The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Author: Mark Haddon

Publisher: Scoresby, Victoria: Random House Australia, 2004

Annotation:

This unconventional murder mystery novel is written in first-person unreliable narrative of Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old autistic guru with intelligence and passion of mathematics and space with a huge social fear and phobia of anything happening outside of his daily routine. Prime numbers are used as chapter numbers with visual representations and an appendix of proving complex mathematical formulas. The writing style and tone is bittersweet and moving, which gives an insight in Christopher’s thinking and mind. The storyline is character-driven where Christopher discovered the dead body of the neighbour’s poodle Wellington and decides to be the detective in the style of his favourite Sherlock Holmes. He embarks the journey by going through number of things outside his routine and comfort zone. He discovers family secrets and revelations about his mother, as he lived with dad as single parent thinking his mum had passed away.

For more information:

Goodreads

Author website

Play version video trailer

A Mile in His Shoes

Director: William Dear

Writers: Jason Koornick & Frank Nappi

Production: NGN Productions, Nasser Group, North & MIHS Films

Year: 2011

Annotation:

This film is based on the novel The Legend of Micky Tusslerby Frank Nappi. Baseball is an American favourite sporting event. The sports, drama & family film tell a story of Mickey’s amazing pitching skill throwing apples straight to the bullseyes that captures the baseball manager’s eye on his impressive skill. He is 18 and has Asperger’s syndrome who joins a minor-league baseball team. Micky’s condition makes him feel alienated from others and feels challenged with focusing on the sport and his own self. Furthermore, his teammates and people around him constantly makes fun of and teases him, which makes him feel put down. The story shows inclusion of diverse abilities and by giving Micky a chance to play and be treated with respect.

For more information:

IMDb

Common Sense Media review

Goodreads based from novel

Rain Reign

Author: Ann M. Martin

Read by: Laura Hamilton

Length: 4hrs and 7mins

Publisher: USA: Brilliance Audio, 2014

Annotation:

This first-person narrative story of Rose, who is a fifth-grader diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and lives with strict and troubled father, is emotionally intense and attention-grabbing. She is an enthusiast and obsessed with homonyms, as the book title Rain Reign is an example of a homonym, and prime numbers. Her challenges in reading social cues, understanding emotions and controlling her outbursts and obsessions does make things difficult. Having a set of patterns, routine and habits would help deal control the difficulties day-by-day. The storyline is character-driven with the theme of me and my dog, where Rose shares an inseparable bond with her beloved dog pet that comforts and protects Rose.

For more information:

Audible Australia with audio sample

Publisher's website

Goodreads book review

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Director: Stephen Daldry

Writers: Eric Roth (screenplay) and Jonathan Safran Foer (novel)

Production: Warner Bros., Scott Rudin Productions & Paramount Pictures
Year: 2011

Annotation:

Based on the novel by Joanthan Safran Foer, the drama, adventure and mystery film tell a story about a young boy name Oskar, with Asperger’s syndrome, who lost his father in the 9/11 World Trade Centre terror attack. Their father son relationship is very strong. He could not cope with the loss, starts lashing out at his mother and the world, and does not understand to why he died in that event. He wished that his mum be killed, not his father. A year later, he discovers a mysterious key in his father’s closet and makes a scavenger hunt to find out what the key unlocks to. Whilst on his quest and journey, he discovers many things from history to meeting lot of people and learn more with revelations about himself and the family. 

For more information:

Australian Council on Children and the Media Review

Movie trailer

IMDb

Colin Fischer

Author: Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz

Publisher: London: Puffin, 2013

Annotation:

“Colin Fischer doesn’t like to be touched. Or the colour blue. He avoids eye contact unless absolutely necessary” (blurb from back cover).

This book novel tells a story of a 14-year-old boy who lives with Asperger’s syndrome. Highly intelligent but struggles with social interactions and emotions. Every chapter starts with an extract from Colin’s diary, which gives a fact about and thought process of some with Asperger’s. At school, he deals with constant bullying and seen as an outcast. One lunchtime a gun went off in the cafeteria - a crime mystery established. Colin was not scared of the event and went straight into investigating by proving with true facts to who did it.

For more information:

Goodreads

Penguin Publisher

Penguin Audio Book Trailer