SOLVED. Juvenile/YA Novel; Chuckwallas, reading, and knights? [s]

[Trisha]

This was a young adult/children's novel I read when I was younger, so I'd estimate it being around ~10 years ago?

I'm also afraid I may be mixing up two books from my memory, so apologies if that causes further confusion.

Things I remember:
- A male protaganist
- A lot of the story revolved around a pet chuckwalla, so I'm assuming the story took place in Southern California.
- I seem to recall some sort of plot point relating to King Arthur or the Once and Future King. I recall the main character systematically reading some book relating to this throughout the novel. Now that I think on it, maybe he had difficulty reading and the book helped spur his interest in learning how to read.
- Some plot point relating to white and black knights?
- Garage meetings? I think the main character may have met a girl and would play pretend King Arthur in their backyard...or something like that.

Some of these may be conjectures. Sorry for the vagueness and thanks in advance if anyone can help me on this one!

[Tab]

Just Call Me Stupid

Here's the description from Publishers Weekly:

Patrick, a fifth-grader living in Arizona with his divorced mother, can barely read. Scant progress is made during sessions with the school's impatient and inept reading teacher, and taunts from the class bully further undermine Patrick's self-esteem. Memories of studying with his now unheard-from father, a quick-tempered alcoholic, are another stumbling block: the man would call his son stupid and once locked him in a closet as punishment. Then the arrival of Celina, a bright, friendly new neighbor and classmate, instills some much-needed confidence in the beleaguered fellow, as do the efforts of his good-hearted teacher, Mrs. Romero, and the boy's belief in his mother's unwavering love.

[Trisha]

Tab wrote: "Just Call Me Stupid

Here's the description from Publishers Weekly:

Patrick, a fifth-grader living in Arizona with his divorced mother, can barely read. Sca..."

That's the one, thanks so much!