Review Detail

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).