The School for Good and Evil
Here's what we found in The School for Good and Evil. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to The School for Good and Evil
The School for Good and Evil series is a young adult fantasy saga that reimagines classic fairy tales through a dark and thought-provoking lens. It introduces readers to a magical academy where aspiring heroes and villains are trained to maintain the balance between good and evil. The narrative centers on two unlikely best friends, Sophie and Agatha, whose destinies are seemingly reversed when Sophie is sent to the School for Evil and Agatha to the School for Good. This initial misplacement sparks a journey of self-discovery, challenging preconceived notions of good and evil as they navigate complex friendships, rivalries, and a looming threat to their world. Targeted towards middle-grade and young adult readers, the series delves into themes of identity, friendship, loyalty, and the gray areas of morality. It encourages readers to question traditional archetypes and understand that true goodness or evil is not always as it appears. The stories feature magic, adventure, and intense conflicts, evolving into a sweeping epic across multiple volumes as the characters mature and the stakes escalate, suitable for those who enjoy a twist on conventional fantasy narratives.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The series incorporates subtle and explicit LGBTQ+ themes and characters. The author, Soman Chainani, is openly gay and aims to include diverse representation, often using 'showing not telling' to imply queer characters and relationships for a younger audience. This includes challenging traditional romantic tropes and introducing gender identity exploration in later books.
In the first book, Agatha revives Sophie with a 'True Love's Kiss,' which is shared between the two best friends, challenging the traditional heterosexual fairy tale trope. In the second book, a minor character named Tristan, originally a prince, takes a potion to transform into a girl and join the School for Girls, subtly portrayed as a trans girl. Additionally, Sophie transforms into a boy named Filip, and Prince Tedros develops a crush on 'Filip,' suggesting themes of bisexuality that are not explicitly addressed later.
Violence
The series features significant fantastical violence, including intense magical combat, physical attacks, and death. Descriptions can be graphic, detailing magical transformations, injuries, and fatalities. The film adaptation is described as 'intensely violent' with a 'violent final act' and plentiful blood and gore.
Witchcraft & Occult
Witchcraft, magic, and occult practices are fundamental to the premise of The School for Good and Evil, as characters are trained as either heroes or villains using magical abilities. 'Blood magic' is explicitly featured as a dark and powerful force.
Anti-Christian Themes
Christian review outlets identify significant anti-Christian themes. The series deconstructs traditional Christian morality and presents a worldview that contrasts with biblical ideals regarding sin, redemption, and the nature of good and evil.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Ages 11-13+ with parental guidance. The book series, similar to its film adaptation, contains themes of intense violence, dark magic, complex moral dilemmas, and instances of suggestive content and LGBTQ+ representation. While suitable for mature middle-grade readers, the depth and nature of some content warrant discussion and guidance from parents.
Good to Know
The content analysis draws primarily from discussions and reviews of the first book in 'The School for Good and Evil' series and its Netflix film adaptation, as many parental guidance details are often consolidated around initial releases. While the film may diverge in specific plot points, the core themes and types of content are largely consistent with the underlying book series. Content intensity may evolve or be further explored in subsequent books of the series.
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