Daniel, Zeke, & Alicia are the best of friends. They are in school together and love each other’s company. They all have a shared nemesis – Pelicarnassus, the son of the most powerful crime boss in their town.
Zeke wonders why Pelicarnassus is even attending their school when he could be at at a private one. But Zeke knows this pelican bully isn’t as clever as he thinks he is, so tries to ignore him.
One day Daniel wears a hat to school. It’s pink (Daniel’s favourite colour) and he gets lots of comments – both good and bad. On the same day, a new student arrives. Peggy is different from Zeke and his lizard mates, and causes quite a stir. There are no other fish at their school.
Peggy is shy and quiet and a little scared of Zeke’s hawk friend Miel. Even though Miel is blind, Peggy believes he is looking at her and preparing to hunt. This causes much discomfort among the friends, along with it seems – Daniel’s pink hat.
Zeke doesn’t understand what’s happening within his tight knit friend group that seems to be falling apart.
And if that’s not enough to worry about, Pelicarnassus’ mum’s Death Ray of Death is back in action. What will be vapourised next?
The 2nd book in this series which is all about friendships in school, and out of it.
It’s about feelings and personalities and misconceptions. It’s funny and thought provoking at the same time, just like the first book in the series.
My favourite is still Miel. The audiobook is brilliantly done, capturing his personality along with all of his friends’.
School is a complicated place and there are many challenges for students to traverse. This series cleverly captures those struggles, along with absurdity of fish in tanks on wheels, blind hawks and monitor lizards avoiding death rays.
Entertaining.
Author – Patrick Ness
Illustrator – Tim Miller
Age – 9+
Find a review for the 1st book in the series here
Find more books by Patrick Ness here
(2024, Walker Books, Series, School, Bullies, Animals, Funny, Humour, Anxiety, Struggles, Friendships, Relationships, Death Ray, Fear, Instincts)