Rebecca H. (amichai) reviewed The School for Good and Evil (School for Good and Evil, Bk 1) on + 368 more book reviews
I haven't read such a bad children's fantasy in a long time. I forced myself to read it because I let my niece, seven years old, chose it at a bookstore. Argh! I so regret it!
The book is crammed with cliches and cartoonish characters, a confusing pastiche of elements imitative of other likable children's fantasy. The characters aren't well developed and Good and Evil behavior is depicted in a confusing jumble. I don't know if a 7, 8, 9 or 10 year old could untangle it all - I think she would read along absorbing some nasty stereotyped characters and behaviors without understanding which things are meant as lampoon and which are trying to be satirical. A real mess. And don't imagine this book could appeal to both genders: it's bad, in a girl's book way. ("Getting" boys to like you, sexy vamping costume - all possibly meant to be satirical, but just .... YUK.)
I think the book is actually worse than not reading at all. There is so much out there that is better. The School for Good and Evil is a tremendous, and possibly even pernicious waste of time. Lest the reader of this review think I can't cut a "fun" book some slack..........really! I can! But not this book! Ugh ugh ugh!
The book is crammed with cliches and cartoonish characters, a confusing pastiche of elements imitative of other likable children's fantasy. The characters aren't well developed and Good and Evil behavior is depicted in a confusing jumble. I don't know if a 7, 8, 9 or 10 year old could untangle it all - I think she would read along absorbing some nasty stereotyped characters and behaviors without understanding which things are meant as lampoon and which are trying to be satirical. A real mess. And don't imagine this book could appeal to both genders: it's bad, in a girl's book way. ("Getting" boys to like you, sexy vamping costume - all possibly meant to be satirical, but just .... YUK.)
I think the book is actually worse than not reading at all. There is so much out there that is better. The School for Good and Evil is a tremendous, and possibly even pernicious waste of time. Lest the reader of this review think I can't cut a "fun" book some slack..........really! I can! But not this book! Ugh ugh ugh!
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed The School for Good and Evil (School for Good and Evil, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
I have been wanting to read this book forever. It really really sounded like something I would love. I ended up enjoying it a lot. I would be lying if I didn't admit that the cover and the title were the first two things to capture my attention.
This book is about Sophie (a beauty obsessed blond who is determined to do good in her own way) and Agatha (a dark and unloved child, who is incredibly cynical). They live in a town where every year two children are kidnapped by the School Master, one goes to the School for Evil while the other goes to the School for Good.
Everyone in town knows that Sophie will go to the school for Good and Agatha will go to the school for Evil...but the opposite happens. What follows is a hilarious and touching story about what makes good good and what makes evil evil...and also what happens when you try to ignore all the grey areas in between.
This was a creative and engaging story. It doesn't get five stars because, while I enjoyed the story, I wasn't ever completely sucked in to it. There were parts that were a bit slow as well. Some of the stereotypes for good and evil were a bit over the top and ventured into the territory of silly instead of funny.
I really really loved the idea behind this story. The idea that there is a school for learning how to be a Hero or a Villain is an awesome one and it was executed in a very interesting way. There is also a story that is broader than just the existence of the schools that added a lot to the plot.
My only real complaint is that while the book tried to preach the whole "Good is who you are not how you look" theme, it kind of fell short because good people would change to looking pretty and evil people would start to look evil...I thought this was a bit inconsistent with the theme.
Overall a very fun and unique read that twists the whole idea of fairy tales on its head. I really enjoyed the concept and the world. There is some humor in here and the story delivers a good message about friendship. I never found the characters to be all that engaging and, while I enjoyed the story, I was never completely sucked in. My only other complaint is I thought the good is who you are not how you look message was a bit inconsistent throughout. I would definitely recommend to those who love twisted fairy tales, this was a very good book. I definitely plan on continuing the series.
This book is about Sophie (a beauty obsessed blond who is determined to do good in her own way) and Agatha (a dark and unloved child, who is incredibly cynical). They live in a town where every year two children are kidnapped by the School Master, one goes to the School for Evil while the other goes to the School for Good.
Everyone in town knows that Sophie will go to the school for Good and Agatha will go to the school for Evil...but the opposite happens. What follows is a hilarious and touching story about what makes good good and what makes evil evil...and also what happens when you try to ignore all the grey areas in between.
This was a creative and engaging story. It doesn't get five stars because, while I enjoyed the story, I wasn't ever completely sucked in to it. There were parts that were a bit slow as well. Some of the stereotypes for good and evil were a bit over the top and ventured into the territory of silly instead of funny.
I really really loved the idea behind this story. The idea that there is a school for learning how to be a Hero or a Villain is an awesome one and it was executed in a very interesting way. There is also a story that is broader than just the existence of the schools that added a lot to the plot.
