Books with author Tom O'Donnell

"You can't help falling in love with this hilarious upside-down take on Dungeons & Dragons. I read; I cheered; I laughed out loud."--Gordon Korman"A terrific switcheroo on the "trapped in a video game" premise"--ALA Booklist (starred review).""A rollicking, affectionate parody of fantasy role-playing. "--Kirkus ReviewsIn the mystical realm of Bríandalör, 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, our heroes--Thromdurr the mighty barbarian, Devis the shifty thief, Vela the noble paladin, Sorrowshade the Gloom Elf assassin, and Albiorix the (good!) wizard--need to relax and unwind.That's why they meet up once a week to play Homerooms & Hall Passes: a role-playing game where they assume the characters of average American eighth graders.But when the five young adventurers are magically transported into their H&H game by an ancient curse, they must band together to survive their toughest challenge yet: middle school.Who knew that battling ogres would be easier than passing algebra or navigating the cafeteria social scene? They must use what they've learned from playing Homerooms & Hall Passes to figure out how to save their game world (which might actually be real...).Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji in this new, laugh-out-loud adventure series from the author of the beloved Hamstersaurus Rex series.

Chorkle and its human friends Hollins, twins Becky and Nicki, and Little Gus (who is now lobbying to be called Medium Gus) have been warped to a strange new galaxy. When Kalac is stranded on neighboring planet Kyral, the gang takes matters into its own hands (and thol'grazes) and sets off on a daring rescue mission. Along the way, they'll befriend a whole new species and form some very unlikely alliances, all while navigating bizarre and dangerous terrain. Can they manage to save Kalac? Or are they doomed to warp through the galaxy forever? With brilliant prose and unforgettable characters, For the Love of Gelo is filled with adventure, laughs, and a ton of heart.“O’Donnell’s debut is an imaginative, smart and laugh-out-loud adventure. Chorkle is charming, and its alien perspective on the human invaders and the ensuing culture clash never falters.”—Kirkus

BEWARE: Rampaging Mutant Dino-Hamster! Fans of My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish and The Terrible Two will be scrambling to get their hands on this hilarious classroom comedy. When a mysterious growling hamster appears at the back of his class, Sam knows just what to call him: Hamstersaurus Rex. Sam tries to protect Hammie from an overzealous Hamster Monitor, and from the meanest bully in the history of Horace Hotwater Middle School. The bully isn’t afraid of some weird little class pet. But maybe he should be. Hamstersaurus Rex is no ordinary hamster.

SQUIRREL ATTACK! Sam Gibbs and his super-strong tiny buddy, Hamstersaurus Rex, are back in this hilarious classroom comedy, perfect for fans of Dog Man and Stick Dog—and for anybody who might be entertained by a mutant rodent showdown.Sam and Hammie Rex discover a terrifying giant squirrel hiding in the woods behind Horace Hotwater Middle School. But nobody else believes Squirrel Kong is real. Then Hammie Rex takes the blame for Squirrel Kong’s destructive rampages, and the principal threatens to send him away to home for dangerous, troubled small pets. To save his hamster friend, can Sam prove that Squirrel Kong is the true menace?Expect mysterious mutations, deliciously gross snack foods, and an epic battle with the world’s most fearsome squirrel in this outrageously funny second installment in the Hamstersaurus Rex series.

Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji in the second book in the laugh-out-loud adventure series Homerooms and Hall Passes! Months after saving suburbia from destruction, our heroes are back to their old lives of dungeon delving and magical quests. All except the wizard Albiorix, who has given up adventuring and uses his time trying (unsuccessfully) to create his own board game.When the party finds their old friend June Westray’s smartphone for sale in a Bríandalörian bazaar, however, they fear the Realm of Suburbia is under threat. Thus, the five young adventurers must travel back into Homerooms & Hall Passes, a role-playing game where they assume the characters of average American kids. This time they’re at Level 9 and will face a whole new set of challenges: their freshman year of high school!There are different cliques, different rules, and higher stakes. And if that wasn’t stressful enough, the heroes must track down an evil spellbook, defeat a sinister foe, and figure out how to get back home . . . . “You can’t help falling in love with this hilarious upside-down take on Dungeons & Dragons. I read; I cheered; I laughed out loud.”—Gordon Korman on Homerooms and Hall Passes

This hilarious classroom comedy series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Stick Dog!Mysterious hauntings are causing major trouble at Horace Hotwater Middle School. Sam Gibbs and his super-strong tiny buddy, Hammie Rex, keep encountering creepy abnormal objects, including a floating sports jersey and a runaway go-kart.While Sam doesn't believe in ghosts, he has to admit the hauntings are getting weirder…and more dangerous. Could bizarre mutant animals be the cause? At Horace Hotwater, they often are!Beware of furry ducks, slippery baked potato toppings, masked ninjas, and more in this laugh-out-loud mystery starring the world's coolest class pet.

