Soman Chainani facts for kids

Soman Chainani is an American author and filmmaker, best known for writing the children's book series The School for Good and Evil.

Early life and education

Chainani grew up in Key Biscayne, Florida, where his family was one of the few of Indian descent. He attended Harvard University, where he graduated with a degree in English and American Literature in 2001. As of 2003 he resided in New York City. He came out as gay in his senior year at college. After graduation, he went on to attend Columbia University, where he participated in their MFA Film Program.

Career

Soman's series, The School for Good and Evil, debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, has sold more than 3.5 million copies, been translated into 32 languages across 6 continents, and has been adapted into a major motion picture from Netflix that debuted at #1 in over 80 countries.

His other books in the School for Good and Evil series – A World Without Princes, The Last Ever After, Quests for Glory, A Crystal of Time and One True King – have all debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List as well.

His book of retold fairytales, Beasts and Beauty, was released on September 21, 2021, to wide acclaim, with Kirkus Reviews calling the collection "expertly crafted... evoking the wonder, terror, and magic of the fantasy realms." Beasts & Beauty was an instant New York Times bestseller, Soman's seventh New York Times bestseller in a row, and is slated to be a limited television series from Sony 3000, with Soman writing and executive producing. Together, Chainani's books have been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 44 weeks.

His book, Rise of the School for Good and Evil was released on May 31, 2022, to high acclaim and the New York Times Bestseller list. Publishers Weekly described it as "an episodic, adventurous fantasy offering." A sequel, Fall of the School for Good and Evil is expected in May 2023.

Awards

The School for Good and Evil

• New York Times Bestseller
• ABA Indie List Bestseller
• Waterstone's Children's Book Prize for Best Fiction for 5–12 (2014, nominee for The School for Good and Evil)
• A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2013
• A Books-a-Million Best Book of 2013
• Entertainment Weekly PopWatch Pick
• Children's Choice Reading List Selection
• Goodreads Choice Semi-finalist (Best Children's Book)
• IndieNext Pick

A World Without Princes

• New York Times Bestseller
• ABA Indie List Bestseller
• Goodreads Choice Finalist (Best Children's Book)

The Last Ever After

• New York Times Bestseller
• ABA Indie List Bestseller
• A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2015
• Goodreads Choice Runner-up (Best Children's Book)

Filmography

• 2006: Davy and Stu (short)
• 2007: Kali Ma (short), Boys Life 6
• 2022: The School for Good and Evil (Executive Producer)