A Boy Called Bat

A Boy Called Bat, published in 2017, is a realistic fiction novel for young readers. It was written by Elana K. Arnold and illustrated by Charles Santoso. Arnold is a notable author of children’s and teen’s books, as well as books that depict children and teenagers. She has won multiple literary awards, including the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, and A Boy Called Bat was selected as the 2018 Global Read Aloud. A Boy Called Bat follows Bat, an elementary-aged boy who is on the autism spectrum. Bat, who lives with his mother, Valerie, and older sister, Janie, is elated when his mother brings home an orphaned newborn skunk kit. The kit, Thor, is supposed to stay for a month before going to a rescue organization, but Bat works hard to change his mother’s mind. Through taking care of Thor, Bat learns how to relate better to his family, and makes his first friend. A Boy Called Bat is the first book in a trilogy. Each of the books revolves around the relationship between Bat and Thor, and, in the end, Bat is able to keep his beloved skunk.