Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Scholastic Inc.
Pages
118
Description
As they seem to be at the bottom of every prank at Macdonald Hall, the headmaster decides to separate roommates Bruno and Boots, but to little avail.
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1978
Physical description
118 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
0590405349 / 9780590405348
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User reviews
LibraryThing member drakescott
Originally written as a junior-high English project, this debut by Gordon Korman is a guaranteed crowd pleaser for the 'tween set. It introduces us to Bruno and Boots, trixters extraordinaire, who specialize in pranks that keep their fellow students at Macdonald Hall in stitches and The Fish, their
THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING AT MACDONALD HALL is not great literature, but it succeeds where it counts, providing non-stop hijinks and enough practical jokes at the expense of authority figures to keep the pages turning. Most adults will find the two protagonists, Bruno and Boots, grating and two-dimensional (it is difficult to tell them apart, really), and many of the jokes bordering on cruel, but then, Korman never for a second forgets his audience. He writes for his contemporaries, and he does so gleefully and unapologetically, paving the way for the further adventures of the unsinkable Bruno and Boots.
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headmaster, guessing. But when they finally go too far, the boys are sent to separate dorms and faced with their greatest challenge yet - to devise a plan to reunite and to save their reputations as the most legendary team of jokesters MacDonald Hall has ever known.THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING AT MACDONALD HALL is not great literature, but it succeeds where it counts, providing non-stop hijinks and enough practical jokes at the expense of authority figures to keep the pages turning. Most adults will find the two protagonists, Bruno and Boots, grating and two-dimensional (it is difficult to tell them apart, really), and many of the jokes bordering on cruel, but then, Korman never for a second forgets his audience. He writes for his contemporaries, and he does so gleefully and unapologetically, paving the way for the further adventures of the unsinkable Bruno and Boots.
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LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
This was a reread of a childhood favourite. And I didn't laugh out loud or spit my coke, or snort or anything. I remember falling over laughing when I read it for the six millionth time as a child.
But still, it was pretty funny. Shorter than I remember, and a little predictable, but then there were
When their headmaster The Fish sends school pranksters Bruno and Boots to live in separate rooms with weirdos, the best friends are desperate to get back to their own room. Craziness ensures.
I like that this book is firmly Canadian, even through the boarding school setting, with hockey games, and ambassadors from Ottawa.
I also like the example of how pranks can cross the line into bullying and meanness. Bruno and Boots, no matter how capering, are good lads, and redeem themselves by the end.
They are a little dated, especially the references to technology, but anyone who can handle Enid Blyton should have no trouble with this.I'd give this to readers looking for school stories or comedy stories.
But still, it was pretty funny. Shorter than I remember, and a little predictable, but then there were
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whole phrases I remembered "I'm an entomologist. My world is the insect world."When their headmaster The Fish sends school pranksters Bruno and Boots to live in separate rooms with weirdos, the best friends are desperate to get back to their own room. Craziness ensures.
I like that this book is firmly Canadian, even through the boarding school setting, with hockey games, and ambassadors from Ottawa.
I also like the example of how pranks can cross the line into bullying and meanness. Bruno and Boots, no matter how capering, are good lads, and redeem themselves by the end.
They are a little dated, especially the references to technology, but anyone who can handle Enid Blyton should have no trouble with this.I'd give this to readers looking for school stories or comedy stories.
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LibraryThing member jlhowson
"This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall" is the first book in the Bruno and Boots series, which sometimes shows during the story. The characters, extravagant Bruno, and the more mild-mannered Boots, aren't as well developed and the plot doesn't flow quite as smoothly as later classics, such as
That said, this is still a book well worth reading - it contains the trademark Korman wit, and ridiculous, yet believable circumstances for the main characters, as they blunder through problem after problem, eventually stumbling to the rather satisfying, if somewhat predictable, conclusion. Given that Korman wrote this as a 7th grade English project, I have no major complaints, and the rest of the series is worth reading enough to make up for any weaknesses in the first book.
I would particularlyreccommend this book for 7-8th graders, including male reluctant readers.
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"The War with Mr. Wizzle" or "The Zucchini Warriors". That said, this is still a book well worth reading - it contains the trademark Korman wit, and ridiculous, yet believable circumstances for the main characters, as they blunder through problem after problem, eventually stumbling to the rather satisfying, if somewhat predictable, conclusion. Given that Korman wrote this as a 7th grade English project, I have no major complaints, and the rest of the series is worth reading enough to make up for any weaknesses in the first book.
I would particularlyreccommend this book for 7-8th graders, including male reluctant readers.
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LibraryThing member coldwoman999
Do you like pulling pranks? What about getting on your principal's nerves? If you said yes to any of those questions, then Boots O'Neal is your perfect friend. He is adventurous, rascallike, and romantic. Boots is the ideal guy friend, and here's why.
Boots is an adventurous young lad. He and Bruno
Being rascallike is what Boots is best at. He and Bruno would always go around their boarding school pulling pranks. One of their most famous pranks was changing their national anthem to "The Strip". So when "The Strip" came on, all the boys started dancing and the school was chaotic. Another one of my favourite pranks was when he pranked George, and told him he had a rare disease of red splotches on his face. To top it off, he had made a fake newspaper article on it to persuade George that he had "Creeping Caliotis" and that he was going to die if he didn't stay in bed.
Even though Boots is a rascal, he can also be a romantic guy- for the ladies. He can't help himself from using cheesy pick up lines on the girls of Miss Scrimmage's Girls Academy (Diane and Cathy). In the end, he and Diane end up together as a couple.
Boots is an adventurous young lad. He and Bruno
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would sneak out of their dorm rooms at night over to Miss Scrimmage's academy for girls to meet up with their soon-to-be girlfriends and their friends. They would talk and have a little party in the girls' dorm rooms. Not only the girls' academy, but they will also explore the rest of the neightbourhood.Being rascallike is what Boots is best at. He and Bruno would always go around their boarding school pulling pranks. One of their most famous pranks was changing their national anthem to "The Strip". So when "The Strip" came on, all the boys started dancing and the school was chaotic. Another one of my favourite pranks was when he pranked George, and told him he had a rare disease of red splotches on his face. To top it off, he had made a fake newspaper article on it to persuade George that he had "Creeping Caliotis" and that he was going to die if he didn't stay in bed.
Even though Boots is a rascal, he can also be a romantic guy- for the ladies. He can't help himself from using cheesy pick up lines on the girls of Miss Scrimmage's Girls Academy (Diane and Cathy). In the end, he and Diane end up together as a couple.
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LibraryThing member ASBiskey
Who better to know what kind of story middle school readers will enjoy than another middle schooler. Gordon Korman was twelve when he wrote this, and it shows. Very simple, very quick, but very amusing. I recently introduced this series to my daughter and she ate them up. I reread a couple of them
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and they are just as enjoyable as I remember from my youth. This is not literature, but it is and enoyable way to spend an hour. My personal favorite Gordon Korman book is No Coins Please, but the Bruno and Boots books, including This Can't Be Happening at McDonald Hall, are all fun reads. Show Less
LibraryThing member mktoronto
Loved this book as a kid. Was thrilled that the author was close to my age! And it was funny.
Subjects
Call number
J4D.Kor