Night of the Bat [Paperback]

Paul Zindel (Author), HPFC (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2003 | Grade Level: 5 and up

When Indian workers begin to disappear from an expedition into the Amazon, fifteen-year-old Jake fears that his father, a bat biologist, is in great danger. Against his dad's wishes, Jake flies to Brazil and joins his father's research team, working high in the canopy of a remote stretch of the rain forest. Unfortunately, Jake's first climb up the rope bridges and suspended walkways of the dense forest leads him to discover the mutilated bodies of the missing Indians-and triggers a terrifying, explosive attack by an unknown winged beast. For a while the biologists and workers hunt the savage beast, but when Jake's father is attacked, it becomes clear that the hunters are now the hunted. Jake realizes that it is up to him to find some way of stopping the nightmarish creature before it returns to slaughter the rest of the expedition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cut from the same cloth as Zindel's previous horror stories (Reef of Death; Rats), this novel has yet another scientific-minded teen matching wits with a mutated beast. Here, a gigantic bat terrorizes the research team of Jake's father, Dr. Lefkovitz. The author once again presents the monster's reign of terror in graphic details ("The creature that held him was convulsing, the whole of its body shaking, vomiting fluids directly into his throat and mouth"). This time, however, he devotes less attention to developing characterizations and theme. The motive of 15-year-old Jake, a reformed prankster joining his father's team in the Amazon, is to gain his father's respect ("On this trip, Jake was determined to prove himself to his dad, who thought Jake couldn't take anything seriously"). Meanwhile, Dr. Lefkovitz, stereotyped as a scientist totally absorbed in his work, has little faith that his son can cut the mustard. When the gigantic bat terrorizes their campsite, killing and maiming several men, Dr. Lefkovitz is determined to capture the monster alive. After his attempts fail, Jake predictably gets his chance to save the day. The narrative sacrifices substance in favor of gore; but while the book offers few surprises, there is plenty of excitement to satiate readers who crave a thrill on every page. Ages 10-14.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Gr 6-10-When 15-year-old Jake goes to visit his father, a bat biologist working in the Amazon, he hopes for a bit of adventure and perhaps a chance to prove himself. However, the trip takes a terrifying turn when he discovers that the creature responsible for the disappearances of the expedition's workers is a giant bat. As the bloodthirsty creature repeatedly attacks the camp and cuts off the only hope of escape, it falls to Jake to fight it. Everything else takes a backseat to action in this story. The "man shouldn't meddle with nature" theme is articulated frequently throughout, but never really explored. While most of the characters are fairly stock (the aloof scientist father, the wise and noble shaman, etc.), readers will identify with Jake, an independent, though frustrated teenager. His relationship with his father is thinly drawn and unconvincing. It adds little tension and weighs down an otherwise dynamic story. However, the suspense is tight and this fast-paced, gory tale will keep the most reluctant of readers on the edge of their seats. Fans of Zindel's other horror novels and readers just looking for a good scare will be satisfied.

Heather Dieffenbach, Lexington Public Library, KY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (August 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786812265
• ISBN-13: 978-0786812264
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,648,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Night of the Bat, November 19, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Night of the Bat (Hardcover)

I really liked the book because it was gorey, scary, and etcitiny at the same time. It told lot's of good detail that helpp to get a clear picture. It was clear were I could under stand it all.

The best part of the book I thought was when the giant bat came down from the sky and grabed one of the workers. The giant bat ripped the workers neck open blood went all over. The canupe spelit off in to the river.

The auther had a good plot. Like when the auther gave all the details Like when the giant bat kiiled the guy and the crabs were eating him. He also did good on the setting on how they were in the jungle. It was hot and moist.

3.0 out of 5 stars Average, Okay Book, June 30, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Night of the Bat (Hardcover)

Plot: 15-year-old Jake Lefkovitz travels to the Amazon, where his father (a bat biologist) and his research team are on an expedition. Two of Dr. Lefkovitz's workers are missing. As it turns out, the two workers were mutilated by a giant bat. Jake, Dr. Lefkovitz, and the workers must find a way to stop the bat.

This was an okay book, but it wasn't the best I've ever read. First off, there's a small subplot about Jake and his father not being very aquainted, and Jake trying to earn his father's trust. I think Paul Zindel just used that for padding. Second, with all due respect, Zindel doesn't put much detail into the book, especially when describing the traps the characters create to capture the bat.

Also, this book is heavy, though not extreme, on blood and gore. There is a total of six deaths in this book, and only one is not causes directly by the bat (i.e., a man falls down a waterfall). All the other deaths are very violent. The descriptions of the two mutilated workers is enough to make someone quesy. Also in the book: the bat bites a man around the neck, and later does the same thing, tearing the head off; the bat sinks its fangs into a man's eyes and sucks his brains out; and the bat guts (rips open) a man and tears his upper body apart. So I think anyone who's good with Friday the 13th and some of the later Halloween films shouldn't be too grossed out by this book. I'd say if this book were to be made into a movie, it would most likely be R just for the graphic bat attacks.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Predictable Horror Story, June 9, 2007

By 

A. Luciano (Lowell, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night of the Bat (Paperback)

Jake's father has never wanted to bring him along on any of his scientific expeditions. He thinks Jake is too immature and silly to be of any help in these adventures. Jake is now in high school and desperate for his father's approval. He is unhappy that his father hasn't noticed that he has changed and is a more grown-up person now.

Now Jake's father is off in the Amazon gathering specimens of bats. Jake has read a great deal about bats and even did a science fair project on a device that would allow him to use echolocation like bats do. During his school vacation Jake travels to his father's work site to try again to help and to convince his father to come home.

Things are no different between Jake and his father when Jake first arrives. His father expects him to be the same kid he has always been, and is not interested in having him there, despite Jake's insistence that he can help. But then something starts stalking and killing the men in the camp, and it seems as though Jake's science fair project may come in useful after all.

I liked the scientific information about bats in this story, and I liked the relationship between Jake and his father; it seemed like a typical father-son relationship. The rest of the story, though, was pretty predictable, and the ending showdown wasn't very believable.