Description
Master storyteller Patrick Ness turns to middle grade in a hilarious adventure about a mismatched group of animals attending school together, brought to life by brilliantly funny illustrations.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
Reviews
Carnegie-scooping Patrick Ness pulls off a zany caper with verve... An entire subplot about how the country of France ended up on Zeke the monitor lizard's knee is deftly rolled into this pacey, knockabout plot. * The Observer *
This zany school adventure has likeable characters and explores friendship, growing up, and a parent who is fighting their own battles. * The Bookseller *
The author of modern YA classics like A Monster Calls and the Chaos Walking trilogy turns his hand to madcap middle grade fiction with the hilarious story of three hall monitors charged with protecting their school from all manner of zany threats. * Waterstones September's Best Children's Books 2024 *
Ness expertly mixes perceptive observation of the pressures of school and home life, and the compensations of friendship, with some situations and characters that are so way out that it is a wonder he can get away with it...It's a tale that is beyond unpredictable: crazy, funny, and tender. Running through the laughter and bravura invention, there is an uplifting faith in our capacity to understand, love and support one another. Sheer unmissable brilliance. A word of admiration, too, for illustrator Tim Miller, who is happy to rise to the challenge of showing us a monitor lizard wrestling a yak to the ground. You will see it nowhere else. * Books for Keeps, Editor's Choice *
Laughable and learnable moments make for a rollicking adventure. All characters are anthropomorphic. This is a great pick for striving readers, as Miller's black-and-white illustrations help to break up the chapters and bring the story to life.
VERDICT Full of humor and heart, this is a must-buy for any school or public library. Hand to readers who love a good laugh but will also benefit from a quick lesson.
Book Information
ISBN 9781529517958
Author Patrick Ness
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Walker Books Ltd
Publisher Walker Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 191g
Dimensions(mm) 195mm * 127mm * 10mm
