What do you think?
Rate this book
Lizard People
YOU MEET THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE LOBBY OF A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. The author of Dead Connection proves that what goes on in our minds just may be the scariest thing of all.
Ben Mander's junior year is derailed when his mentally ill mother erupts in the school office. Visiting her in the psych hospital, Ben meets Marco, who also has a mentally ill mother. Marco tells a story that turns Ben's idea of reality upside down. Soon, the story begins to uncomfortably mirror Ben's own life. Lizard People races along the edge of madness as Ben wrestles with his greatest fear--that deep within him lie the seeds of his own insanity.
Ben Mander's junior year is derailed when his mentally ill mother erupts in the school office. Visiting her in the psych hospital, Ben meets Marco, who also has a mentally ill mother. Marco tells a story that turns Ben's idea of reality upside down. Soon, the story begins to uncomfortably mirror Ben's own life. Lizard People races along the edge of madness as Ben wrestles with his greatest fear--that deep within him lie the seeds of his own insanity.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2007
6 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 7, 2025
This is a fast-moving, short book with large print, small pages, and lots of white space. It was inspired by Price's work in the mental health industry and his love of fly fishing, which, unfortunately, has nothing to do with fishing for flies.
Lizard people is a metaphor for mentally ill people, who don't feel entirely human. Being normal is the Impossible Dream.
This goes back and forth from Our Protagonist's turbulent life, to the year 4000, after the lizard people have taken over.
There's a hokey twist at the end, which really wasn't necessary and cheapened the book overall, so I knocked off a star.
This is marketed to young adults, but there are a lot of things in this book that will upset a lot of uptight parents and teachers. There's drinking, drug use, cutting classes, climate change, a teenager getting the crap beaten out of him by a biker, social workers, and a Dad who walks out on his family.
There's a peek at the year 2027 -- and it's sad to think that nothing hinted at there ever had a chance of happening. Mental health has gone back to being ignored in America. For example, in the last 20 years in the county I live in, it went from having 5 hospitals with mental health departments to zero. Medicare and Medicaid pay very, very little to mental health professionals, so almost all of them have refused to be part of those programs any more, making it impossible to get low-cost mental health services.
Having the lizard people take over can't come soon enough.
Lizard people is a metaphor for mentally ill people, who don't feel entirely human. Being normal is the Impossible Dream.
This goes back and forth from Our Protagonist's turbulent life, to the year 4000, after the lizard people have taken over.
There's a hokey twist at the end, which really wasn't necessary and cheapened the book overall, so I knocked off a star.
This is marketed to young adults, but there are a lot of things in this book that will upset a lot of uptight parents and teachers. There's drinking, drug use, cutting classes, climate change, a teenager getting the crap beaten out of him by a biker, social workers, and a Dad who walks out on his family.
There's a peek at the year 2027 -- and it's sad to think that nothing hinted at there ever had a chance of happening. Mental health has gone back to being ignored in America. For example, in the last 20 years in the county I live in, it went from having 5 hospitals with mental health departments to zero. Medicare and Medicaid pay very, very little to mental health professionals, so almost all of them have refused to be part of those programs any more, making it impossible to get low-cost mental health services.
Having the lizard people take over can't come soon enough.
July 3, 2011
Although Charlie Price is a very distinguished and honored author in juvenile/Young adult fiction, and has been since the early 2000's, he has sadly escaped my notice. I feel ignorant for that misstep in my literary education.
His book "Dead Connection" won An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, A Booklist Top Ten Mystery for Youth, A Book Sense Children's Pick, and a Publishers Weekly "Flying Starts" Selection mention.
I can hardly wait for my ordered book to get to me...drat the long holiday for that!
Publisher's Weekly calls Price's books: "Superb. Compulsively readable." Others rave: "Readers will like the edginess and be intrigued by the extrasensory elements."
