A Boy Called Bat

The Bookworm says... Yes!! A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold wonderfully depicts the life of a young person with special needs, and it's written for those who need it most: young people. Bixby Alexander Tam, nicknamed Bat, lives with his sister and his mom (a veterinarian) and spends every other weekend with his father.When his mother brings home a baby skunk from work, Bat falls in love immediately. As soon as his mom tells him that they only get to keep the skunk for a month, until he's old enough to go to a wild animal shelter, Bat begins to brainstorm ways to keep him forever. Bat knows that the skunk is meant to be his, he just as to convince his mother.

This is exactly the sort of new middle grade that I LOVE to see. Middle Grade readers are at the perfect age to start learning about the world, and there's no better method of learning than a book. Through A Boy Called Bat, readers learn lessons of empathy, kindness, and perseverance; they also learn what it's like to be a child with autism, and to love someone with autism. All of the characters are lovable, but more importantly, they are authentic. The illustrations scattered throughout the novel are adorable and beautifully enhance the mood. I won't be forgetting about Bixby Alexander Tam anytime soon.

"He likes the parts of her that everyone else thinks are weird."

DISCLAIMER: Review is based on an advanced reading copy made from uncorrected proofs. Tentative on-sale date is March 14th, 2017.

The Reason I Jump

The Bookworm says... Yes. The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida leaves me speechless every time I read it. Naoki Higashida was thirteen when he wrote this book, and he was also autistic. He still is. He learned how to communicate using an alphabet grid that included the entire  Japanese hiragana (the most basic alphabet), and the characters for "yes", "no", and "finished". Through this grid, Naoki was able to answer the questions about autism that we have all been asking. Translated into English, Naoki Higashida provides the answers to questions about autism, such as "Why do you jump?", that we have so desperately needed. 

This book helped me understand so many things about my autistic brother that I had been completely clueless to before. If you know any autistic child or adult, please read this book. It helps you understand them on a new level. 

"True compassion is about not bruising the other person's self-respect."