The Academy

The Academy is rife with mentions of lizards, signaling how this novel is written from Leo’s perspective since he loves lizards. The mentions range from Leo’s own lizard, Messi, to the team names for each squad at the Academy summer camp. Leo’s focus on highlighting these creatures shows how excited he is that the Dragons chose to use them and his own sense of homesickness as he thinks about Messi.

First, Leo’s passion for lizards helps in his descriptions of games. When he learns that he’s part of the Iguana squad, he thinks that it’s apt because “iguanas are born center forwards. They lurk around until it’s time to strike, then close in fast and hard” (95). Because Leo views himself as a center forward, this vision of an iguana helps to get him excited about the squad on which he’s been placed. Describing himself in a game, he also uses lizards as a descriptor, commenting, “Something came over me—the lizard inside me reared up and flared its beard—and I didn’t do what everyone expected” (195). Thinking of himself as a lizard during the game gives insight into Leo’s passion for the creatures and the things that he admires about them.

Second, Leo’s affection for his own lizard aides him in trying to process what’s happening, as he would normally talk to Messi about whatever was on his mind. When he hems and haws about skipping dodgeball to go to his night session with Tig and Samantha, Leo thinks, “I thought of my pet lizard, and what he would have said. Messi would think I was stupid for even debating the decision. He would tell me to stop complaining and go get what I wanted. All of it. That’s what a real lizard does” (173). Thinking about Messi, it becomes obvious to Leo that he needs to do everything he can to pursue his goal of making the youth team.