Common Sense Media Review
By Myiesha Speight
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fairy tale-inspired prequel has action and surprises.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In RISE OF THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, twins Rhian and Rafal, one good and one evil, recruit and train students for the School for Good and Evil. Their newest recruit, Aladdin, seems an obvious choice for evil, but the Storian places him in Good instead. Aladdin's presence drives a wedge in the brothers' once-peaceful relationship as both sides want to prove where Aladdin truly belongs. The brothers encounter tests and challenges, each hoping to gain a win for their side while preserving the balance and their brotherly bond. Will brotherly love be enough to save the balance? Or will rivals and mistrust destroy everything?
Is It Any Good?
This engaging fairy-tale-inspired prequel is chock full of surprising twists and turns. Each part of Rise of the School for Good and Evil introduces readers to a new villain or obstacle for the twins. The different challenges and surprises will keep readers' attention and have them wondering whether good or evil will win. Many familiar fairy tale characters appear, like Aladdin and Captain James Hook, with refreshing new takes on their stories. There's a large cast of characters, some more developed than others. The novel is more plot-driven and focuses on the brothers' schemes to get a win for their side. As good and evil fight to win, the line between the sides blur, showing readers that good and evil aren't as distinct as they may seem.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about good and evil in Rise of the School of Good and Evil. What makes a person good or evil? Do you think someone is either one or the other, or capable of both?
The brothers struggle with their bond with each other and other people. How do you think they handled their relationships? What advice would you give them?
Rise of the School for Good and Evil has a lot of twists, turns, and action-filled moments. What do you think makes a twist interesting and keeps a reader reading? What twist or moment did you like the most? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , Pirates
- Character Strengths : Communication , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper Collins Publishers
- Publication date : May 31, 2022
- Number of pages : 356
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate