startled Grace and giggle about the ever-more-detailed directions she’s offered. (“Go down the hall and through the arched door, across the playground, and up the tower. I expect you know the way from there,” one teacher instructs. “‘Well . . .’ said Grace.”)
Award-winning British author and illustrator Chris Priestley, best known for his Tales of Terror series, has been crafting spooky middle grade and YA books since 2000. This story for younger readers is a perfect blend of mystery, suspense and humor, with superb art by award-winning Italian illustrator Mariachiara Di Giorgio (The Midnight Fair). Her richly detailed, painterly artwork demonstrates an impressive command of light and shadow, and her depiction of Grace’s increasingly disheveled appearance is a perfect tonal match for the subtly hilarious elements of Priestley’s story. Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly’s Classroom? will be a hit with inquisitive readers who, like Grace, appreciate a little gothic creepiness with their daring adventures.