Reviewed by Monique Prince, Undergraduate Services Librarian
I love books with fun titles. It sounds very impressive (in my librarian's mind) to drop fun-titled books into conversations about reading. The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time is one of those books, and what is even better is that the plot is as quirky as the title. It's quick and light, but educational at the same time, as it is the first book I've read or heard of that was written from the perspective of an autistic child. Fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism characterized by obsessive interests (in Christopher's case, science and math), an extremely literal interpretation of the world, and an inability to relate emotionally to others. When his neighbor's dog Wellington is murdered, Christopher decides to solve the mystery. In the process he uncovers information about his neighbors and family, and he conveys these details and his understanding of events--including those that are very emotional--in a detached, strikingly unemotional voice that makes for very interesting reading. The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time won the 2003 Whitbread book prize and was a 2004 ALA Notable Book.
An interesting title indeed but if you have ever had a conversation with an autistic child it becomes very clear why the title is formated the way it is. It is always interesting to see the world through another's eye, especially those of autistic children. The world they see is much different than the one we live in. Anyone who can capture the true thoughts of an autistic individual is either affected themselves or greatly understanding of those around them.