The thrilling intergalactic adventures of four kids in space--as told by a hilarious alien! It all happened because of Feeney's Original Astronaut Ice Cream bars.Those accursed pink treats entranced me with their sugary magic! But Idigress . . . Life on Gelo was fine until the fur-headed"humans" arrived. They invaded our peaceful asteroid with their louddrill machines and their endless greed, stealing our precious Iridium to take back to their strange blue-and-green planet. Then the mothership took off and left four little fur-heads marooned here. But thank Jalasu Jhuk that Hollins, Becky,Nicki, and Little Gus turned out to be pretty cool. They have sweetgadgets like hologram games and rocket bikes. Plus they can pilotstarships! But there's plenty the young humans don't know,like how to fight a ferocious thyss-cat or ride an usk-lizard ornavigate the twisting caverns of my world. And they are truly unprepared for my secret Xotonian stink gland! Luckily the Earthlings have me, Chorkle, and all five of my eyes to look after them. If only I knew how to help them get back home . . .

It all happened because of Feeney's Original Astronaut Ice Cream. Those accursed pink bars entranced me with their sugary magic! Life on Gelo was fine until the fur-headed "humans" arrived. They invaded our asteroid with their loud drill machines and their endless greed, stealing our precious iridium to take back to their weird-looking blue-and-green planet. Then the mothership took off and four little fur-heads were marooned here. Luckily, the "kids" have cool things like hologram games and rocket bikes. And they know how to pilot starships! But there's plenty the junior humans don't know, like how to fight a feral thyss-cat or ride an usk-lizard. They're decidedly terrible at dealing with my stink gland (yes, we Xotonians have a stink gland). And they definitely seem powerless against the Vorem, a terrifying breed of rival alien that nightmares are made of. Thank goodness the Earthlings have me and all five of my eyes to look after them! If only I knew how to help them get back home. . . .

Chorkle and its human friends Hollins, twins Becky and Nicki, and Little Gus (who is now lobbying to be called Medium Gus) have been warped to a strange new galaxy. When Kalac is stranded on neighboring planet Kyral, the gang takes matters into its own hands (and thol'grazes) and sets off on a daring rescue mission. Along the way, they'll befriend a whole new species and form some very unlikely alliances, all while navigating bizarre and dangerous terrain. Can they manage to save Kalac? Or are they doomed to warp through the galaxy forever? With brilliant prose and unforgettable characters, For the Love of Gelo is filled with adventure, laughs, and a ton of heart.“O’Donnell’s debut is an imaginative, smart and laugh-out-loud adventure. Chorkle is charming, and its alien perspective on the human invaders and the ensuing culture clash never falters.”—Kirkus

The thrilling intergalactic adventures of four kids in space--as told by a hilarious alien! It all happened because of Feeney's Original Astronaut Ice Cream bars. Those accursed pink treats entranced me with their sugary magic! But I digress . . . Life on Gelo was fine until the fur-headed "humans" arrived. They invaded our peaceful asteroid with their loud drill machines and their endless greed, stealing our precious Iridium to take back to their strange blue-and-green planet. Then the mothership took off and left four little fur-heads marooned here. But thank Jalasu Jhuk that Hollins, Becky, Nicki, and Little Gus turned out to be pretty cool. They have sweet gadgets like hologram games and rocket bikes. Plus they can pilot starships! But there's plenty the young humans don't know, like how to fight a ferocious thyss-cat or ride an usk-lizard or navigate the twisting caverns of my world. And they are truly unprepared for my secret Xotonian stink gland! Luckily the Earthlings have me, Chorkle, and all five of my eyes to look after them. If only I knew how to help them get back home . . .

“You can’t help falling in love with this hilarious upside-down take on Dungeons & Dragons. I read; I cheered; I laughed out loud.”—Gordon KormanIn the mystical realm of Bríandalör, 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, our heroes—Thromdurr the mighty barbarian, Devis the shifty thief, Vela the noble paladin, Sorrowshade the Gloom Elf assassin, and Albiorix the (good!) wizard—need to relax and unwind.That’s why they meet up once a week to play Homerooms & Hall Passes: a role-playing game where they assume the characters of average American eighth graders.But when the five young adventurers are magically transported into their H&H game by an ancient curse, they must band together to survive their toughest challenge yet: middle school.Who knew that battling ogres would be easier than passing algebra or navigating the cafeteria social scene? They must use what they’ve learned from playing Homerooms & Hall Passes to figure out how to save their game world (which might actually be real...).Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji in this new, laugh-out-loud adventure series from the author of the beloved Hamstersaurus Rex series.