No they are not. Have you never read the book for yourself? The book was written in the 1980s. The show is based on the book, sure, but was updated quite a bit for modern audiences. It's got a different tone to it. My sister was assigned the book the year before last. At her Christian school. Her teacher specifically told them to not think the show could stand in place of the book on account of the differences. She made her tests reflect those differences so students couldn't take shortcuts.