Invisible Iguanas of Illinois

American Chillers #6

by Johnathan Rand

Invisible Iguanas of Illinois <> Prebound <> JohnathanRand <> PerfectionLearning

Genres: Childrens, Horror, Middle Grade, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Christopher Wright is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight. Almost all of Wright's books (save American Chillers) take place in his home state of Michigan.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

My home state, Illinois! Michigan, Ohio, Florida, New York, and Texas were the first five American Chillers, and now the narrative thread moves to the Land of Lincoln for a story featuring a peculiar pair of "villains." Eleven-year-old Alyssa Barryton is surprised to find a large iguana not far from her house in Springfield, Illinois. Iggy scared her at first, but Alyssa's parents let her keep him when it becomes apparent no owner is going to claim the lizard. Alyssa makes friends with a kid from school named Stephen Jensen who has two iguanas of his own, and she offers to take care of them at her house while Stephen's family vacations in Wisconsin. Alyssa's ten-year-old brother Ryan agrees to have the iguanas—named Jack and Jill—stay in his bedroom. The problems start when Jack and Jill escape their cage and get into a bag of "invisibility powder" that Ryan ordered from a novelty retailer. Alyssa doesn't believe the powder will work, so she's shocked when Jack and Jill vanish right in front of her...and rapidly increase in size. Stephen won't be happy.

Gigantic iguanas are frightening, all the more so because Alyssa and Ryan can't see them. Their parents scoff at the kids' claim of oversized invisible reptiles, and Alyssa realizes she and her brother will have to set things right by themselves. The troubleshooting hotline for the invisibility powder provides a few facts Alyssa and Ryan didn't know: the powder's effects can be counteracted by baking soda...except with reptiles. The powder causes reptiles to grow to outlandish size as well as turn invisible, and drastic means are required to change them back. By luck, Ryan discovers a way to see Jack and Jill in their invisible state, and he and Alyssa speed around Springfield on their bikes in pursuit of the lizards, hoping to administer the antidote before someone is hurt. Will the iguanas be neutralized before southern Illinois is struck by disaster?

Invisible Iguanas of Illinois is equal to most of Johnathan Rand's Chillers in terms of story pace, but the logic doesn't hold up. Supernatural realism needs a degree of plausibility to anchor its fantastic elements, and Invisible Iguanas of Illinois doesn't come close to that plausibility. It's not boring, though, and the slight variation from usual in the way the next book is led into is noteworthy. Alyssa and Ryan don't meet Jeremy, the main character from Wisconsin Werewolves; they hear about his terrifying experience from Stephen. Invisible Iguanas of Illinois is among the lesser American Chillers, but I might rate it one and a half stars. I enjoyed seeing the series come to the state where I live.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Alyssa offers to pet-sit her friends two iguanas, she has no idea what she's really getting into. The next morning after they arrive at her house, she notices they have escaped their cage. Not only that, but her little brothers invisibility powder is gone! And who knew you were never - NEVER supposed to use invisibility powder on reptiles?

[Andrew Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely better than the last book I read. It would always leave cliffhangers. I was so happy to see the ending it was kind of cheesy like the rest of the book.

This book takes place in Springfield, Illinois. It was cool because a little girl found iguanas in an alley. This was cool because they ended up getting out of there cage and found invisible powder.
. It was crazy one minute you could be walking the next minute there is a iguana running threw your legs.

This book was filled with lots of scary iguanas.There was always iguanas chasing after them and or trying to eat to wear off the powder. If it wasn't her crazy brother. It would be the iguana scaring people.I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good cliffhanging story. You would enjoy this book if you are into cheesy trills.

[Jacob]

I thought this book just was gripping because they explained how Allysa's feelings were when she saw the iguana like ddisapear and turning from a plant eating monster to a visious meat eater. The only thing to change them back was cat food, yes cat food. So allysa had to throw cat food in their mouths before the other people get eaten alive. But Allysa got the cat food in their mouth just in time. They started appearing and shrinking. When i was picturing it in my mind i imagined it like this tye dye green and black iguanna transforming. So now everyone was safe from those visious eating monsters.

[Blyr]

this book is really good if you like igunas. the book that i read is science fiction because a little brother wanted to get invisible powder and the igunas get in side the powder. the igunaturned invisible while the cage was open. so when the kids where looking for the iguna. so they thought about the invisible powder that the little brother order. then they got the magazine and found the phone number and called them and they told them to get. read on if you want to find out.

