purplepenning's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A lovely character story about a neurodiverse third grader who loves animals, learns to be a great caretaker of an orphaned baby skunk, and grows his social skills around caring family and friends.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
livshepard5's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sjmbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
suzannedix's review against another edition
3.0
A character driven story about a boy nicknamed Bat who in on the spectrum. Bat becomes consumed with care taking (in fact wanting to be the “best caretaker”) a baby skunk whose mother was run over by a car.
I read this in a day at the beach and my eleven year old niece kept asking me “what’s going on in your story now?” She was completely miffed that an entire book could be about so little. Frankly, so was I.
Grades 3 and up. Includes some illustrations and larger font.
I read this in a day at the beach and my eleven year old niece kept asking me “what’s going on in your story now?” She was completely miffed that an entire book could be about so little. Frankly, so was I.
Grades 3 and up. Includes some illustrations and larger font.
thepaperreels's review against another edition
3.0
for more reviews and an excerpt from this book, please visit Her Book Thoughts!
When I read the blurb of ABCB, I instantly remembered my younger brother and I need to admit that its one of the reason why I want to read and review Elana's book. Not only that, I'm an animal lover myself and even though Bat is way younger than me, it was not hard to feel for him while reading. But don't let Bat's age hinder you from reading ABCB. This book is genuine and very easy to read. That's what I like the most. Arnolds writing was not hard to get in to and Bat's story will make you care.
I also recommend A Boy Called Bat for young readers who are looking for their first read. I would want my kids to read this someday so that they'll have their introduction to authentic and diverse characters plus well written plot. This book is not only full of adorableness but full of heart as well. I'm looking forward to more Elana Arnold book no matter what age group she's writing it for!
When I read the blurb of ABCB, I instantly remembered my younger brother and I need to admit that its one of the reason why I want to read and review Elana's book. Not only that, I'm an animal lover myself and even though Bat is way younger than me, it was not hard to feel for him while reading. But don't let Bat's age hinder you from reading ABCB. This book is genuine and very easy to read. That's what I like the most. Arnolds writing was not hard to get in to and Bat's story will make you care.
I also recommend A Boy Called Bat for young readers who are looking for their first read. I would want my kids to read this someday so that they'll have their introduction to authentic and diverse characters plus well written plot. This book is not only full of adorableness but full of heart as well. I'm looking forward to more Elana Arnold book no matter what age group she's writing it for!
snazel's review against another edition
5.0
Really well done story about an autistic boy. We've got supportive family and teachers, a main character who isn't punished or mocked by the narrative for doing things differently, an acknowledgement that it can be difficult for people to communicate with someone who's mind works differently, and it isn't ABOUT autism. It's just a story about discovering what you want and proving you can go after it, about working things out with family and making friends.
On a personal note, it was pretty painful to read the first probably third of the book, as I kept cringing at how oblivious the main character was to social cues. He isn't botching cues, he's missing them entirely. And then I remembered how aware I was of subtext at that age, and realized "oh man that's pretty close to me". I've really worked hard to be aware of subtext and the things that are hinted at, and that can sometimes translate into me screaming at myself internally about all the things that are going wrong, sure that everyone will be mad at me if I mess it up. But that didn't happen in this book. He "messed things up" under my metric, and things worked out. That was remarkably soothing.
PLUS THE EYE CONTACT THING. So a classic victory condition of books about autistic characters is that they learn to make eye contact. They learn to make real human connection through eye contact. And in this book, not only is Bat not punished for not being into eye contact, he tries it out with a new friend and decides it isn't for him. His friend's eyes are nice to look at, but he's not reading anything special from them, in terms of learning who the person is or making "real human connection". Instead he looks at his friend's hands and how he uses them, and learns from that. That is a.) far more accurate to how I read people's character and moods than their eyes, b.) something I have never seen in a book before. The acknowledgement that the magic eye contact "read a person's soul in their eyes" doesn't work for you, BUT that doesn't mean that you can't read a person's soul through other means. That was pretty awesome.
PLUS THE EYE CONTACT THING. So a classic victory condition of books about autistic characters is that they learn to make eye contact. They learn to make real human connection through eye contact. And in this book, not only is Bat not punished for not being into eye contact, he tries it out with a new friend and decides it isn't for him. His friend's eyes are nice to look at, but he's not reading anything special from them, in terms of learning who the person is or making "real human connection". Instead he looks at his friend's hands and how he uses them, and learns from that. That is a.) far more accurate to how I read people's character and moods than their eyes, b.) something I have never seen in a book before. The acknowledgement that the magic eye contact "read a person's soul in their eyes" doesn't work for you, BUT that doesn't mean that you can't read a person's soul through other means. That was pretty awesome.
gabieowleyess's review against another edition
3.0
My third book for battle of the books! I think this one is cute. It’s a great representation for kids in the spectrum. I’m excited to add it to my classroom library.
mixtercharlie's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the best books with an autistic character that I've read! The fact that Bat is autistic is never explicitly mentioned which worked very well. It doesn't focused on his symptoms or his lack of friends, or therapy, his quirks and experiences are all just a part of the story and a part of him. The book is a fun, well-written read that I wish I'd had as a 3rd/4th grader. #actuallyautstic
lahars_little_library's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I loved BAT! This book ended too soon!
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed Arnold's upcoming book. I think it will be a hit with young readers, especially those who have a soft spot for animals.
I like that this book includes some diversity with the main character coming from a divorced family and is most likely on the autism spectrum, without the book being about that.
I like that this book includes some diversity with the main character coming from a divorced family and is most likely on the autism spectrum, without the book being about that.