When Principal Wombat makes monitor lizards Zeke, Daniel, and Alicia hall monitors, Zeke gives up on popularity at his new school. Brought in as part of a district blending program, the monitor lizards were mostly ignored before. Reptiles aren’t bullied any more than other students, but they do stick out among zebras, ostriches, and elk. Why would Principal Wombat make them hall monitors? Alicia explains that it’s because mammals are afraid of being yelled (hissed) at by reptiles. The principal’s just a good general, deploying her resources. Zeke balks, until he gets on the wrong side of Pelicarnassus. More than a bully, the pelican is a famed international supervillain—at least when his mother isn’t looking. Maybe the halls are a war zone, and the school needs a hero. Too bad it isn’t . . . Zeke. Smart, relatable, and densely illustrated in black and white for graphic appeal, this middle-grade series debut by a revered author returns to his themes of grief, bullying, and negotiating differences—but with zeal and comic relief to spare.
- Books
- Middle Grade Fiction & Indies
- Middle Grade Fiction
- Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
8+
Release Date
March 09, 2024
ISBN
978-1536235937
Buy This Book
From the best-selling author of A Monster Calls, this funny, wise middle-grade series explodesevery stereotype—including what it means to be a hero—in a brilliant reptilian take on surviving school.
Editor review
1 review
Wild Whacky School Story
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
3.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
5.0
A school story that's part Zootopia hijinks, part Despicable Me supervillains, and completely unpredictable. Zeke and his friends aren't sure why the principal nominated them as hall monitors (actually, they are, it's because they're monitor lizards) but they're determined to take the role very seriously, even when (especially when?) it gives them an excuse to but heads with Pelicarnassus, the most fearsome bird in school.
Zeke's adventure is a wild ride, and it gets lots of laughs from the absurd situations and details that are treated as perfectly normal. Of course, the bully gets out of trouble because his mother is the local supervillain, and the entire country located on Zeke's knee is a family heirloom. Sometimes, it's so out there that I got lost and had to go back and re-read to make sure I understood. I'd definitely advise not taking anything too seriously, although the story also touches on some pretty serious themes, like the power of money (and supervillain gadgets) and the divisive nature of prejudice.
I enjoyed the short chapters and quick pace, which make the book super readable, for a longer session or in bits at a time. Pick this up for a mix of ordinary life with crazy shenanigans, and an ordinary lizard who's just trying to do his best (usually).
Zeke's adventure is a wild ride, and it gets lots of laughs from the absurd situations and details that are treated as perfectly normal. Of course, the bully gets out of trouble because his mother is the local supervillain, and the entire country located on Zeke's knee is a family heirloom. Sometimes, it's so out there that I got lost and had to go back and re-read to make sure I understood. I'd definitely advise not taking anything too seriously, although the story also touches on some pretty serious themes, like the power of money (and supervillain gadgets) and the divisive nature of prejudice.
I enjoyed the short chapters and quick pace, which make the book super readable, for a longer session or in bits at a time. Pick this up for a mix of ordinary life with crazy shenanigans, and an ordinary lizard who's just trying to do his best (usually).
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