For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter.
But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.
Review:
A Boy Called Bat is a book for readers from 6-10 about a young boy who wants to adopt a skunk. What makes this story a little different is that Bat is on the autism spectrum, so reading his character is very different than reading others. Bat is very literal and likes facts, he does not like when things are not the way he prefers them, and he sometimes makes blunders of social interactions. But this story is about him growing and learning more about himself and other people.
The story follows Bat as his mother, a vet, brings home an orphaned skunk kit and tells him that they have to help raise it for a little while. Bat grows very attached to the kit and would like to be its caretaker so throughout the story he is trying to figure out how to be with it all the time and convince his mom to keep it.
This was a very cute story, and at first I didn’t realize that Bat was on the spectrum, sadly I just thought he was being very rude, but as I read it became more clear and I was more understanding of his misunderstandings. It is a very cleaver way to introduce young readers to different diverse main characters and I think that young readers and parents will enjoy the lessons in the book. However, I also think a lot of kids will be asking for pets… I think if they are as determined and resourceful as Bat, they should be given a chance. Overall I very much enjoyed this read.
About the Author
ELANA K. ARNOLD completed her M.A. in Creative Writing/Fiction at the University of California, Davis. She grew up in Southern California, where she was lucky enough to have her own horse--a gorgeous mare named Rainbow--and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. She is represented by Rubin Pfeffer of Rubin Pfeffer Content.
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5 Winners will receive a Copy of A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
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