Patrick Ness is the award-winning author of A Monster Calls and the ‘Chaos Walking’ series. This latest novel is his first middle-grade book and the first of a new series.

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is set in a school where all the staff and students are different animals. The principal is a wombat, the bully, who is the villain of the plot, is a pelican called Pelicarnassus and the friends at the receiving end of his threats are three monitor lizards, Zeke, Daniel and Alicia. They also acquire a new friend in the blind hawk, Miel.

Life for Zeke is complicated. His Mum became seriously depressed after the death of his father, so she is accompanied everywhere by her black dog. He also has inherited the dubious guardianship of the country of France, which lives on his knee! When Zeke tries to exercise his responsibilities as a hall monitor by asking Pelicarnassus to leave, the situation escalates. Zeke punches the pelican on the beak and is forced to make an apology in front of the whole school but Pelicarnassus vows revenge. And this involves invading France.

It is a seriously weird and wacky story and the author appears to have had great fun dreaming up all the impossible scenarios. It’s illustrated by Tim Miller, author-illustrator of Moo Moo in a Tutu, so his style is well suited. Although the tone is light and funny, serious themes of depression and poverty are just below the surface. The next in the series is due in June 2025.

Reviewed by Lynne Babbage

Age Guide 7+