Let me tell you how I reacted to "Lizard People." It was an immediate hit with me. I read the first 4 paragraphs and literally didn't stop reading until I finished the book some 4 hours later. It was fun, so interesting, a new concept, piercing, and had a twist that left me wondering until the very end whether I was experiencing psychosis or not. Fabulous insight into the mind of the mentally ill! I was taken there and back and I loved it. Sometimes it was frightening at the same time it was intriguing and irresistible.
Price's main character, Ben, is a sympathetic young man who is just trying his best to be a typical junior in high school. Like a lot of boys his age, he wants to be like other, popular guys and he, frankly, doesn't want to deal with his bizarre and sometimes violent, mentally ill mother. Is it too much to ask to have a grown up to help him, or at least a friend to discuss the responsibility and problem? Herein lies the crux of all that torments Ben, and it is within this labyrinth that Ben must also find an answer to the Lizard People who terrify this mother and live in the stories of his friend, Marco.
Mr. Price offers a fantastic journey that juxtaposes realism and the fantastic straight from the mind(s) of those who seem normal. I found it so gratifying that things weren't always as they seemed, and that the ordinary was sometimes slightly "off" but still within the acceptable in Ben's current live as in ours.
That families of the mentally ill are truly left to fend for themselves much of the time, and that many fear and ostracize them is something that Price clearly shines a light upon. I wanted to cheer his initiative. I loved the storyline that expressed it.
This is a book that has more depth than may first appear. There are messages here that are valuable for young adults and adults alike regarding the mentally ill and those who care for them. I applaud Mr. Price for his life work, and for having the humor coupled with the heart to bring such a beautiful and enjoyable book to our lives.
I loved this book which flowed like a charm and was a charming story of hope and resilience with a dash of laughter. Also perfect for the classroom.
5 stars Mr. Price!! See more of him and his books at: http://www.charlieprice.com/
Deborah/TheBookishDame
His book "Dead Connection" won An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, A Booklist Top Ten Mystery for Youth, A Book Sense Children's Pick, and a Publishers Weekly "Flying Starts" Selection mention.
I can hardly wait for my ordered book to get to me...drat the long holiday for that!
Publisher's Weekly calls Price's books: "Superb. Compulsively readable." Others rave: "Readers will like the edginess and be intrigued by the extrasensory elements."
Let me tell you how I reacted to "Lizard People." It was an immediate hit with me. I read the first 4 paragraphs and literally didn't stop reading until I finished the book some 4 hours later. It was fun, so interesting, a new concept, piercing, and had a twist that left me wondering until the very end whether I was experiencing psychosis or not. Fabulous insight into the mind of the mentally ill! I was taken there and back and I loved it. Sometimes it was frightening at the same time it was intriguing and irresistible.
Price's main character, Ben, is a sympathetic young man who is just trying his best to be a typical junior in high school. Like a lot of boys his age, he wants to be like other, popular guys and he, frankly, doesn't want to deal with his bizarre and sometimes violent, mentally ill mother. Is it too much to ask to have a grown up to help him, or at least a friend to discuss the responsibility and problem? Herein lies the crux of all that torments Ben, and it is within this labyrinth that Ben must also find an answer to the Lizard People who terrify this mother and live in the stories of his friend, Marco.
Mr. Price offers a fantastic journey that juxtaposes realism and the fantastic straight from the mind(s) of those who seem normal. I found it so gratifying that things weren't always as they seemed, and that the ordinary was sometimes slightly "off" but still within the acceptable in Ben's current live as in ours.
That families of the mentally ill are truly left to fend for themselves much of the time, and that many fear and ostracize them is something that Price clearly shines a light upon. I wanted to cheer his initiative. I loved the storyline that expressed it.
This is a book that has more depth than may first appear. There are messages here that are valuable for young adults and adults alike regarding the mentally ill and those who care for them. I applaud Mr. Price for his life work, and for having the humor coupled with the heart to bring such a beautiful and enjoyable book to our lives.
I loved this book which flowed like a charm and was a charming story of hope and resilience with a dash of laughter. Also perfect for the classroom.
