School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
Reviewed by AimeeRatings
Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content
LANGUAGE
VIOLENCE
SEXUAL CONTENT
ADULT THEMES
Ratings Explanation
Language: Derogatory language and name calling such as loser, portly, chubby, ugly beast, creep and chunky funk are used. Lulu speaks disrespectfully to people in authority.
Adult Themes: Mr. Munchauser has a gambling problem and is always trying to bet.
Synopsis
People are scared of many things. For some people, the fear gets out of hand and begins to rule their lives, becoming a phobia. That’s how it is for Madeline, Theo, Lulu and Garrison. Each has an uncontrollable phobia. Madeline is deathly afraid of bugs, Theo is petrified of dying, Lulu is scared of confined spaces and Garrison is terrified of deep water. Luckily, there is a place for just such children – The School of Fear. The School of Fear is “an exceedingly exclusive program run by the elusive Mrs. Wellington; it is actually so select that few people are even aware of its existence.” Things are not always as they seem though, and the four 12-year-olds are in for some interesting and even frightening experiences!
This was such a fun read! I found the whole book so amusing, I even laughed out loud (which really is something for me). Theo was by far my favorite character. I loved him! There is a new phobia listed at the beginning of every chapter which is funny. I’d share it with whoever was closest to me. Amid all the humor were deeper messages too. Don’t judge a book (or person) by its cover. Helping others will help you forget your own fears and problems. And finally, most problems (or phobias) are not miraculously cured. Instead it takes time and effort and will likely be a life long journey. Here is my favorite quote from this book: “It is a rather lamentable fact that few can call upon courage with the expediency they can fear.” I think the recommended age range for this book is spot on. I am now happily passing this book onto my kids.