Soman Chainani visted Bala Cynwyd Middle School on Friday, May 5, 2023. During an all-school assembly at the conclusion of PSSA testing, the filmmaker and author of "The School for Good and Evil" series shared his personal story, urged students to think critically about heroes and villains, and gave students a glimpse into his latest book, "Fall of the School for Good and Evil."

Using examples from well-known Disney movies, Chainani urged the students to consider characters who take control of their destinies as true heroes and showed them how to look beyond the superficial in taking stock of others.

Together, Chainani's books have sold more than 3.5 million copies, been translated into 32 languages and have been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 44 weeks. 

A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University’s MFA Film Program, Chainani has been nominated for the Waterstone Prize for Children’s Literature, been named to the Out100, and also received the Sun Valley Writer’s Fellowship.

A slide show of images from the author's visit is available below: