Customer Reviews

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall was Gordon Korman's first book, written as a school assignment about fifteen years ago, but it is still in print, still selling copies, and still a very funny story. The story focuses on the friendship of Bruno Walton and Melvin (Boots) O'neal, two students of the prestigious MacDonald Hall, a Canadian boarding school. These two are great friends, but their habit of playing practical jokes keep getting them in trouble with Headmaster Sturgeon (a.k.a. The Fish), who has finally decided to separate the troublemakers. They are moved to different dormitories and forbidden to have anything to do with one another, but Bruno asnd Boots aren't about to take this laying down. Between sneaking out at night, framing their new roommates for sneak raids on the Girl's Finishing School across the highway, and stirring up trouble in class, these two are determined to get back together, but it seems more likely they'll become national heroes than be allowed to room together. A wonderful children's story at an inexpensive price, this is still a fine book for adults who can still enjoy children's fiction, as well.

I love these Gordon Korman books. You are always guarenteed to laugh out loud. I think they are fantastic for kids, or just anyone who enjoys light hearted, well written entertainment - I am 25 and still reread my Gordon Korman books!! I think that these books would be especially great to read to kids who don't like to read, and to get those said kids started - I mean this is enjoyment, pure and simple!

This is a MUST BUY book!! I still have my original copy from when I was eleven years old, what does it tell you that I have kept it through several moves and 20 years? I am now buying a 2nd copy of all the Bruno and Boots books just so I won't "love them to death".
Gordon Korman has written a series that really speaks to the adventurous child in all of us - Bruno is a great leader, inventive, fun and brave in the face of danger (from Headmaster Sturgeon, AKA The Fish). Boots is the kind of guy you always want on your team - loyal and always willing to climb out a window to share cafeteria leftovers at midnight.
The Bruno and Boots books share the stories of two boys at a Canadian boy's school, where they survive bad roomates and imminent danger from Miss Scrimmage, the headmistress at the nearby girls' school.The boys are always getting into trouble with The Fish and coming up with extravagent excuses for why the school is flying a flag from Maldovia, why Elmer's ants are suddenly swarming the school,and why panty raids at Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School for Young Ladies couldn't possibly have anything to do with them.
Anyone over the age of eight will love this book and this series.

This is a great book. The characters are all distinct in some waay, and they really bring the book to life. The situations the boys [Bruno and Boots] find themselves in are all hilarious. You can't help but like them. Read this book!

Every writer and reader of YA fiction should read this book.  Not because it's the best book in Korman's long career, but because it's the first.  And he wrote it when he was twelve years old.  Many publishers publish books by kids because it's a great media bonanza -- Korman was one of the few child prodigies who turned out to be a prolific and talented writer.  In this first book he introduces Bruno and Boots, two smart alecky kids who get into loads of trouble through the course of the novel.  The plot is simple.  Bruno and Boots get into trouble.  Bruno and Boots find a clever way to get out of trouble.  But the fun is in the humour and the light-heartedness of the book.  Korman obviously liked these two characters because he went on to write several more books based at Mcdonald Hall.

I am beyond thrilled that these books are being reprinted. This Can't Be Happening was the first book I ever read that wasn't Nancy Drew and I loved it! I can't wait to introduce my niece and nephew to Bruno and Boots and the Fish. I highly recomend this book and the rest in the series.

This book is about two best friends who attend boarding school in Canada. They are two of the notorious troublemakers of their school McDonald Hall which is their school and they have a very bad reputation with the headmaster of the school, Mr. Stregion. They are always in trouble. Everything that bad happens is always their fault. But finally, there is a notorious troublemaker going around doing pranks, but its not Bruno and boots, the two best friends. The notorious, "Phantom prankster", keeps striking and striking again until one prank goes so far that Bruno and Boots nearly get expelled. They are at the bottom of this and hey will do anything not to get expelled by Mr. Stergion. They set up surveillance but this prankster is so sneaky, maybe even Bruno and boots, practical joking kings are in over their heads in this mystery.

I must have read this series 20 times when I was a kid. Gordon Korman was my go-to guy for laughs. And not just any kind of laughs--we're talking laugh-out-loud, snort through your nose, can't-contain-it laughs.

Unfortunately, my mom gave away my vast collection of Gordon Korman books while I was away at college. That was a grim phone call when I asked my mom to send them to me. When I went to repurchase them so my kids could discover the joys of Gordon's humor, I discovered most of Gordon's classics were out of print. It felt like such a tragedy, like part of my childhood was irretrievably lost. Luckily, I was able to find my favorites (No Coins, Please; I Want to Go Home!; Who is Bugs Potter?; Son of Interflux; and the MacDonald Hall series) at used bookstores, along with many others early works of Gordon.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to see This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall BACK IN PRINT WHERE IT BELONGS. This entire series is brimming with hijinks and witty humor that I still find funny today. And I totally had a crush on Boots when I was in fifth grade.

On a long road trip, my eight-year-old daughter kept laughing aloud from the backseat. It happened over and over until my husband finally asked, "What's so funny?" She held up a worn, well-loved copy of I Want to Go Home! that she'd gotten from my bookshelf, and said, "This book, Dad! I just can't stop laughing!" I know Gordon Korman has written about 50 books since I was a kid, but his early works are the true gems.

Give this book to your reluctant reader. Give this book to your most avid reader. Bruno and Boots and Cathy and Diane and Elmer and Sidney and even Gavin Gunhold deserve to be known by this generation of readers. And did I mention Korman wrote this when he was IN THE SEVENTH GRADE? Talk about child prodigy.

It's a good book. The author certainly has talent. It's quit funny for a book that was written in the 80's if I'm not mistaken. This is a modern version with little changes.
Kids will enjoy this type of books, that's for certain.

When I was younger, I loved these books. They actually made me laugh out loud. I'm saddened that they are out of print. I own a lot of the original Bruno and Boots books, but wish they were more readily available to kids now. I'm just glad I have them for my own kids someday.