The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon is a brilliantly written mystery novel which portrays life through the eyes of a young boy diagnosed with autism. Through his eloquent writing, Haddon offers the reader an empathic and fairly accurate glimpse of the world through the eyes of one affected this devastating developmental disorder. In doing so, Haddon humanizes the disease and helps any reader to develop accurate empathy for those whose lives have been touched by autism.

The story is narrated by Christopher, a 15-year-old boy diagnosed with autism who witnesses the murder of a neighbor's dog and is later accused of the neighborhood crime. The story unfolds as Christopher attempts to solve the mystery despite his disability and is told through his perspective. The author elegantly communicates Christopher's difficulties with communication and social connection through his descriptions of Christopher's thoughts and perceptions of other people. Christopher encounters novel situations in which the reader learns how difficult it is for an individual with autism to process new information while tuning out unnecessary stimuli. The immeasurable pain experienced by families affected by autism is communicated through Christopher's father and his parent's divorce. In the final chapter, the mystery is solved and the reader gains a profound level of understanding of the social disconnection that exists within the world of autism.

Haddon should receive a major award for this masterpiece. In writing a mystery novel through the eyes of Christopher, the author solves the widespread misunderstanding of autism. His work provides entertainment with the greater purpose of creating understanding, empathy, and compassion for individuals who see the world differently from the rest. This book could be reviewed with only one word: brilliant.