Jello Boy Sheds His Skin by Steve Fuller

As Cuba and the United States argue over the fate of young refugee Elian Gonzalez, Lemonjello (le-MON-zhello) contends with the loss of his mother, his father's disturbed behavior, the tyranny of "Atilla the Hun" and his weird name. Support comes from unexpected sources, including Mazola the corn snake and "the tallest, biggest, meanest looking seventh grader anyone had ever seen." While Lemonjello's maturing nature leads him to enjoy visits to the local Retile Expo, he worries about his father's plan for Mazola and Elian the mouse. This story contains many references to snakes and other herps. It is written for twelve-year old boys and anyone who still remembers.