Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun action, great friends in charming fantasy adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: DUNGEON CLUB: TIME TO PARTY, Olivia and her close friends, Jess, Tyler, Sam, and Sammi, are all part of an adventuring "party" in their D&D role-playing game. Continuing from their first adventure, their characters have grown stronger, but they face a dire threat. Red mages are threatening to release a demon prince from the underworld! Real life also has its problems, with bullies at school, figuring out who you really are, and even who you might like.
Is It Any Good?
Getting to know Olivia and her friends even more in this second installment is a pleasure and a fun time. Without too much exposition, D&D: Dungeon Club: Time to Party gets right to the action and doesn't stop. Bouncing back and forth between real life in middle school and their D&D adventure campaign led and created by Olivia, the story offers a fast pace. Just like in the first book, when the plot starts to slow down in the real world, readers get to switch to the fantasy adventure and vice versa. Both realms offer great lessons and positive messages of friendship, communication, teamwork, courage, and compassion. Olivia and her friends get to use their fantasy characters to explore themselves, try out different traits and personas, and be part of something bigger than themselves. Characters learn how to communicate effectively and work as a team to deal with obstacles, threats, and enemies in the game and in real life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in middle grade fantasy graphic novels. Did any of the violence in D&D: Dungeon Club: Time to Party surprise you?
How do characters show courage, communication, teamwork, and gratitude? How do they show these traits in their D&D game versus in real life?
Do you think Olivia's story works best as a graphic novel? Would you watch this story if there were TV or film versions?
What kind of fantasy character would you most like to be and why (mage, fighter, ranger, bard, rogue, monk, etc.)?
Do you have any interest in Dungeons & Dragons the game after finishing this book? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrators : Xanthe Bouma , Amelia Allore
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Gratitude , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperAlley
- Publication date : July 9, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 208
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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