My only real complaint is that while the book tried to preach the whole "Good is who you are not how you look" theme, it kind of fell short because good people would change to looking pretty and evil people would start to look evil...I thought this was a bit inconsistent with the theme.
Overall a very fun and unique read that twists the whole idea of fairy tales on its head. I really enjoyed the concept and the world. There is some humor in here and the story delivers a good message about friendship. I never found the characters to be all that engaging and, while I enjoyed the story, I was never completely sucked in. My only other complaint is I thought the good is who you are not how you look message was a bit inconsistent throughout. I would definitely recommend to those who love twisted fairy tales, this was a very good book. I definitely plan on continuing the series.
My review from Goodreads...
My my, you know a book has something going for it when there's this many reviews (and polarizing ones) two months before it comes out. Woa. I won a copy of the book through a Kidsbuzz giveaway. Since a lot of people entered and I got a copy of the Advanced Readers Edition, I felt like I should post my thoughts somewhere about THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL and finally signed up for Goodreads. Who knew so many people had an early copy??
Judging from the early reviews, it seems the majority love it and there's a minority that doesn't, but I'm firmly with the majority. The version I read still is an early one, just cause it's chock full of typos, mistakes, etc., so I can only imagine it will get better from here, which is scary.
This book is so fresh, so original, and so CRAZY that it has to be read to be believed. Don't believe anyone who tries to compare it to something. There just isn't a comparison. Another reader mentioned it's like a wacko Disney movie so maybe that's the best way to describe it. It's like the fairy tales you read as a kid, just demented and strange and completely engrossing. (At one point the main character wears a sequined burka?!!)
The best part about the book is that Sophie is so insanely unlikeable and yet she's the character you can't wait to read more about. I'm nervous about any sorts of spoilers here, but safe to say that Sophie manages to pull off the same kind of charismatic scene stealing normally reserved for villains. Meanwhile Agatha is as likeable as Sophie is not and she becomes the heart of the book unexpectedly. Her scenes are surprising and touching. By 500 pages with these two characters, you haven't had nearly enough and just want the next two books as fast as S. Chainani can write them.
There are some scenes in this book that just stay with you long after you're done: the wish fish, the golden goose, the flowerground scene, the trial... It's like every chapter has this brand new stage and it becomes almost scarily addictive racing ahead to see what's next. Like a lot of other reviewers on here, I read it in less than 2 days. Truth is it just takes over your life. Be warned.
My my, you know a book has something going for it when there's this many reviews (and polarizing ones) two months before it comes out. Woa. I won a copy of the book through a Kidsbuzz giveaway. Since a lot of people entered and I got a copy of the Advanced Readers Edition, I felt like I should post my thoughts somewhere about THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL and finally signed up for Goodreads. Who knew so many people had an early copy??
Judging from the early reviews, it seems the majority love it and there's a minority that doesn't, but I'm firmly with the majority. The version I read still is an early one, just cause it's chock full of typos, mistakes, etc., so I can only imagine it will get better from here, which is scary.
This book is so fresh, so original, and so CRAZY that it has to be read to be believed. Don't believe anyone who tries to compare it to something. There just isn't a comparison. Another reader mentioned it's like a wacko Disney movie so maybe that's the best way to describe it. It's like the fairy tales you read as a kid, just demented and strange and completely engrossing. (At one point the main character wears a sequined burka?!!)
The best part about the book is that Sophie is so insanely unlikeable and yet she's the character you can't wait to read more about. I'm nervous about any sorts of spoilers here, but safe to say that Sophie manages to pull off the same kind of charismatic scene stealing normally reserved for villains. Meanwhile Agatha is as likeable as Sophie is not and she becomes the heart of the book unexpectedly. Her scenes are surprising and touching. By 500 pages with these two characters, you haven't had nearly enough and just want the next two books as fast as S. Chainani can write them.
There are some scenes in this book that just stay with you long after you're done: the wish fish, the golden goose, the flowerground scene, the trial... It's like every chapter has this brand new stage and it becomes almost scarily addictive racing ahead to see what's next. Like a lot of other reviewers on here, I read it in less than 2 days. Truth is it just takes over your life. Be warned.
Ashley B. (daredevilgirl013) reviewed The School for Good and Evil (School for Good and Evil, Bk 1) on + 746 more book reviews
At first I wasn't sure if I would like this book or not. It started out okay but then when the girls are taken to their schools it became rather juvenile (for example farting...) and I thought if that was going to be the theme of the book I wasn't going to continue reading it. I'm glad I got through that part as the rest of the book was wonderful with bits of twists and turns everywhere. I'm excited to read the next one!
