This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall facts for kids
First edition, 1978
|
|
| Author | Gordon Korman |
|---|---|
| Original title | This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! |
| Cover artist | Rodrigo Moreno, Luis Borba, by Yüksel Hassan (2003 version) |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Series | Macdonald Hall Series |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Publisher | Scholastic Canada Ltd. |
|
Publication date
|
1978, 2003 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 105 (not counting preview at the end) |
| ISBN | 0-439-97429-1 |
| Followed by | Go Jump in the Pool |
This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall is a funny book written by Gordon Korman in 1978. It's the very first book in the popular Macdonald Hall series. What's cool is that Gordon Korman wrote this book when he was only 12 years old! He dedicated it to his English teacher, Mr. Hamilton.
The book was re-released in 2003 with a fresh new look. Its title was also made shorter to This Can't Be Happening! The story was updated to include modern money and slang. All the other books in the series were also updated later.
This book was featured on a TV show called Great Canadian Books in 2010. Even Justin Trudeau, who later became Canada's Prime Minister, said it was a "wonderfully funny story." He mentioned it made him love reading!
Later, a TV series called Bruno & Boots was made based on Gordon Korman's books. The second movie in this series, released in 2017, was based on This Can't Be Happening.
Contents
What's the Story About?
The story follows two best friends, Bruno Walton and Melvin “Boots” O'Neal. They share a room at Macdonald Hall, which is a boarding school for boys. Across the road is a girls' school called Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School. Bruno and Boots love to play pranks on everyone at their school. This includes their teachers and other students.
Their headmaster, Mr. William Sturgeon, always watches them closely. Students call him “The Fish” because of his last name. He also has a stern, fish-like stare he uses when he's not happy.
Pranks and Punishment
Bruno and Boots cause some trouble early on. They kidnap a rival hockey team's cat mascot to upset them. They also swap the school's Canadian flag for the flag of a made-up country called Malbonia. Because of these pranks, Mr. Sturgeon separates them. He forbids them from seeing each other.
Bruno has to move in with Elmer Drimsdale, who is the school's genius. Boots gets stuck with George Wexford-Smith III, a rich boy who thinks he's always sick (hypochondriac). Neither Bruno nor Boots likes their new roommates. They decide to meet secretly at night to figure out how to get back together.
Plans to Reunite
Their first ideas to get back into their old room don't work out. They try to get Elmer and George to complain about them. They also try to frame their new roommates for pranks. These plans only get Bruno and Boots into more trouble.
Finally, they come up with a new idea. They decide to study really hard and get on the Honor Roll. They hope Mr. Sturgeon will see how well they're doing and let them move back together. But this plan backfires! Mr. Sturgeon thinks their good grades are because they are separated. So, he keeps them apart.
A Surprising Rescue
Feeling desperate, Bruno and Boots meet again. On their way to their secret meeting spot, they see something strange. A hot air balloon is stuck in a tree! They find a boy trapped inside. They use a volleyball net to rescue him.
They take the boy, named Francisco, to Mr. Sturgeon. The headmaster realizes Francisco is the son of an important ambassador from Ottawa. The ambassador's son got lost in his balloon earlier that day. Suddenly, Elmer Drimsdale bursts in. He saw the balloon through his telescope and thought it was a UFO! This causes a big commotion at both schools.
Heroes and Rewards
The next morning, the Ambassador arrives to pick up his son. He wants to thank the people who rescued him. Bruno, Boots, and Elmer all receive medals from the police. The Ambassador also gives them medals. It's funny because the Ambassador is from Malbonia, the same country whose flag Bruno and Boots used in their prank!
To honor them, Macdonald Hall gives Elmer a new telescope. And Bruno and Boots finally get their wish: they are allowed to share a room again!
Fun Facts About the Book
- Gordon Korman wrote this book as a project for his grade 7 English class. He sent it to Scholastic, a book publisher, and they decided to publish it!
- This book introduces many of the main characters you'll meet in the Macdonald Hall series. These include Bruno Walton, Melvin “Boots” O'Neal, Elmer Drimsdale, and George Wexford-Smyth III.