5 stars Mr. Price!! See more of him and his books at: http://www.charlieprice.com/
Deborah/TheBookishDame
March 8, 2016
The book had a lot of potential that the author doesn't seem to realize was there. The ending feels like a lazy attempt to leave the reader in awe. The overall read was good I finished it fairly fast.
August 23, 2018
This book started out interesting and went downhill from there. Ben was an interesting character at first. Marco started out interestingly enough. Marco's story was the beginning of the end for this book. The book has an ending that comes totally and abruptly out of left field.
August 9, 2008
Science fiction or a psychological study?
July 20, 2011
i liked it the a=ending was very sad i wonder if hell remeber z i want a lizard people 2
Want to read
March 26, 2008Recommended at the March WASHYARG meeting. Love this author!
January 15, 2020
The book was silly at times and unrealistic. Some of the themes and ideas the author attempted to convey were lost in translation so to speak. The author seemed to be trying for a nonlinear plot, but rather ended up with a lack thereof. The reason I don't give it a terribly low rating is that I found the characters, especially Ben relatable and the main theme interesting. I would say that I enjoyed reading it overall because of the aforementioned relatability and interesting main idea of the book. The main theme, though not well conveyed, is interesting enough in theory to make up for its failure in practice.
February 1, 2018
This is a very different approach to the issue of mental illness. I think Charlie treated it with great sensitivity. A fascinating story.
August 25, 2023
Trippy book but not in a good way. Feels like it was made up by a middle schooler in a single breath.
February 10, 2024
how tf does this count as science fiction
April 3, 2013
Mind-boggling, at times moving, but by and large,
Lizard People
is an informative book that offers to its readers a glimpse into the world of mental illness. Although this account did not really hook me like the way fantasy and adventure books capture my imagination and interest, it offered a speck of excitement and thrill—while at the same time challenged my thoughts. Read the full review at Bloodspots’ Harbor.
June 11, 2008
This book had me...I was sucked in, even reading past bedtime (!), and then it took a bad, bad turn. It's the story of a boy whose mom is looney, and he befriends another boy in the same situation while in the waiting room of a nuthouse. Then the friend starts talking about his dreams...involving portals and weird sci-fi, crazy-people talk. (Not calling sci-fi crazy, but it is what it is.) So, it lost me. Dern it.
June 6, 2013
I knew it!
Well, that was my reaction before I finished this book.
It was an okay read for me and I kinda liked it.
Lizard People is about...
psychosis. :)
Ahhh...
It must be pretty tough for someone who has psychosis or have it yourself to deal with it everyday.
I wouldn't want it to happen to me or to people I love. T_T
Well, that was my reaction before I finished this book.
It was an okay read for me and I kinda liked it.
Lizard People is about...
psychosis. :)
Ahhh...
It must be pretty tough for someone who has psychosis or have it yourself to deal with it everyday.
I wouldn't want it to happen to me or to people I love. T_T
March 28, 2011
Not only is Charlie a fantastic writer taking on crucial themes of homelessness, addiction and mental illness, but he's a great guy and friend. Curling up with one of his books is a great way to spend an afternoon...and that's all it take because they're page turners.
May 25, 2011
I actually finished this in a day and it was pretty good. I like that it is about mental illness because that has always intrigued me. It was well written, had a twist and was a fast read which at times is definitely a plus.
Read
October 15, 2014This books had me restless, turning page to page from the front to the back, I never got any sleep (which was okay because I read it in two days), and it had me so confused. But, now that I read it a fourth time, I understand everything fully now.
I recommend this book to everyone.
I recommend this book to everyone.
May 1, 2008
The story was slight and the secondary characters weren't very well developed. The ending was abrupt.
July 21, 2011
The world of mental illness is a hard one to convey, Price does a good job with teenager Ben. Having dealt with it within our family the book was at times painful & pleasurable.
June 21, 2015
It was ok but their was so much shit going on that it was hard to understand and I have to do this book for a book project and i'm afraid i'm going to fail
Read
October 12, 2017Truth
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews