OXBOW ISLAND GANG: SUMMER BATS

In Chalmers’ middle-grade novel, a boy discovers the wonders of bats—and friendship—while visiting his grandmother on a rural island in Maine.

Bear Houtman is on his way to visit his grandmother on Oxbow Island, Maine, when the ferry he’s riding gets caught in a storm. While sheltering at nearby Great Claw Island, he and his friend, Olivia Anaya, meet Sojourner “Sojo” Truth Yeats, who lives a solitary existence on the island now that the rest of the year-round residents have moved away (summer vacationers had bought up the houses), spending her time painting pictures of her beloved bats and other wildlife. Bear’s initial fears that bats “suck your blood and can give you rabies” are soon assuaged when Sojo shares some fascinating bat facts, like their ability to eat over 1,000 insects per night. Bear and Olivia soon learn that the bat population has become endangered on Oxbow Island due to light pollution and increasing numbers of visitors. While brainstorming ideas to help them, Bear points out a giant obstacle: “But nobody wants to protect something they’re afraid of. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who ever thought bats were scary.” In the midst of this bat conundrum, Bear struggles to deal with the failing health of his grandmother’s beloved elderly neighbor, Mrs. Frost. While the bat storyline is engaging in and of itself, it’s Bear’s experience with Mrs. Frost that lends the book real emotional depth: “‘I think,’ Bear said, ‘I think [Mrs Frost] wants us to say it’s okay. It’s okay for her…’ He didn’t know what word to use. ‘To leave.’ It sounded strange when he said it, but it felt true.” Occasional black and white illustrations by Hogan, including hand-drawn maps of the Oxbow Island neighborhood, provide visual context for the story. With its naturalistic dialogue and simple prose, this book is an ideal selection for younger readers who enjoy some science facts included alongside their adventures.

A sweet, educational story about protecting nature, overcoming fears, and friendship.