MultiCultural

Haddon, Mark. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. New York: Vintage Books, 2004. Kindle edition. ISBN: 9781400032716. US $11.99. 226pgs.

Awards

2004- Alex Award

2004- Boeke Prize

Annotation

Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old autistic boy that tests his social inadequacies as he tries to clear his name by finding out how his neighbor’s dog died. Written from the perspective of an autistic boy, this book provides a window into “the autistic world” and has a touch of ironic humor that will pull readers in. Recommended.

Book Talk

Christopher Boone is a fifteen year old autistic boy who loves math and solving puzzles. When he is accused of killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out, just like his favorite detective Sherlock Holmes, to find out who committed the crime. The investigation will lead him to find out more about his social inadequacies and the secrets about his parents’ marriage. As he narrates the story, his ironic humor and at face interpretations open the reader’s eyes to his world:


This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them. Here is a joke, as an example. It is one of Father’s .His face was drawn but the curtains are real. I know why this is meant to be funny. I asked. It is because drawn has three meanings, and they are (1) drawn with a pencil, (2) exhausted, and (3) pulled across a window and meaning 1 refers to both the face and the curtains, meaning 2 refers only to the face, and meaning 3 refers only to the curtains.


Christopher Boone writes down his investigations creating an illustrated book entitled The Curious Incident of the dog in the Night-time. Christopher’s journey through the investigation leads into the world of his logic and reasoning and his struggle to find his place in such a social world.

The author, Mark Haddon, talks about his source of inspiration for this creative novel...