 | Homerooms & hall passes Author: O'Donnell, Tom | |
| Price: $6.55 | ||
Summary:
In the mystical realm of Briandalor, every day the brave and the bold delve into hidden temples or forgotten dungeons, battling vile monsters and evil wizards to loot their treasure hoards for sweet, sweet magic items. But in their free time, five heroes meet up once a week to play Homerooms & Hall Passes: a role-playing game where they assume the characters of average American eighth graders. When an ancient curse transports them into the game, they must team up to survive middle school.
| Illustrator: | Gilpin, Stephen |
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 08/01/2019 *Starred Review* Pulling a terrific switcheroo on the “trapped in a video game” premise, O’Donnell sends five young adventurers of the magical land of Bríandalör (a paladin, a thief, a barbarian berserker, a depressive “gloom elf” assassin, and apprentice wizard Albiorix) into the challenging fantasy realm of the titular RPG they had been playing as a change of pace from the usual quests: to wit, J. A. Dewar Middle School. Fortunately, they arrive on Dress Like a Pirate Day; unfortunately, by the terms of both the game and the curse that has struck them, there will be no return if anyone “blows it” by flunking any class. If the maddening puzzles of Algebra I or the deadly peril of getting on queen bee Nicole Davenport’s wrong side weren’t hazards enough, the heroes discover that they’ve brought along Zazirak, an evil sorcerer who has taken over the body of the vice principal and intends to set the demon Azathor the Devourer upon our defenseless world. Played out with impeccable, hilarious logic, the plot leads up an adventuresome learning curve to a brisk battle in a local mall with animated mannequins, a really high-stakes duel involving the evocatively named phone game Oink Pop, and a final realization that Bríandalör’s dangers, lore, glittering treasures, and opportunities for daring exploits seem a bit pale next to those of . . . exotic suburbia. Who’s to tell them nay? - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
