All About Middle Grade [Blog Tour] Review: A Boy Called Bat

I am thrilled to be one of the stops for Elana K. Arnold's A Boy Called Bat- which was such a fantastic, heartwarming read...and you (all of you) just need to read it (lucky you, it comes out tomorrow)!! My thanks to all the awesome people at Walden Pond Press for the chance to read and take part in the blog tour for this book!!

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. She lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals.

You can haunt Elana K. Arnold at-
Website | Twitter | Goodreads |

First Sentence

Bixby Alexander Tam stared into the refrigerator, trying to decide what to eat.

My Thoughts

I fear that there are no words to do A Boy Called Bat justice. It was such a beautiful, heartwarming read; it left me feeling stuffed with such a warm feeling- I don't say that lightly, y'all.

•  A Boy Called Bat, the first of Elana K. Arnold's books that I have ever read. And, it was so beautifully written; full of warmth and joy that left me smiling long after I turned the final page. What started out as me sampling the first page, turned in to me devouring the entire story of Bat and his quest to become the best skunk keeper ever (with the goal of becoming more than a foster caregiver for said skunk). 

• As I mentioned above, this was my first taste of Elana K/ Arnold's writing; and I must say that I would really enjoy more middle grade books from her (hint, hint). Her writing really drew me as she did a wonderful job creating her characters and the setting for the book. There were two things, about the story, that really impressed me above all others. She was able to write about two big things, of which I'll speak on shortly, in a way that did not detract from the story she was telling.  I really loved how she deftly spoke of these two aspects, divorce and Autism, in a way that let them speak for themselves. It was done in a way that will resonate with young readers and with their parents as it'll find them where they are. 

• Even though Bat and his sister Janie bickered, I really liked their sibling dynamic. It was just so, well, natural as siblings do bicker. I also really enjoyed watching Bat blossom throughout the book as his world was opened. 

• Last, but not least, the illustrations. Charles Santoso's illustrations were a very nice addition to the story. They really highlighted some of the best scenes, like when Bat's mom first introduced them to the skunk kit and the beginnings of friendship between Bat and one of his classmates. 

Final Verdict: A Boy Called Bat- If you're looking for a book that will make you smile and just happy, then this is the book for you. Beautifully written and just full of heart (in the best way).

A Bay Called Bat earns

A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Charles Santoso, March 14, 2017. 208 pages. Published by Walden Pond Press. Source: publisher for review.

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.

You can add A Boy Called Bat to your Goodreads shelf, too. 

A copy of this book was received from the publisher in consideration for review. All thoughts are my own.