Bat and the Waiting Game
By Joly Herman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Story of boy on the spectrum explores feelings, challenges.
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What's the Story?
BAT AND THE WAITING GAME is the second book in this series about an animal-loving boy on the autism spectrum. Bixby Alexander Tam, known as Bat, has a mom who's a veterinarian, and she allows Bat to keep the skunk kit she rescued in A Boy Called Bat. Bat's world revolves around caring for his baby skunk. But there are things that get in the way -- like school, his sister and her friends, every other weekend at his dad's house, and even his own budding friendship with a classmate. Bat's patience is tried, and that's not easy for a kid on the spectrum who focuses so well on the thing he wants the most! Waiting might be difficult for Bat, but he has a chance to rise to the new challenges he faces in this story.
Is It Any Good?
This loving and realistic portrayal of a kid who loves skunks explores the emotional complexities of life on the autism spectrum. Whereas A Boy Called Bat focused on the skunk kit that Bat's family had taken in, Bat and the Waiting Game gives the emotions that Bat has about his skunk a starring role. Because it's written from Bat's perspective, readers can understand what makes him tick. Apologies don't make sense to Bat -- so why waste breath on them? Looking people in the eyes is uncomfortable, which is why Bat avoids eye contact. Maintaining a friendship after an emotional outburst is really hard, but Bat tries his best to move forward.
Kids who have friends on the spectrum -- or who struggle with Bat's challenges themselves -- will find a flawed and lovable hero in Bat. Author Elana K. Arnold gives voice to a misunderstood population, and it's about time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the emotions explored in Bat and the Waiting Game. Bat is different from other kids, and he has a hard time apologizing for his actions, for example. What books, movies, or TV shows deal with kids' feelings in a way that seems real to you?
Bat's parents are divorced and he has to adjust to life with two single parents. Are there positives to this situation? How does Bat handle the divorce differently than his sister?
There are a few instances when Bat breaks the rules in Bat and the Waiting Game. He has perfectly good reasons for doing so. Do you agree with his choices? Are there other books or shows that you like where kids break rules? What are appropriate consequences for rule breaking?
Book Details
- Author: Elana K. Arnold
- Illustrator: Charles Santoso
- Genre: Family Life
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Walden Pond Press
- Publication date: July 2, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 6 - 18
- Number of pages: 192
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: February 11, 2020
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Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Children's Books About Animals
Books with Characters on the Autism Spectrum
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