Book: The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

 "This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them." Christopher Boone

I got teary-eyed a few times reading this on the train, which I'm sure freaked out the stranger sitting next to me. The book I was reading, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by British author Mark Haddon is set in Swindon, Wiltshire and follows the life of the story's narrator, Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old who is gifted in math,yet autistic.  The story is written from a first-person perspective and the first chapter begins with Christopher finding his neighbor's dog, Wellington dead on the front yard.  He gets arrested by the police, who think he has committed the crime.  Though Christopher is eventually released, the death of Wellington causes Christopher to go on a search for the murderer.  It's a mystery he can't seem to let rest, much to the distress of his father.  However, the more Christopher discovers, the more problems he faces and the more the reader learns about Christopher's life. 

Some of the characters in the book:

Christopher Boone- 
Though Christopher has a knack for math problems, he lacks social skills and despises people touching him. He is also very naive and is curious about the world around him.  He loves to learn, but his learning is hindered by his quirks.  For example, he only eats certain kinds of food that are a specific color and the colors of the cars that pass by helps him to determine whether he is having a good or bad day.

I love this character and I think Haddon did a marvelous job of capturing a special needs kid.  It was an eye-opening experience to be able to feel and understand what life might be like for a boy who isn't "normal." I couldn't help but think about all the special needs students I used to work with.  They require a lot of patience, but there's something about them that makes you love and appreciate them for who they are. 

Ed Boone (Christopher's father)-
Ed runs his own business and has one employee working under him.  He is known as the patient one in the family because he knows how to talk and work with Christopher. However, his relationship with his son takes a hit when Christopher accidentally finds something he shouldn't have, which leads to an escalation of problems.

Even though Ed is not perfect, I like him.  He truly cares about Christopher and puts his son's needs over his.  I like how he is always concerned with making sure Christopher's food is prepared properly and knows what Christopher likes to watch on TV.   However, his main flaw is that he is unable to talk about his emotions, which causes him to end up hiding secrets rather than facing the truth.

Judy Boone (Christopher's mother)-
Judy is a dreamer and she wants more for her life.  She's a caring mother, who loves Christopher, but she's also impatient with him and has a hard time dealing with his social problems and other specific needs. 

I think Judy is a very confused person because she feels helpless at times and she admits this, as she knows Ed has a better relationship with Christopher.   Yet, at the same time, she's selfish because she doesn't want to deal with the reality of her situation.   

Mrs. Shears (Christopher's neighbor who's dog Wellington was killed.)-
Mrs. Shears helps out the Boone family when Judy is gone and is living by herself since her husband left her.  

I really don't like this character.  She knows Christopher has special needs, yet she acts like a maniac ready to accuse him of killing her dog.  I had the impression that she had never met Christopher prior to that interaction, but the novel explains that she has been at the Boone house before to help cook for the family.  She's just lousy in every sense of the word, no wonder her husband left her.  

Mr. Shears-
At the beginning of the book, Mr. Shears has already divorced Mrs. Shears, so he only shows up sparingly later in the story. From the little that is known, he seems to be very outspoken and has a hot temper.

I won't go into any details that will spoil the storyline, but I find Mr. Shears to be just as unlikable as his wife.  Definitely a match made in heaven. Also, similar to his wife, he does not treat Christopher kindly.

Mrs. Alexander (Christoper's elderly neighbor)- 
A sweet old lady who befriends Christopher during his search for Wellington's killer. Even though Mrs. Alexander is kind to Christopher, he still considers her a stranger.

I love how nonjudgmental Mrs. Alexander is towards Christopher, offering him snacks and trying to make conversation with him.  She plays a pivotal role in the story, accidentally sharing some secrets she shouldn't have to him. 

Siobhan (paraprofessional who works with Christopher at school)-    
Siobhan tutors Christopher in school and helps him to talk and write about his problems. She is the inspiration behind him writing this story.

I don't think parapros get enough respect for the work they do.  Many times, they are working with students in small groups and one-on-one, which helps them to foster a strong relationship with their student.  They know the kids sometimes even more than their parents.  I love it when Christopher thinks of going to see her at school when he runs away from home.  It shows how safe he feels around her.

Overall, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a heart-breaking book that will tug at your emotional strings, welding you to cry, feel sad, angry, and exhausted.  It's a simple story, but one with a unique narrator, who takes you along a journey that leaves you questioning your understanding of those who are considered different.