Go Jump in the Pool

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Go Jump in the Pool!
2003 version cover art
Author	Gordon Korman
Cover artist	Rodrigo Moreno, Luis Borba, Photo-illustration by Yüksel Hassan (2003 version)
Country	Canada
Language	English
Series	Macdonald Hall Series
Genre(s)	Adventure
Publisher	Scholastic Canada Ltd.
Publication date	1979, 2003
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	157 (not including the preview at the end)
ISBN	ISBN 0-439-97430-5
Preceded by	This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall
Followed by	Beware The Fish!

Go Jump in the Pool! is a 1979 children's book by Gordon Korman. This is the second novel in the Macdonald Hall series, first published in 1979. It continues the plights and adventures of Bruno Walton and Boots O'Neal. The book was republished again in 2003 to appeal to today's generation of young readers and the text was also updated to appeal to this audience and to match today's economy (i.e. the pool in the original version cost $25,000. It now costs $50,000 in today's economy). This is the only title in the series that didn't undergo a name change.

[edit] Plot Summary

Macdonald Hall is losing all of their swim meets to rival school York Academy, which Bruno and Boots attribute to the school not having their own pool. After one meet, where the York Academy spitefully ignores the traditional handshake at the end, the two friends take this fact into account and ask Headmaster Sturgeon (aka The Fish) if there would be a chance at all of the Hall would be able to utilize its own pool, but he tells them the instittution's fifty thousand dollars short of the cost of such a facility. Thus, Bruno, along with Boots, take things into their own hands. They start off with a flea market (without Mr. Sturgeon first knowing about it) and make $1426. After talking through the idea of fund-raising, Mr. Sturgeon allows them to pursue other means of making money and creates a bank account for them. This includes running a talent show, a photo-contest, and an Individual Effort Day. This is all in close relation to Ms. Scrimmage's Finishing School for Young Ladies, the girl's school across the road. They're efforts in raising money are even more important when Boots reveals he might be transferred to York Academy because his parents think they have a better athletic program (Its initiated here in this book that Boots is a jock). After many fund-raisers, Mr. Sturgeon then tells them that they cannot gain anymore money from the students and staff of the school because that isn't a reliable source of revenue anymore and if they want to raise money, they have to gain it from outside resources. Dejected, Bruno gets the absurd idea to set up a toll booth. Before anyone pays them, though, Mr. Sturgeon catches them, and after an awful encounter with Ms. Scrimmage and her students, punishes them severely and notifys them that they can't raise any more money. He also openly disaproves of their jealousy.

Eventually Mr. Sturgeon finds out that parents of a lot of students are considering transferring students out of the school and into York Academy due to their better athletic program (mainly their pool) and sees that Bruno and Boot's attempts at raising money weren't a result of pure jealousy. He takes them off their severe punishment.

While complaining about never getting enough money, Bruno and Boots encounter George Wexford-Smyth III, Boot's wealthy old roommate. He tells them the solution, the stock market, and they eventually make, in excess, $64,469,64. More than enough for the pool.

[edit] Characters

This is a list of the characters in the novel. This list will also include their stereotypes, as each character comes with a common stereotype.

Bruno Walton One of the main characters. He is the dominant whacky best friend of Boots. Usually he conducts various shemes or taskforces which involve Boots or most of the other characters, usually against their will.

Melvin "Boots" O'Neal Bruno's best friend. It is apparent in this book that he is athletic and the captain of most school sports, which trumpets him as a jock. He usually is the one who openly opposes Bruno's normally uncharacteristic or absurd schemes or demands and has a considerable control over his roommate and best friend in keeping him out of trouble.

Elmer Drimsdale The school genius. He is highly intellegent in the maths and sciences and is generally eccentric. He does all of the calculations and money-counting after significant fundraisers.

Wilbur Hackenschleimer A big amateur weight lifter who's a master at shop and eating. He participates in a talent show where he lifts an entire grand piano.

Larry Wilson The office messenger who knows more than usual about school and office matters due to his status as office messenger.

Mark Davies The editor of the school newspaper.

Perry Elbert The unfortunate person who tends to have bad luck around Bruno all the time.

Chriss Talbot The school's very talented art student.

Peter Anderson The dimwitted but good-natured student. He worries about failing a lot and usually has to do summer school

Sydney Rampulskey The extremely accident-prone student.

George Wexford-Smyth III A rich hypochondriac who's nobody's friend and prefers it that way. He considers Bruno and Boot's money-making shemes vulgar until he learns they're intentions. This leads him to help them reach they're goal at the end of the book through the stock market.