Bixby Alexander Tam aka Bat

Bixby Alexander Tam, most commonly called Bat, is a third-grader who is on the autism spectrum. He does not like getting wet or having stains on his clothes. His hearing is sensitive, so he sometimes wears earmuffs to muffle the sound. He likes when things follow a pattern. He does not like working on group projects. Bat does not like to make eye contact and often has trouble interpreting facial expressions. He has trouble making conversation because he views the world in a very literal way. Bat sometimes hurts people’s feelings without intending to do so because he thinks literally instead of emotionally. Bat likes to braid his sister’s hair because it is a way that he can do something for her without having to try to make conversation, which usually ends in an argument.

Despite Bat’s limitations, he is very...