Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fractured fairy tale has plenty of twists for fantasy fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say the book has captivated many young readers with its engaging storylines and complex characters, but it has raised concerns regarding mature themes, particularly around sexuality and body image, which some parents find inappropriate for children under 12. While many readers loved the adventure and moral lessons of inner beauty, others voiced strong objections to the sexualized content and negative messages about appearance that they believe could harm young girls' self-esteem.
- engaging storylines
- mature themes
- inappropriate content
- self-esteem issues
- inner beauty message
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 107 kid reviews
Kids say that while the story has an engaging premise and relatable characters, there are significant concerns regarding its suitability for younger readers due to themes of romance, bullying, and body image issues. Many reviews recommend it for older teens, highlighting that although the book seeks to explore complex ideas of good and evil, it also contains messages that may be inappropriate or confusing for younger children.
- age appropriateness
- body image concerns
- romantic themes
- character complexity
- good vs. evil
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When best friends Sophie and Agatha are stolen away from their village and end up at the THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, the girls assume that their roles in life will remain as they always have predicted. With her blond hair, pink dresses, and penchant for doing good deeds, Sophie will be trained to be a storybook princess. Black-clad and antisocial Agatha has all the makings of a first-class villainess. At the school, however, the girls find themselves exactly where they don't want to be. Sophie is the one to take Uglification lessons and consort with future witches and their nefarious assistants, while Agatha must learn about makeup and the proper etiquette for attracting a Prince Charming. To get back home, Agatha and Sophie must solve a riddle that seems to threaten the very existence of the school.
Is It Any Good?
The School for Good and Evil is no run-of-the-mill fairy tale spin-off. Author Soman Chainani has clearly done his homework in folklore and mass media, and he manipulates the clichés of fantasy and folklore with a great deal of wit and insight. This opening volume to the series feels a little long, however. Agatha and Sophie attempt new trials, pass or fail in unexpected ways, and then move on to the next contest. The repetition of this pattern grows burdensome across nearly 500 pages. Still, there's a lot of narrative meat here, served up with flair by Chainani and complemented by Iacopo Bruno's black-and-white illustrations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about portrayals of fairy tale characters in The School for Good and Evil. How do fairy tale characters in modern media differ from their original, folkloric versions? Why do you think these stories remain so powerful and compelling?
Do you ever make judgments about people based on how they look or dress? Can you tell if someone is "good" or "bad" just by looking at them?
Do you ever feel as if other people -- family, friends or teachers -- have expectations of you that you can't possibly meet? How do you handle those expectations?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Iacopo Bruno
- Genre : Fairy Tale
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date : May 14, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 17
- Number of pages : 496
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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