3 Reasons Why You Should Read Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Tim Miller

What’s the book about?

Zeke and Daniel have just been made hall monitors by Principal Wombat. This has nothing to do with the fact that they are monitor lizards. And never mind the fact Alicia, the only other monitor lizard in the school, is also a hall monitor.

Somehow, the three hall monitors must impose order on arrogant lions, excitable seals and super-relaxed pandas. And worst of all, there is Pelicarnassus! A pompous giant pelican and the son of a major supervillain, who inexplicably has it out for the lizards. Can the hall monitor lizards and their new friend, a blind, fearsome red-tailed hawk, protect their school from all manner of outlandish threats?

Recommended for: 

Ages 9+.

Three reasons to read it: 

1. Ness is known for his ability to infuse humor and wit into his writing, and Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is no exception. The narrative is filled with clever observations and amusing situations that make for an entertaining read. The humor not only makes the story enjoyable but also helps to address serious themes in a way that is accessible and engaging.
2. In a book where the hero is a lizard, visual representation is key to conveying the unique perspective of the story. Miller’s artworks bring Zeke, Daniel and Alicia’s world to life, offering readers a visual interpretation of the quirky setting, characters, and events.
3. At its core, Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody delves into themes of identity and the search for belonging. Through Zeke. Daniel and Alicia’s journey, Ness addresses universal questions about self-discovery and what it means to find one’s place in the world. This exploration is both thoughtful and relatable, even through the nonstop humour and many laugh-out-loud moments.

Buy a copy of Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody here.

About the author:

Patrick Ness is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Chaos Walking trilogy, which inspired a major motion picture. He is also the author of critically acclaimed novels A Monster Calls, More Than This, Release, The Rest of Us Just Live Here, And the Ocean Was Our Sky and Burn. He has won every major prize in children’s fiction, including the Carnegie Medal twice. He has also written the screenplay for the film version of A Monster Calls and Class, the BBC Doctor Who drama.

Tim Miller is the author-illustrator of Moo Moo in a Tutu, What’s Cooking, Moo Moo?, Tiny Kitty, Big City, and Izzy Paints. He is also the illustrator of Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan, Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) and Snappsy the Alligator And His Best Friend Forever! (Probably) by Julie Falatko, Margarash by Mark Riddle, and the middle-grade series Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O’Donnell. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and three rescue cats.