Macdonald Hall facts for kids

Macdonald Hall is a popular series of young adult novels written by the author Gordon Korman. The series used to be called Bruno and Boots.

The stories take place in a Canadian boarding school for boys called Macdonald Hall. It's named after John A. Macdonald, who was Canada's very first prime minister. The school is located near Toronto, along Highway 48, and a bit south of a made-up town called Chutney. About 700 students go to Macdonald Hall.

The main characters are Bruno Walton and Melvin "Boots" O'Neal. They are students at Macdonald Hall and are famous for getting into trouble. Even though they cause a lot of mischief, they are very loyal to their school. In many of the books, they and their friends go to great lengths to help Macdonald Hall. We don't know exactly how old they are, but they are too young to shave.

The school's headmaster is William R. Sturgeon. The students call him "The Fish." This nickname comes from his name and how he looks like a fish when he glares at students through his glasses. He is strict and likes to seem very bossy. But he also cares deeply about his school and the boys. His wife, Mrs. Sturgeon, also cares a lot about the students. She often offers Bruno and Boots cookies and milk. Mrs. Sturgeon is not as strict as her husband and sometimes even defends their pranks.

Right across the street from Macdonald Hall is another school called Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School for Young Ladies. Miss Scrimmage tries her best to teach the girls to be proper. But the girls there are even wilder than the boys at Macdonald Hall! They are always ready for fun ideas that Bruno and Boots come up with. Miss Scrimmage owns a shotgun and uses it to scare anyone who bothers her school. But she's not very good with it and sometimes shoots it by accident in random directions. Mr. Sturgeon often wishes she would get rid of it.

Sometimes, the two schools work together. For example, in The War with Mr. Wizzle, Mr. Sturgeon gets a new assistant principal, Mr. Wizzle. He loves to organize everything with computers. At the same time, Miss Scrimmage hires a former drill instructor as her assistant. The students from both schools then team up to get rid of these new staff members.

Several of the Macdonald Hall books have been made into TV movies for YTV. These include Go Jump in the Pool (2016), and This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall and The War with Mr. Wizzle (both in 2017).

Books in the Series

The Macdonald Hall series has many exciting adventures. Here are some of the books:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (1978)

This was the first book in the series. Gordon Korman wrote it when he was in Grade Seven! It's the shortest book and introduces the school and its boys. Bruno and Boots are separated as roommates. This happens after they play three pranks during a hockey game against their rivals, York Academy. Bruno moves in with Elmer Drimsdale, the school genius. Boots moves in with George Wexford-Smyth III, who is good with money and worries a lot about getting sick. The boys then make plans to convince Mr. Sturgeon to let them move back into Room 306.

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

York Academy has a swimming pool, but Macdonald Hall does not. This didn't bother the students much until some parents thought about moving their sons to York for better sports. The boys then decide they need a pool, and a better one than York Academy's! They come up with many different ways to earn money to build it.

Beware the Fish! (1980)

Oh no! Macdonald Hall is going to close! Bruno thinks the best way to save the school is to make it famous across Canada. While the boys are busy with this, Bruno accidentally starts a police investigation. This happens when he plays with one of Elmer Drimsdale's inventions. The police start looking for someone known as "The Fish."

The War with Mr. Wizzle (1982)

Macdonald Hall is seen as "inefficient." Miss Scrimmage's school is thought to be "out-of-shape." So, Mr. Walter C. Wizzle arrives with his computer to "improve" Macdonald Hall. Miss Peabody, a new physical education coach, comes to the girls' school. She used to be a drill instructor! The students from both schools team up to get rid of Wizzle and Peabody before they are hired permanently.

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Hank Carson, a rich former football player, now sells zucchini sticks. He used to go to Macdonald Hall and wants his old school to have a winning football team. The boys try to make him happy by eating his terrible zucchini sticks and playing their best. Bruno and Boots even create a "zucchini disposal squad." They also disguise their quarterback, who is actually a girl from Miss Scrimmage's school!

Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood (1991)

Jordie Jones, a famous Hollywood actor, comes to Macdonald Hall to film a movie. He also wants to experience life at the school. The girls at Miss Scrimmage's school love Jordie. But Bruno hates him! And if Bruno doesn't like someone, he will definitely make a plan to get rid of them!

