Content Note for
A Study of Shattered Spells
Dear reader,
As a fresh-out-of-college high school teacher, there was a lot I was unprepared for. Working with students in the classroom has been one of the highlights of my life. And yet I also found myself navigating tough issues that, as a new adult, I wanted to be better equipped to navigate.
My goal in this novel was to both depict the joys of teaching and explore some of the real challenges new adults face when they’re now in positions of authority with responsibilities to help the more vulnerable. As a result, A Study of Shattered Spells references and deals with issues like bullying, abuse, and sexual harassment. There is not any explicit sexual content or language in this book. But there are several frank conversations about these topics as the protagonist deals with the aftermath of these problems and seeks to be a good teacher.
I have done my best to approach these sensitive topics in as honest and careful a manner as I can. I’m never a perfect storyteller, however, and reading a depiction of these sensitive topics could be uncomfortable for some readers.
For my teen students who may be checking out this book: while this is an adult novel, I did write it in a way that would be appropriate for high school-aged readers. That being said, feel free to put it aside if you find it to be too much.
My prayer is that this novel will give you an intriguing look into what life might look like behind a (fantastical!) teacher’s desk while also empowering you to face the brokenness of the world with confidence. Thanks for checking out this book, and I hope you enjoy the story.
In Christ,
Josiah DeGraaf