Author:
Haddon, Mark
Title:
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Publisher & Date:
Double Day, 2003
Recommended Age Range:
14-adult
Plot summary:
The unlikely hero of this bittersweet and compelling novel is 15-year-old autistic math genius Christopher Boone. The novel begins with Christopher’s discovery of the neighbor’s dog, dead on the lawn. Christopher decides that he is going to solve the mystery, just like his favorite character, Sherlock Holmes. In attempting to solve the mystery, however, he discovers a complex and often confusing world of human emotion and relationships, which he must try to interpret through his unique view. Far from being a victim, the reader sees how Christopher overcomes his fears to solve this mystery and also comes to a fuller understanding of the relationships between his parents and his neighbors.
Reader appeal:
This book would appeal to fans of psychology, Sherlock Holmes, unlikely heroes, unusual characters, and stories about overcoming obstacles.
Literary merit:
The writing in this novel was amazing. It clearly illustrates Christopher’s interpretation of the world so that as a reader you come to understand that while he is bad at interpreting and expressing emotion in others, he feels altogether too much. He is so sensitive to the particulars of the world, in fact, that he must devise patterns and consistencies of his own in order to deal with what he sees is utter chaos.
