Bat and the End of Everything by Elana K. Arnold Series: A Boy Called Bat #3
Published by Walden Pond Press on March 26, 2019
Pages: 192
Goodreads
Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat) has been the caretaker for Thor, the best skunk kit in the world... but the last day of third grade is quickly approaching, and Thor is almost ready to be released into the wild.
The end of school also means that Bat has to say good-bye to his favorite teacher, and he worries about the summer care of Babycakes, their adorable class pet. Not only that, but his best friend is leaving for a long vacation in Canada.
Summer promises good things, too, like working with his mom at the vet clinic and hanging out with his sister, Janie. But Bat can’t help but feel that everything is coming to an end.
National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold returns with the third story starring an unforgettable boy on the autism spectrum.
In the last book about Bat, he is going through a lot of changes in his life – thinking about saying goodbye to Thor and releasing him in the wild, having his friend gone for the summer, and saying goodbye to his third grade teacher. For a kid with autism, he knows his strategies and tries his best, but sometimes he just does the wrong thing at the wrong time: like sneaking Thor into his sister Janie’s play and ending up with Thor spraying the crowd and ruining the show. He also does not realize when he is saying something that hurts their feelings, since he just says what he thinks without holding back some times. Such as when he is with his dad, which throws off his routine and sometimes makes it difficult for Bat.
There’s a strong mix of topics in this book – living with autism, loss, divorce, friendship, feelings and diversity. Bat is adorable and you feel for him and those around him as they struggle to make every day life doable and drama free. I love the relationship Bat has with Thor and how calming they are together. Janie really shines in this book, as trying to be the best sister she can be for Bat, even when what he says and does frustrates her. Overall, I do feel like this is best case scenarios for autistic kids and I see many more frustrations in my own students at my school and in rougher home situations. I wish a life like this for them, where they having a caring family and ways to cope with every day difficulties.
Verdict: A beautiful end to a series and how autism can be managed with the help of family, friends and teachers and how a child with autism can flourish.
About the Author
Elana K. Arnold grew up in Southern California, where she was lucky enough to have her own perfect pet—a gorgeous mare named Rainbow—and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She is the author of picture books, middle grade novels, and books for teens, including Damsel a Michael Prinz Honor Book, and What Girls are Made of, a finalist for the National Book Award. She lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at www.elanakarnold.com
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