[Roxann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my students. I was using parts of it for them to try visualizing. I found the book enjoyable. My students were laughing at the girl in the book. She over reacted to the first iguana. My students even drew pictures of the iguana on top of her. It was a fun read for all.

[Black Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of all time. POSITIVLEY 5 stars!

[Rachel P]

looks weird

[Joe Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was prettey good

[Fluffyrose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Um first of all wats so scarry about disappearing lizzards? Iguanas, whatever!

[Max Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the girl that narrated this book. She mentions the same hotel we stayed at in the last chapter. But what I really want to talk abouy was my experience at the hotel. It was a hellish summer for the crew and bed sheets were getting stained and torn. They were super busy, and didn't have enough time to clean up everything. I walked by the laundry office as the manager was telling the bed makers to just hide and cover up the stains when making the beds. So I realized that everyone in the hotel, including myself...was sleeping in shit.

Later that night, when i got into bed, i pulled the blanket up and sure enough, by my feet was a giant shit stain.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly scary story appropriate for elementary school. Magic invisibility powder turns two iguanas invisible and things only get worse from there. Will Ryan and Alyssa find them before they terrorize Springfield, Illinois?

[Chris Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this for a book project in 6th grade

[Kenneth BLANCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not saying that this is a bad book... but its not scary... but it is good!

[S Samhouri]

Alyssa was one day wandering of when she saw an iguana she was afraid at first but then se thought iguana don't live in Illinois. they are just pets since they are not found in Illinois. she asked her parents if she could keep it, her parents said only until she found the owner, but she never found the owner.one day at school she met a friend who has two iguanas and he was going on vacation so he asked if Alyssa wouldn't mind to watch his pets. when she took them home, she realized that the iguanas don't want to be in the same room together so she put them in his brothers room. her brother bought some invisible powder from the back of a comic book. when they left the room she realized that the iguanas are gone and so is the powder. the iguanas grow bigger and bigger and they try to return it to normal size. they fed both of them cat food and they turned back to normal.

I think the book was okay, and I also really liked the way the author describes the way Alyssa feels when she is trying to get the iguana that o normal size. I think its an okay book, but it could have used some more action. So overall I think most people would like this book because it is so detailed.

[Jaden White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "The Iguanas Of Illinois" was a good book. Although it did not give you the chills like in the series title. American Chillers is the name of the series. The book was good and interesting.

In the book Alyssa took her friends iguanas to watch over them. While her little brother accidentally left invisibility powder on his bed. The iguanas got out and ate. They turned invisible and 10 times their regular size. They have to find away to stop them. They can only see the iguanas out of 3-D glasses.

I liked the book and recommend in to others if they like the series American Chillers or if they like reptiles.

[Pj Santantonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about a girl named Alyssa Barryton and her younger brother Ryan trying to take care of Alyssa's friends Iguanas. At the same time her brother buys invisibility powder and some how the iguanas get to the powder and it goes down hill from there.
I loved this book. through out the entire book was filled with action and adventure. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes American Chillers and likes action and adventure books.
I would rate this book and 4 star because the book was absolutely insane

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

American chillers
by: Johnathan Rand
I have read many american chillers books but so far the invisible iguanas of Illinois was the best. It was a very interesting book that had a strange resolve for its problem. Another masterpiece by Johnathan in my opinion.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I promised a student I would read this book during my weekend trip to a wedding. I can certainly see why he enjoys the American Chillers books! They're full of action, endless cliff-hangers and slightly creepy concepts. Was this the best written book I've ever read? No. But I will say that I love this series for how it draws students into reading and I definitely understand the appeal now.

[Eloisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wounder how is it feel having a super power or even you pet to have super power ? Well this girl and her brother will experince what the felling is. This book is full of adventure and action and of you read it you might get the chills. I would recommend this book to any kid of readers out their in the world. So if you are going to read the book I hope you will enjoy it.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a good book gives you the chills i especially like when they have to hide in the closet and they hear the scratching on the door and the lizard grabs her arm. and pulls her out that was freaky.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was verry disipointed in this book because, why would you be scared of an invisible iguana if you can't even see wht it looks like? I dont think you should read this.

[Erikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT BOOK.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was very good for my first American chillers book

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good I liked it when they could see the iguanas with 3-d movie glasses.

[Jacey Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUST read!

[Cindy Monroe]

that they should read it to you

[Adyssen]

This book was awesome with a capital A

[Jaylyn Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

it wasnt the best but it was awesome.

[Gina Hedge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this book because the two children were so worried if they didn't know we're the iguanas were.