School of Doom

by Sarah Harrison

Eddie can eat a wheelie bin as easily as a cheeseburger –
a talent that gets her sent to the School of Doom with its motto,
Be the Worst.


Now Eddie may be beastly. But she's not evil.


When her new friends are plunged into danger, can she be the best
of the worst and save them? 



The hilarious debut middle-grade adventure from Sarah
Harrison, winner of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction
Competition 2022.
Explores themes of friendship and belonging.

A unique monster-filled twist to a classic school adventure.

Perfect for fans of The Beast and the Bethany.

Genres: Middle Grade

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2025

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have given this book much more than 5 stars if I could have!

Wow! School of Doom is 100% the must have book for every 7 to 10 year olds, in the world, even adults.

I absolutely loved every single word, sentence, paragraph, chapter. With my hand on my heart I loved Sarah Harrison’s creative imagination, in this fantastic, unique, School of Doom, where it sits proudly on my bookshelf for ever and for ever more.

I adored Eddie who can eat wheelie bins, who has been sent to the School of Doom, with the school motto Be the Worst.

The school teachers made me laugh with their names and strange lessons, also the dialogue in what the teachers, and Eddies friends say.

I can’t believe this Sarah Harrison’s debut novel.

Author Sarah Harrison is now my top favourite author, which I’m looking out for Sarah’s next novel because it’s definitely a must have for me.

[Manic Booksy Dreamgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this with my seven year old son, we absolutely loved it! I adored the unique world building and positive message, he was enamoured with funny characters and potty humour. We were both chuckling along as we read this. Well worth checking out!

[Cara Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

School of Doom is SO MUCH FUN and I really hope there will be a sequel, because the book is so full of interesting details and worldbuilding that I feel like there's loads more to explore.

Protagonist Eddie is a great character. At one point she's described as a 'soft-hearted rebel' and I think that perfectly sums her up: she's naughty and chaotic but also a loyal and brave friend who won't hesitate to stand up against injustice. The secondary characters and friendships in the book are all lovely, with each character having their own strengths and little quirks that are accepted as part of what makes them who they are. (I also have a soft spot for Bernard the walking astronomy tower, who made me laugh out loud when he was first introduced.)

With an action-packed plot, and an important message about being yourself rather than forcing yourself to live up to your family's expectations, School of Doom is a fast and entertaining read that I would definitely recommend to the middle grade audience. (Indeed, my 10yo daughter is currently reading and enjoying it, but I snuck it off her halfway through!)

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eddie is not like the other children at school, not quite human? After one too many incidents, she is sent to 'Be The Worst' at the School of Doom.
I really enjoyed reading this. The characters were wonderful and warm and there was so much humour. Lots of hilarious antics and adventures. I would love to be able to eat as much as Eddie does, though I would draw the line at her nervous habit of eating her coat buttons or whatever else was to hand!
I'm really hoping this will be the start of a series as I want to read lots more about Eddie and her monstrous friends.

https://sabrinasbooktails.blogspot.co...

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I loved meeting the different characters and getting to know the School of Doom. I liked the way friendships were built with no judgement of each other. Some of the battle bits were a bit too padded out and I would have liked more about the lessons, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie is sent to the School of Doom (hi Speke Hall!), where she joins a host of other interesting characters - there is a beautiful found family theme throughout the book, as well as growth from Eddie.
What a brilliant imagination Sarah has - this was the perfect blend of spook and adventure for younger readers. The descriptive setting, and all of the different names were so exciting!

[Claire Hatcher-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun and creative middle grade fantasy exploring themes of identity and belonging at the monstrously hilarious School of Doom.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and clever! I was hooked from the very first page.