Something Fishy At Macdonald Hall (1995)

Boots' younger brother, Edward, starts his first year at Macdonald Hall. Bruno is excited to teach him everything he knows. But Edward thinks Bruno and Boots are "old men" and "over the hill." At the same time, Mr. Sturgeon is thinking about retiring because school life seems "no challenge." Suddenly, someone starts playing pranks at the Hall, and this time, it's not Bruno and Boots! No one believes them. Can they stop themselves from getting expelled and clear their names?

Main Characters at Macdonald Hall

Macdonald Hall is a private school only for boys. It is known for having the best academic standards.

Bruno Walton

Bruno is full of ideas and is usually the one who plans all the schemes. He is very loyal to his friends. There's almost nothing he won't try to reach his goals. He often gets others to do most of the hard work. However, like Boots, he is honest. If the headmaster asks him about a prank, Bruno will admit what he did. He is not a fan of the actor Jordie Jones.

Melvin "Boots" O'Neal

Boots is Bruno's roommate and often his unwilling helper. He usually tries to be the sensible one and stops Bruno from going too far. He is a studious boy with blonde hair who enjoys swimming. He has a younger brother, Edward, whom he really dislikes.

Elmer Drimsdale

Elmer is the school's genius. He is the group's science expert. He really doesn't like breaking rules, especially sneaking out to Miss Scrimmage's after dark. He can be a bit socially awkward and often gets lost in his science projects. But Bruno and Boots usually see him as a friend. He has many projects in his room, like ants and plants. He wakes up at 6:00 AM every day to take care of them before breakfast.

George Wexford-Smyth III

George is a financial genius who is obsessed with the stock market. He also keeps his bathroom full of medicines because he worries a lot about getting sick. He cleans his room every other day, washing everything, even the ceiling and walls, to prevent illness. Other students generally don't like him much. But he was very important in helping the Hall raise enough money to buy a pool.

Wilbur Hackenschleimer

Wilbur is a big boy known for eating a lot. He is one of the most eager students to join Bruno's schemes. He is an amateur weightlifter and once even lifted a piano! He plays on the football team and is good at woodwork and metal shop.

Mark Davies

Mark is the editor of the school newspaper and a friend of Bruno and Boots. He is very dependable. Once, he promised to develop all the photos for a school photo contest. He even developed and posted a very embarrassing photo of himself that another student took!

Sidney Rampulsky

Sidney is known as "Butterfingers" Rampulsky because he is very clumsy. His clumsiness seems to get worse when Bruno Walton is around. He is often involved in any damage that happens at the Hall.

Perry Elbert

Perry is a student and gymnast who doesn't trust or like Bruno. This is mostly because he almost always gets accidentally hurt or embarrassed when Bruno is around. He is famous for a photo of him taking a bath with a rubber ducky.

Edward O'Neal

Edward is Boots' younger brother. He started at Macdonald Hall in the book Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall. He doesn't like Bruno and Boots or their friends, calling them "old men" and "over the hill." He struggles with math.

Key Staff at Macdonald Hall

William Sturgeon, "The Fish"

He is the Headmaster. He cares a lot about the students but doesn't often show it, except to their parents. He and his wife live in their own house on the school grounds. His nickname comes from the cold, fish-like stare he can give his students.

Mildred Sturgeon

She is the headmaster's kind wife. She often reminds him to be less strict. She is very forgiving of Bruno and Boots and their pranks.

Mr. Alex (Coach) Flynn

He is the physical education teacher and coach. He is also the housemaster in charge of Dormitory 2.

Mr. Dave Fudge

He is the housemaster in charge of Dormitory 3. He also used to be in charge of the guidance department, which was removed when Mr. Wizzle was at Macdonald Hall. He is known for sleeping very soundly.

Miss Scrimmage's School Characters

Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School for Young Ladies is a private school for girls only, located across from Macdonald Hall. The students there are known for being wild, even though Miss Scrimmage strongly believes she is teaching them to be proper young ladies. Her school is ranked 217th, far behind Macdonald Hall's first place.

Miss Scrimmage

She is the headmistress. She owns a shotgun to protect her girls. She fires it into the air whenever the Macdonald Hall boys "invade" her school. Her school was ranked 217th, while Macdonald Hall was number one.

Cathy Burton

Cathy is like the "Bruno" of the girls' school. She is good at football and can even play quarterback. She is mischievous, just like Bruno. For example, she once played football for Macdonald Hall using Elmer's name so she could join the team. She has dark hair.

Diane Grant

Diane is like the "Boots" of the girls' school. She has blonde hair and is more hesitant about Cathy's schemes. She has a pet skunk named Petunia.