Soman Chainani
Soman Chainani is an acclaimed New York Times best-selling author of children’s and young adult fiction, who has won numerous awards for his books and various adaptations. He also happens to be one of the most recognizable and acclaimed Asian/Indian authors around. In writing books for young readers, Chainani continues to elevate the conversation around diverse, cultural stories and characters.
Childhood and Education
Soman Chainani was born in India, but moved to the United States at a young age. He grew up in Connecticut, where he attended the private progressive boarding school Phillips Academy. He earned his BA and MBA at Harvard, where he graduated at the top of his class.
Writing Career
Following his formal education, Chainani worked as a screenwriter in Los Angeles, which laid the groundwork for his writing career. He began writing his first novel, The School for Good and Evil, in 2011 and it was subsequently published in 2013. It received the Siddhartha Award for best debut children’s fiction from the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.
The School for Good and Evil tells the story of best friends Sophie and Agatha who are accidentally transported to a mysterious school where young boys and girls are trained for the ultimate battle between good and evil. Since its release, the series has remained a popular fixture on the New York Times bestseller list for children’s fiction for several years.
The success of The School for Good and Evil also opened up avenues for Chainani to explore other forms of adaptation - from musicals to film production deals. In 2019, a Netflix series was announced based on the School for Good and Evil book series.
In 2016, Chainani published The Last Ever After, a standalone prequel to The School for Good and Evil series, which became a New York Times bestseller. This book tells the story of two teenage knights, Tedros and Arthur, and the obstacles they must overcome in order to become real boys and fulfill their destiny.
Following The Last Ever After, Chainani released The School for Good and Evil #4: Quests for Glory in 2018. This fourth installment in the series follows Sophie and Agatha on their quest to join the Imperial Senate, while they also form new alliances and confront dangerous adversaries on their way.
Most recently, Chainani released The School for Good and Evil #5: A Crystal of Time in April 2020 - a story featuring characters from past and present. It follows Sophie and Agatha on a quest to find the most powerful magical object the world has ever known - the Crystal of Time.
Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Chainani has been honored with numerous awards, such as the American Library Association’s (ALA’s) 2017-2018 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for his book The School for Good and Evil #2; the 2018 Indie Choice Honor Award from the American Booksellers Association (ABA) for his book The Last Ever After; and the 2019 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children’s Fiction for his book The School for Good and Evil #4.
Conclusion
Soman Chainani is an acclaimed children’s and young adult fiction author. His works, especially The School for Good and Evil series, have resonated with readers of all ages and backgrounds, becoming a fixture on the New York Times bestseller list for children’s fiction. Chainani has also won numerous awards for his books, which is a testament to his remarkable talent and passion for writing stories that both entertain and educate.
