This was so cute and sweet. Bat is really precious, and the representation of him as an autistic character just felt tremendously thoughtful to me. I don't know if I feel comfortable calling myself an own-voice reviewer for this story because I don't know if I am or not. I was a kid in a time and an area where autism diagnoses weren't handed out except for in certain very specific situations, and then I just never thought about it much until I reached adulthood. Now, at 27, I talk to autistic friends and I read articles and tweet threads about life as an autistic person and I'm amazed by how strongly I relate to them... but I don't have a diagnosis, and I don't know how to ask for one at this age, honestly. So take this with however large a grain of salt you deem necessary when I say that I saw a lot of myself in Bat, and it made me realize we really, really need more autistic main characters painted in a loving and positive light like this, because I would've felt much less alone as a child if I'd had this story.

Rambling aside, A Boy Called Bat is also a really humorous, light, sweet story about a little boy and his baby skunk, and I had so much fun reading it. I know I'll be recommending it to anyone and everyone who will listen.