Tag Archives: the school for good and evil

Book vs. Movie: The School For Good and Evil

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Soman Chainani’s hit novel, The School For Good and Evil, was recently released as a Netflix movie on October 19th, 2022. It follows the story of two young girls, Sophie and Agatha, who are whisked away to a fairytale world where they are either trained as villains in the School for Evil or heroes in the School for Good. Despite their beliefs, Sophie is placed in the School for Evil while Agatha attends the School For Good, leading to an onslaught of adventure and excitement.

However, there are several differences between the book and movie adaption.

  1. Sophie and Agatha’s Friendship
    • Book: Sophie was extremely popular among the other villagers and was only friends with Agatha to improve her image and paint herself as a benevolent saint.
    • Movie: Sophie willingly became friends with Agatha and enjoyed her company, leading to her becoming ostracized by the other village kids who found the two of them weird.
  2. The Rules for Good and Evil
    • Book: The Rules for Good and Evil are as followed “The Evil attack. The Good defend. The Evil punish. The Good forgive. The Evil hurt. The Good help. The Evil take. The Good give. The Evil hate. The Good love”.
    • Movie: The only rule mentioned is that “The Evil attack. The Good defend”.
  3. Trial by Tale
    • Book: Trial by Tale was originally a competition between the School for Good and the School for Evil. The top students from each school were selected and would face horrific monsters and dangers in the Blue Forest. Afterwards, any student who has survived by sunrise, would be proclaimed the winner.
    • Movie: Trial by Tale is a test to see if Sophie and Tedros were actually each others true love. They would start at opposite sides of the forest and if they managed to reunite with each other, Sophie would be allowed to attend the School for Good with Tedros.
  4. The Circus of Talents
    • Book: The Circus of Talents was a show between the Evers and Nevers to decide which school would host the Theater of Tales.
    • Movie: There is no Circus of Talents.
  5. Lady Lesso’s Origin
    • Book: Lady Lesso is from The Endless Words.
    • Movie: Lady Lesso is originally from Gavaldon, like Sophie and Agatha.
  6. Gregor
    • Book: Gregor does not exist at all.
    • Movie: Gregor is the son of Cinderella and Prince Charming. However, despite his royal lineage, Gregor fails miserably at being a prince and aspires to run his own grocery store, leading to him being turned into a stymph after his third fail.
  7. Blood Magic
    • Book: There is no such thing as blood magic.
    • Movie: Blood magic is a dark but powerful type of magic that is used by both Rafal and Sophie.
  8. Sader
    • Book: Sader taught History of Heroism at the School for Good and was also a blind seer that guides Agatha along her journey by sharing his visions.
    • Movie: Sader is not present at all.
  9. Lady Lesso and Rafal
    • Book: There is no romantic relationship between Lady Lesso and Rafal.
    • Movie: Lady Lesso was originally in love with Rafal and attempted to win him over by becoming more and more evil.
  10. The Bridge
    • Book: At the bridge, there is a barrier between the two schools, preventing anybody good from going to the School for Evil as well as preventing anybody evil from going to the School for Good.
    • Movie: There is no barrier between the School for Good and the School for Evil.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Quests for Glory by Soman Chainani

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Just as the fairy tale in the third book of this series came to an end, a new one with unexpected twists and plots opened. Quests for Glory, the fourth book in the School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani, follows the fourth-year pupils of the School for Good and Evil as they journey on the quests that have been assigned to them. 

Just a quick background on the world: The School for Good and Evil is set in a fairy tale world and has two school within it: a School for Good and a School for Evil. Based on their nature, the children are separated into these two schools. When each student reaches their fourth year, they are assigned a quest, and the Storian (and enchanted pen) writes and illustrates their adventures as a new fairy tale. King Arthur of Camelot, Cinderella, and many more were students at the School for Good and Evil. The characters who were introduced in the first book of this series, Sophie and Agatha, are now in their fourth year.

The fourth-year pupils are off on their assigned quests, but the quests do not seem to be going as hoped. Tedros cannot lift Excalibur to take what he thinks is his rightful place as king, Agatha is not as happy as she’d hoped in Camelot, and from the looks of Professor Dovey’s (Dean of the School for Good) magical quest map, the other students are not doing well either. A mysterious force seems to be working against the success of the students’ quests, and its ultimate goal becomes more and more apparent with its every move: Tedros’ place in Camelot. Professor Dovey begins to realize that perhaps the quests the fourth-year pupils have been given are not their real tales. 

I had read the first three books in The School for Good and Evil series about a year ago, and I had forgotten how full of humor and artful drama Soman Chainani’s writing is. The characters he creates are so vivid, unique, and enjoyable to read about. If you have not read this series, I would suggest it if you like books based on fairy tales (many of the students at the School for Good and Evil are children of famous fairy tale heroes and villains). This book was an exciting, magical, and humorous read which I’m sure fans of the series will enjoy.

– Mia T.

Quests for Glory by Soman Chainani is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.