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trin's review against another edition
4.0
Creative, fun, and funny -- O'Donnell came up with a great premise (the reverse of every "D&D party sucked into a fantasy world" story -- this time it's an adventuring party sucked into the real world...of middle school) and follows through on it with energy and panache.
I will admit that would I would REALLY like is to read a similar story with older characters and more interest in the body (a typical roleplaying scenario would involve much more cross-species and cross-gender exploration and shenanigans, aspects which O'Donnell sidesteps). But it's not really fair to impose my specific interests on this book, which I think very much accomplishes what it set out to do.
I will admit that would I would REALLY like is to read a similar story with older characters and more interest in the body (a typical roleplaying scenario would involve much more cross-species and cross-gender exploration and shenanigans, aspects which O'Donnell sidesteps). But it's not really fair to impose my specific interests on this book, which I think very much accomplishes what it set out to do.
bibliobrandie's review against another edition
5.0
This was the most adorably hilarious middle grade book I’ve read in a long time. These real life dungeon dwellers and dragon slayers play a game set in a suburban middle school called Homerooms & Hall passes. Hilarity (I seriously laughed out loud) ensues when they get trapped in the game and have to figure out how to survive life in middle school. I listened to the audio version and highly recommend it, the narrator was fantastic.
timberwolf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jackmchair's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Short: This book is perfect for any young kid who loves Dungeons and Dragons - especially a younger middle schooler! Someone who has never played or heard of Dungeons or Dragons before may not find this as fun to read.
Full: The premise for this is so fun and the way each chapter is framed as though it's an excerpt from the guidebook helps the theme remain fresh. The humor is very much for the YA audience so if sarcasm and middle-school humor bothers you, maybe stay away!
The characters are OK and I didn't particularly feel a strong sense of attachment. I wish I had wanted them to be more successful but they were mostly 2D portrayals of common D&D tropes. If you've played D&D before you'll catch on and probably even picture someone you know as the characters but as unique characters in this book, I wasn't excitedly rooting for them and sometimes became annoyed.
Despite such a clear "source text" the story remains fresh and the plot elements keep it moving. I see this being a great series for a younger reader looking to nerd out (in the best way possible) but maybe isn't ready for something wordy like LOTR or WOT.
I feel strongly that there will be a positive correlation between a reader's background with D&D and their enjoyment of this book. Those who have been on a campaign themselves will find this to be a fun short read while those who haven't may struggle to get past the tone and humor.
Full: The premise for this is so fun and the way each chapter is framed as though it's an excerpt from the guidebook helps the theme remain fresh. The humor is very much for the YA audience so if sarcasm and middle-school humor bothers you, maybe stay away!
The characters are OK and I didn't particularly feel a strong sense of attachment. I wish I had wanted them to be more successful but they were mostly 2D portrayals of common D&D tropes. If you've played D&D before you'll catch on and probably even picture someone you know as the characters but as unique characters in this book, I wasn't excitedly rooting for them and sometimes became annoyed.
Despite such a clear "source text" the story remains fresh and the plot elements keep it moving. I see this being a great series for a younger reader looking to nerd out (in the best way possible) but maybe isn't ready for something wordy like LOTR or WOT.
I feel strongly that there will be a positive correlation between a reader's background with D&D and their enjoyment of this book. Those who have been on a campaign themselves will find this to be a fun short read while those who haven't may struggle to get past the tone and humor.
fallingletters's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally published 3 April 2020 at Falling Letters.
I thought Homeroom & Hall Passes's premise sounded hilarious and unique. My initial concern was that it would be over-the-top silly, but it is not. For example, each chapter begins with an excerpt from “The Hall Master’s Guide”. These excerpts, while funny enough to make me chuckle, also often frame the unique experiences of middle school in such a way as to validate the challenges readers may experience.
The story balances mundane and fantasy elements. I appreciated that the main conflict ultimately involved a fantastical demon rather than just ‘defeating’ middle school. I think that would have pushed the book too close to contemporary fiction (rather than speculative) for my tastes. No spoilers, but the conclusion wasn’t quite what I expected. It adds a lot to the story. I imagine readers unfamiliar with D&D could still enjoy this book, while readers who are familiar with D&D will get even more laughs out of it.
The Bottom Line: A refreshing mash-up of the quest narrative and surviving middle school stories. Try it with readers who love both or either fantasy and contemporary (and of course, with D&D players).
I thought Homeroom & Hall Passes's premise sounded hilarious and unique. My initial concern was that it would be over-the-top silly, but it is not. For example, each chapter begins with an excerpt from “The Hall Master’s Guide”. These excerpts, while funny enough to make me chuckle, also often frame the unique experiences of middle school in such a way as to validate the challenges readers may experience.
In the real world, political authority comes from noble birth, or in rare cases because someone found a magic sword. But in middle school, class presidents are chosen democratically. This process involves homemade posters, wildly unrealistic promises, and capturing a plurality of the votes cast by the class. Though the title of class president is largely meaningless, it is still relentlessly sought by Overachievers, Nerds, Jocks, and Class Clowns alike. (Pg. 162)The story is told from Hall Master Albiorix’s perspective. He functions as the grounded and relatable character of the party. As the HM, he doesn’t have a character to embody once his party is sucked into the game. Albiorix remains himself and gives readers an easy entry point into the worlds of Bríandalör and Homerooms & Hall Passes.
The story balances mundane and fantasy elements. I appreciated that the main conflict ultimately involved a fantastical demon rather than just ‘defeating’ middle school. I think that would have pushed the book too close to contemporary fiction (rather than speculative) for my tastes. No spoilers, but the conclusion wasn’t quite what I expected. It adds a lot to the story. I imagine readers unfamiliar with D&D could still enjoy this book, while readers who are familiar with D&D will get even more laughs out of it.
The Bottom Line: A refreshing mash-up of the quest narrative and surviving middle school stories. Try it with readers who love both or either fantasy and contemporary (and of course, with D&D players).
jandals's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
library_ann's review against another edition
4.0
A portal story where adventurers come through into a world like ours and have to survive as middle school students. There is of course more to it than that -- 5-paragraph essays, algebra quizzes, computer science applications! For being adventurers from a martial and magical realm, they cope pretty well, and get help where they can.
Spoiler
...at the end I really wanted June to end up being a citizen of their own realm, but maybe they will encounter her again in the sequellibscote's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This is a funny story. What if the characters you play in Dungeons and Dragons play a game about our world called Homerooms and Hall Passes? And what if they were accidentally sent to our world? How would that play out? Find out in this funny story. My favorite character is Thromdurr, the barbarian nerd.