Villain School

Gr 3—6—Where do scoundrels and monsters send their children who aren't quite nefarious enough? Why, to Master Dreadthorn's School for Wayward Villains, of course. Among the students: Countess Jezebel Dracula, who prefers hot cocoa to blood. The son of the Big Bad Wolf has been there since he tried to save a drowning child. However, none of the students have it as tough as the son of the headmaster, who feels that he will never be bad enough to please his dad. In a final effort to inspire Rune to the proper depths of lowness, Master Dreadthorn assigns him a Plot: within a week, the boy must kidnap a princess, steal a baby, find a henchman, and overthrow a kingdom. If he succeeds, he graduates from Rogue to Fiend. If he fails, he is exiled forever. Complicating matters is the fact that Mistress Morgana's School for Exemplary Villains will be working to complete their own Plot, aided by Rune's half brother Chad. Stirring up some sibling rivalry, the Dreadmaster has challenged both of his sons to keep the other from completing his mission. Accompanied by Jezebel and Wolf, Rune sets off to discover if he has what it takes to be a real villain. Along the way, he learns that it's not necessarily a bad thing to have a soft side. Happy coincidences throughout keep the story from being an edge-of-your-seat adventure, and students who crave substance and suspense are better directed elsewhere. However, the fast-paced action and snappy dialogue will appeal to reluctant readers and those looking for a light, humorous read.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA