Rebecca H. (amichai) reviewed on 11/7/2014 + 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!

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