Batcat by Meggie Ramm is a graphic novel for young readers about a creature who is struggling with their identity. They like being a homebody and spending their time alone in their house on Spooky Island. Batcat enjoys eating snacks while watching TV or playing video games.
Everything was going fine until Batcat finds themself haunted by a ghost who doesn’t understand personal boundaries. The ghost is always in Batcat’s way and is eating all of their snacks. Batcat is desperate to get rid of their unwanted visitor so they decide to visit the local Island Witch for assistance.
Batcat has to travel all over Spooky Island to gather the ingredients for the spell. They visit the Cavernous Cave where Batcat asks the resident bats for help to locate the ingredient. The bats tell Batcat that they are too round to be a bat. At the Whispering Cemetery, the resident cats will only help Batcat if they prove that they are a true cat. However, Batcat is neither only a bat or cat and that’s what makes them special, right?
I thought the graphic novel was a cute and fun read. The illustrations were bright and vibrant. The graphic novel is geared towards young readers and has many important life lessons. It teaches children about identity and that they can be anything they want to be. Also, that a person’s identity can be made up of multiple facets. As in the case of Batcat, they are both a cat and a bat. A person doesn’t have to fit into one category perfectly. It illustrates that everyone at some point in their lives is trying to find their place in a community and also struggles with self-acceptance. I think it would be a great gift for any young reader in your life.
