The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon tells the story of Christopher, a boy who has a mental disability but is extremely intelligent. His mother died of a heart attack, leaving his abusive and alcoholic father to care for him. When Christopher finds a dead dog impaled on a pitchfork, he launches his own investigation throughout the neighborhood to find the murderer. He goes to whatever lengths necessary to uncover the truth behind this mysterious death‒and his parents.
This is an intriguing and eccentric novel that shed light on mental disabilities. A person like Christopher would not normally be portrayed in a book, so it was heartening to see him get his own spotlight. There were also occasional diagrams and drawings in the book that helped break up the text and make it more enjoyable to read. Each chapter was unique and refreshing; I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. However, unlike a real page turner, this book is thoughtful and contains substance. I am hopeful that this book‒and many others‒will help pave the way for more new, diverse characters.
Review Written by Eliana, 10th Grade