Lizard [Paperback]

Dennis Covington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1993

With sea-green eyes more on the side of his head than most people's and a nose that lies on its side, Lucius Sims resembles a reptile. That's why he was sent to the Leesville Louisiana State School for Retarded Boys even though no one ever proved he was mentally handicapped. but the state school is no place for a wide-eyed thirteen-year-old boy who wants to see the world. So when a shoe salesman from up north arrives claiming to be his father, Lizard takes a chance. Lizard knows his real father is dead, but he also knows that this impostor could be his only ticket to freedom.

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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (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 Best Sellers Rank: #2,125,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book that truely effected me, March 30, 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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Classic in Children's Literature, June 14, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Lizard (Paperback)

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.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A poetic, bizarre, wild, disturbing and sensitive story., January 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Lizard (Paperback)

I liked this book a lot, but it wasn't at all what I expected. It made me a little uncomfortable because I felt like I was listening in on the authors thoughts. This particularly unnerved me because Dennis Covington was my teacher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I was lucky to be in his class during the publication of his book Salvation on Sand Mountain. I recommend reading that book too. You may have seen him on DATELINE NBC regarding his "snake handling" Sand Mountain topic. Regarding Lizard, if you're familiar with Birmingham, AL many of the landmarks will be familiar to you. Also, he is a nice man and a dedicated writer. Other books that may be of interest...Vicki Covington (his wife) has written several very good books