The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Today I'm excited to talk about The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani.  I first saw this book as a part of the Harper Collins Browse Inside feature back in June, up for offer were the first six chapters. I was captured by the cover and illustrations by Iacopo Bruno. I also really loved the premise that Chainani set up with the two schools (one for good and one for evil).  Plus there was the bonus feature of this wonderful trailer. Can't say that I've looked at to many of them, but this one catches the eye.  

  

Trailer for The School for Good and Evil

Within the town of Gavaldon, on the “eleventh night of the eleventh month” the School Master comes and kidnaps two children for the School for Good and Evil. Sophie is most likely girl who will end up in the School for Good. She after all has been dreaming and grooming to be a princess her entire life. With her eye for fashion and love of pink, she is a shoe in. Agatha, on the other hand seems to be destined for the School for Evil. When you grow up in a cemetery wearing all black and chase people away all the time, you really get a reputation for being evil. But good and evil are not just black and white and when Agatha and Sophie seem to be placed in the opposite schools, everything turns to a shade of gray.   

The School for Good and Evil is an interesting take on what constitutes good and evil. In the beginning, Chianani leads us to believe who is destined to be the princess and who is the witch. But Agatha and Sophie don't even know what lies within their hearts. The first quarter of the book Sophie is trying to switch schools with Agatha and Agatha is trying to find a way home to Gavaldon for them. Lots of emphasis is placed on telling the reader how unhappy Sophie is with the circumstance. Both try to convince everyone under the sun that there has been a horrible mix-up. When Agatha and Sophie manage to get into the School Master's tower, they come face to face with the Storian. Once Storian has begun the girls story, they must follow it to its end. The School Master also informs them that a princess and witch can never be friends and the only solution to their problem is to solve a riddle. “What's the one thing Evil can never have and the one thing Good can never do without?” The School for Good and Evils illustrates how beauty is not just how we look on the outside, it is also in the life we live and actions that we take.  Overall, I would say I see a little Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and a smidge of Darth Maul thrown in for good measure. A fun fairy tale retelling and Book Two is set to be published on April 15, 2014 with this new beautiful cover.  
  

My Review Copy was from the Library.