The School for Good and Evil facts for kids
Cover for the first book in the series
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| Author | Soman Chainani |
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| Illustrator | Iacopo Bruno |
| Cover artist | Iacopo Bruno |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, young adult fiction, fairytale, Bildungsroman |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Published | 2013 – 2020 |
| Media type | Print, e-book, audiobook |
| No. of books | 6 |
The School for Good and Evil is a fantasy fairytale series by Soman Chainani. It includes six books. The first book came out on May 12, 2013. The stories take place in a magical land called the Endless Woods.
The first three books, called The School Years, follow best friends Sophie and Agatha. They go to the School for Good and Evil. This is a special school where kids learn to become fairytale heroes or villains. The next three books, The Camelot Years, continue their adventures. Agatha and her true love, King Tedros, become Queen and King of Camelot. Sophie tries to change what "Evil" means. The last book in the series was released on June 2, 2020.
Contents
The Story So Far
Book One: The School for Good and Evil
In the village of Gavaldon, something strange happens every four years. Two children, aged 12 or older, are taken away into the Endless Woods. People believe they go to the "School for Good and Evil." There, they train to be fairytale characters.
Sophie, who loves pink and dreams of being a princess, hopes to go to the School for Good. She wants a "Happily Ever After" with a prince. Her best friend, Agatha, is very different. She lives in a graveyard and is seen as gloomy. Villagers think Agatha is perfect for the School for Evil.
When the day comes, Agatha tries to stop Sophie from being taken. But instead, both girls are pulled into the woods. They are shocked when they arrive at the schools. Sophie is sent to the School for Evil, and Agatha goes to the School for Good.
Sophie believes there's been a mistake. She tries to switch schools, but it doesn't work. Agatha just wants to go home. Sophie soon likes Tedros, a popular prince and son of King Arthur. Sophie and Agatha try to escape, but the schools have strong security. Agatha struggles in her classes. But she finds a special power: she can hear and grant wishes. This power comes from a truly good heart.
The girls visit the School Master's tower. He gives them a riddle. After causing trouble, Sophie is sent to the Doom Room. Agatha helps Sophie secretly pass her classes. Sophie starts doing well in Evil classes, even though she wants to fail.
Agatha tries to help Sophie get a kiss from Tedros. But she learns Sophie is only using her to stay at the school. Tedros promises to kiss Sophie after they win the Trial by Tale. This is a test where students survive in the Woods. But during the Trial, Tedros finds out Agatha helped Sophie. Sophie also refuses to protect Tedros. Their relationship ends. Sophie becomes popular at the School for Evil.
Tedros starts to like Agatha because she risked her life for him. Agatha learns to believe in herself and true love. Sophie starts having "Nemesis Dreams." These dreams show villains who they must defeat. Sophie first thinks Tedros is her Nemesis. But she later realizes it's Agatha.
At the Circus of Talents, Tedros tells Agatha he loves her. He asks her to the Snow Ball. Sophie overhears this. She becomes a jealous witch. She tries to destroy both schools and hurt Agatha.
Sophie finds out the School Master is Evil. He wants Sophie to be his true love. Sophie believes she can have her happy ending with him. But when she kisses him, she remembers that Evil characters cannot truly love. The School Master tries to hurt Agatha. Sophie steps in front of Agatha, saving her. Sophie dies, but Agatha's kiss brings her back to life. This shows that Evil can love. Sophie and Agatha are sent back to Gavaldon. Tedros is left sad. The students at the schools realize that Good and Evil can be friends.
Book Two: A World Without Princes
Agatha and Sophie return home as heroes. Sophie enjoys the fame. Agatha just wants a normal life. At Sophie's father's wedding, Agatha wishes for a different ending: one with Tedros. This wish causes trouble. The town turns against Sophie. Sophie is taken into the forest and left to die. Agatha finds her, and they run away. They get on a train that takes them back to the School for Good and Evil.
They arrive at the School for Good, which is now the School for Girls. All the boys are gone. They learn that after they left, the girls from the School for Evil came to the School for Good for safety. The boys from the School for Good were sent to the School for Evil.
Sophie is upset that they are back because of Agatha's wish. Agatha denies it. Agatha sneaks into the School for Boys to see Tedros. Sophie follows her. Tedros and Agatha almost kiss. But Sophie, hidden, casts a spell between them. They both think the other attacked them and start fighting. Agatha leaves, thinking Tedros is evil.
It's decided that one of the girls must become a boy to get the Storian (the magical pen that writes fairytales). Sophie is chosen and becomes "Filip." Filip and Tedros become good friends.
Later, during the Trial by Tale, Tedros almost kisses Filip. Agatha sees this. Filip turns back into Sophie. Tedros is confused and angry. The new Dean of the School for Girls, Evelyn Sader, appears. She reveals that Sophie's wish to see her dead mother brought them back. Sophie kisses the ghost of her mother, which turns into the School Master. He explains that true love's kiss can revive the dead. The School Master kills Evelyn. He sends Agatha home with Tedros. Sophie stays with the School Master, believing he is the only one who didn't leave her. The two schools become one evil school.
Book Three: The Last Ever After
Three weeks later, the School Master, named Rafal, rules both schools. He plans to marry Sophie and destroy Good. Sophie is scared of being alone, so she agrees. But the Storian, the magical pen, doesn't accept this as a happy ending. The sun starts to get weaker, threatening the fairytale world.
Meanwhile, Agatha and Tedros are hiding in Gavaldon. They are forced to escape when the villagers try to punish them. Agatha's "mother," Callis, sacrifices herself to help them escape. They meet Professor Uma, who explains that Rafal's return has brought back old villains. Heroes like Cinderella and Peter Pan have formed a group called the League of Thirteen. They are led by Merlin and fight against Rafal. Rafal is changing fairytales by killing heroes like Snow White.
Merlin tells Agatha and Tedros to destroy Rafal's ring. This ring keeps his power alive. But Sophie must be the one to destroy it. They need the sword Excalibur, which Tedros lost. They find Excalibur in the School for Old Evil. Agatha goes to get the sword. Tedros tries to convince Sophie to leave Rafal. With help from Sophie's friends, they get the sword and escape. Rafal mysteriously lets them go.
Merlin guides them to Avalon. Tedros finds his mother, Guinevere, and Lancelot alive. He slowly forgives them. Agatha is willing to give up Tedros for Sophie. But when Sophie and Tedros kiss, they realize they are not meant to be together. Sophie feels used and returns to Rafal, becoming the Queen of Evil. Agatha is chosen as the Queen of Good. Both sides prepare for war in Gavaldon.
The final battle happens in the Stymph Woods. Merlin and Lady Lesso help the students fight Rafal and Sophie. Sophie chases Lady Lesso to the School for Old Evil. Lady Lesso tells Sophie that Evil is not meant to destroy Good. They are meant to be a part of each other. Sophie and Agatha also discover they are twin sisters. This explains their strong bond. Agatha wants to fix things, but Sophie still wants to be with Rafal. She fears being alone.
The battle turns in Evil's favor. Cinderella dies. The barrier protecting Gavaldon breaks. Rafal invades the town. He plans to execute Sophie's father, Stefan. Agatha reminds Sophie of their friendship. Sophie realizes she already has a happy ending. At the last moment, Sophie tricks Rafal. She destroys his ring and kills him, saving everyone. Sophie, Agatha, and Stefan make up. Sophie lets Stefan have his own family. Sophie and Agatha return to the Endless Woods. They say goodbye to Lady Lesso, who was hurt in battle.
Lady Lesso and Cinderella are buried. Tedros, Agatha, and Sophie plan to go to Camelot. But Sophie learns Lady Lesso chose her to be the new Dean of the School of Evil. Agatha and Tedros go to Camelot alone. Sophie accepts her new role and is happy. She says, "I am me."
Movie Adaptation
Soon after the first book came out, Universal Pictures bought the rights to make movies based on the series. In 2020, Netflix announced they would make a film. It is directed by Paul Feig.
Sophia Anne Caruso plays Sophie, and Sofia Wylie plays Agatha. Other famous actors in the movie include Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, and Michelle Yeoh. Jamie Flatters plays Tedros, and Kit Young plays Rafal. Earl Cave plays Hort. Filming took place in Northern Ireland. The movie was released in 2022.
