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.

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Goodreads

Author website

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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

Sorta like a rockstar

Author: Matthew Quick

Publisher: London: Headline, 2013

Annotation:

Having good faith and hope is what everyone would like to have and achieve in their life. For Amber Appleton, a seventeen-year-old girl with autism, she proclaims as “an inspiration, a rockstar - of hope”. She is homeless and lives in a school bus with her alcoholic and unfit mother - difficult circumstances and hardship. She has a best friend who is a loyal rescue dog name Bobby Big Boy - 100% cute. Amber’s optimism is described throughout the story; regularly teaches English to Korean Catholic women through music, visits elderly at nursing home and befriends a solitary Vietnam veteran. When a tragedy hits, Amber falls into depression where is unable to cope, feels blank and things are harder than thought possible.

For more information:

Author’s website 

Video Book Trailer

LibraryThing