Common Sense Media Review
By Kya Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Animal friends band together to comically defeat a bully.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In CHRONICLES OF A LIZARD NOBODY, Zeke is chosen to be one of the newest hall monitors at school, along with his fellow monitor lizard friends. He's now able to spend more time with his friends, but his new position quickly puts him on the bad side of resident school bully, Pelicarnassus. When Zeke stands up to him, he swears revenge on Zeke and launches an attack on France, which is housed on Zeke's knee! But really, Zeke is more worried about his mom in the wake of his father's death. When Pelicarnassus launches his final attack, Zeke wishes for nothing more than to be saved from all of the chaos, but with the help of his friends, Zeke learns that sometimes the hero we need is closer than we may have originally thought.
Is It Any Good?
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is a hilarious and relatable story that does a great job highlighting the life and everyday struggles of an ordinary middle schooler. Kids will enjoy following the zany black-and-white illustrations of Tim Miller as they delve into topics about differences, bravery, grief, and bullying. Author Patrick Ness tackles these seemingly heavy topics with a skilled lightness that makes this book a kid-friendly choice parents will feel comfortable introducing to their children.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teamwork in Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody. How can people work together to help a classmate who is being bullied?
Zeke attends school with a variety of different animal species. How do you respect and honor the differences of your peers in school?
How does Zeke model courage in the book? Why do you think he decides to be courageous? What inspires you to be brave?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Tim Miller
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Walker Books U.S.
- Publication date : September 3, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 208
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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