Bat and the Case of the Yips

Bat #5

by Elana K. Arnold

The fifth installment in the Schneider Award Honor-winning young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum, from National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold.

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed “Bat”), nothing is more important than Thor, his pet skunk. Especially not baseball, even though it’s the favorite sport of his dad and his best friend, Israel. And when baseball season arrives and Israel wants Bat to join a team with him, Bat’s dad makes him a deal: If Bat plays baseball this year, Dad will let him bring Thor to his apartment when Bat stays with him. It’s an offer that Bat can’t refuse.

Before long, Bat discovers that being a part of a team requires more than he’d bargained for. But he can’t quit the team without giving up time with Thor or letting Israel down….can he?

Genres: Middle Grade, Baseball, Contemporary

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 2026

About the author

ELANA K. ARNOLD writes books for and about children and teens. She holds a master’s degree in Creative Writing/Fiction from the University of California, Davis where she has taught Creative Writing and Adolescent Literature. Her most recent YA novel, DAMSEL, is a Printz Honor book, Her 2017 novel, WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF, was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her middle grade novel, A BOY CALLED BAT, is a Junior Library Guild Selection. A parent and educator living in Huntington Beach, California, Elana is a frequent speaker at schools, libraries, and writers’ conferences. Currently, Elana is the caretaker of seven pets, only three of which have fur. Sign up for her newsletter here: https://elanakarnold.us10.list-manage...

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Relatable and learnable lessons and fun. It was a very good book. Yes, it was. I really liked it!. Yes!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bat and his dad start to understand each other!! 💙

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an audiobook of this title. The narration was excellent.

“Bat and the Case of the Yips” by Elana K. Arnold is a delightful middle grade book, the fifth in its series. I have read the first title in the series, but not the subsequent titles. Readers do not have to read the first four titles to enjoy this book, but I do think reading the first book in the series gives good insight into the main character and his beloved pet skunk Thor.

In this installment, Bat joins the baseball team at the urging of his best friend and his dad. Although he is a skilled player, he does not initially enjoy the sport and tries to find a way out of playing. He decides to pretend to have “the yips”, a sudden inability to play well, usually attributed to anxiety or other psychological factors. Will Bat leave the team because of the pretend yips, or will he find his way forward with honesty? Read it to find out!

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5️⃣ in the Bat early middle grade series.
⚾️
Bat (short for Bixby Alexander Tam) loves many things, but nothing matters more to him than Thor, his pet skunk. When his dad makes a deal that Bat will be allowed to bring Thor to his apartment on his weekends with him if Bat joins a baseball team, Bat reluctantly agrees, even though baseball isn’t his thing. As the season unfolds, Bat learns that being part of a team means balancing friendships, commitments, and the things he loves most.
🦨
I honestly hope this series never ends. There’s something about Bat’s character that I just can’t get enough of: his voice, the way he sees the world, and how deeply he cares about the things and people around him. Reading these books over the years has genuinely helped me think about neurodiversity in new and more thoughtful ways. Bat is such a special character, and every new installment feels like spending time with an old friend. This title releases March 24!

CW: bullying

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bat and his father strike a bargain early in this story. Bat will play baseball, and his dad will allow his pet skunk to come with him on the weekends he has custody. Readers see how Bat processes life when he really doesn't want to do something, and how he learns that his actions have a distinct effect on others. The focus was more on other characters in this fifth book. It will be interesting to see how Arnold develops their stories in future books.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bat and the Case of the Yips: four stars! Bat continues to be an engaging character, and it's interesting to explore more about his relationships with his divorced parents. There were a few plot elements that I felt weren't quite satisfactorily resolved, but I did think the reveal about Bat's dad at the end was very well-done.

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Least favorite so far of the Bat books, and my son’s least favorite as well. It focused too much on baseball when it felt like Bat’s interests were already well established. It didn’t feel true to the character.

[Tweller83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bat and his family and friends are great characters. I love this series and I think younger elementary students would as well. In this one, Bat learns a little about being a on a team and a little more about his Dad. Loved it. More like a 4.5 out of 5 rounded up on GR. Would highly recommend.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great middle grade book featuring Bat, a young autistic boy who loves his pet skunk. In this book Bat starts spending weekends with his dad and becomes the star of his baseball team. The pressure of being good though makes Bat pretend to have a case of the yips. Heartfelt, funny and so relatable. The #ownvoices autism rep is so well written, from stims, sensory issues and more. I especially liked that in this book Bat's father has recently realized he is autistic too! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. This was book 5 in the series but could easily be read as a standalone.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad that Bat and his dad are finally starting to understand each other.

[Roxana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another deeply moving sweet Bat book! Bixby Alexander Tam forever 💚

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bk in the Bat series abt Bat joining the baseball team bc his dad & best friend want him too. He’s good but decides to pretend to get the yips. Why?

[Joan M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bat, a neurodivergent boy, finds his life difficult with his father expects him to join his baseball team. A heart warming story that shows the worth of each person.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Aryssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. 25 stars.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bixby Alexander Tam, known as Bat, loves animals. Nothing is more important than looking after Thor, his pet skunk! So when his dad offers him a deal—join the youth baseball team and he can bring Thor along when he spends weekends at his dad’s apartment—Bat enthusiastically agrees. It turns out that Bat is good at baseball, but that’s not enough to gain his interest. Even the excitement of his best friend, Israel, can’t make baseball fun. So Bat comes up with a plan to get what he wants: he’ll get the “Yips” (the inability to play well) and get booted off the team. But playing poorly on purpose is hard—and that’s without getting into the guilt he feels for letting down his teammates. Can Bat find a solution that will suit everyone?

Although it is the 5th in the BAT series, Bat and the Case of the Yips can stand alone; characters and their relationships will be enriched by knowledge of prior volumes, but everything the reader needs to understand 95% of the story is included in its first few chapters: Bat’s straightforward way of speaking and thinking; his strong love of animals and routines; his sensory issues; and his complicated-but-loving relationships with his family members and friends. He reads as a real autistic kid as opposed to a caricature—unsurprising when you remember that Bat and the Business of Ferrets was a Schneider Family Award Honor Book.

Speaking of family, Bat and his dad’s relationship also feels very real. Although it initially looks as though Bat’s dad just doesn’t care about Bat’s likes and dislikes, the audience—and the characters—learn towards the end that Bat’s dad is autistic too. Just like animals are Bat’s special interest, baseball is his dad’s. He wanted Bat to play so he could share it with him. He promises Bat that he’ll try to do better going forward, and Bat tells his dad that he wants to stay on the team.

A subplot features Ezra, an older boy who used to be friends with Bat's sister before they had a falling out. He’s the assistant kid coach for Bat’s baseball team, but he hasn’t always been nice to Bat in the past. Readers will be able to tell that something is going on with Ezra’s home life, but what that issue is remains unclear, as does the reason behind Ezra and his sister’s friendship breakup. Perhaps there are more breadcrumbs in previous books and/or these topics will come to the fore in a later addition to the series.

A sweet, simple story that will ring true to neurodivergent and neurotypical kids alike.

Recommended for purchase for ages 6-9, particularly where other volumes in the series circulate well.

Diversity Note: Bat is autistic, and reads as Asian or White. His parents are divorced with split custody. Characters have a variety of skin tones in the illustrations.


Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy via the Southern Ohio Young Adult Media Group.