Lizard (Paperback)

by Dennis Covington (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Have you ever felt like a freak? Well, then you'll relate to Lucius Sims. Because he resembles a reptile, people call him Lizard, and they treat him like an alien because he's different. He's even put into a school for retarded boys even though there is no proof that he has a learning problem. Hang on tight, though, because Lizard is about to embark on a madcap adventure. On the road to freedom he might even find a way to accept himself! Covington won the Delacorte Prize for this sensitive novel about the oddball inside of us all.

From Publishers Weekly
A 13-year-old seizes a unique opportunity to break free of his unjust confinement in a retarded boys' school. PW praised the "bold originality" of this "finely crafted first novel, . . . an intriguing cross between Candide and Huck le berry Finn ." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf; Reprint. edition (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440214904
• ISBN-13: 978-0440214908
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #934,982 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book that truely effected me, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lizard (Hardcover)

When I read this book I was in 6th grade (I'm in 8th now), And this is the only book I can truely look back on and say I could visualize the colorful, inventive characters, And that I truely enjoyed the story and was amazed that such good books truely existed. This is an amazing book, And I highly recommend it to anyone going through a remotely tough time, Because no matter what Lucius Sims always had hope for the better.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Classic in Children's Literature, June 15, 2001

By	"lobot" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Dennis Covington is a genius. I have read this novel almost three times now and with each new reading I find more layers to the story. Covington weaves a fantasticly strange story with bizzare characters that is very difficult to criticize.

Although the story itself is one we've all read before-- the coming of age of Lucius "Lizard" Sims is so fascinating that it will keep many wanting more to read. There are not enough good things I can say about this novel. It should be required reading in all schools.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book about understanding and different people, June 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lizard (Hardcover)

Lizard Lizard is Lucius Sims, a boy that is sent to the Leesville School for Retarded Boys probably because of what he looks like. Lizard has no idea who his mother is, the only person he can relate to is Miss Cooley who tells him that his father died the same year that he was born. Soon a man by the name of Callahan but in disguise as Simonetti comes to Lizard claiming that he is his father. When Lizard finally manages to escape the school he meets the rest of Callahan's actors. They head for the north and camp out in the woods at night. This is were Lizard meets two black kids that live in a pump house. Sammy is not a very good host but his sister seems to understand Lizard, so much that she trusts Lizard to sell their most valuable possession, a mysterious silver bowl that is very precious to both Sammy and Rain. Lizard then heads farther north with the actors to perform The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Lizard must somehow get back to Sammy and Rain and try to continue his endless search for his mother... This book, had strong emotions hidden beneath the words of the main characters like Lizard, Callahan or Sally. Even though there might not seem to be anything interesting in a boy trying to get to the woods, the author fills the book with little "goodies" that keep you interested all the way. The work that this author has given to the development of the characters is extraordinary, especially Lizard. If you haven't read this book then read it. It might change the way you think about retarded boys and maybe lizards also.