The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

• Genre: Fiction; young adult contemporary mystery
• Originally Published: 2003
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1090L; grades 8-12
• Structure/Length: 51 chapters (numbered in the protagonist’s prime numbering system); approx. 226 pages; approx. 6 hours on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: In the village of Swindon, England, 15-year-old Christopher Boone discovers his neighbor’s poodle dead in the yard. His need to determine the root cause of the dog’s murder presents a series of complications and new discoveries for this teen with autism.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Physical abuse and bullying toward a neurodiverse character; pet death; adultery       

Mark Haddon, Author

• Bio: Born in 1962 in Northampton, England; earned degrees at Oxford University and Edinburgh University; also an artist and illustrator; background includes working with adults and children with disabilities, working on television projects, publishing for children, teens, and adults, and poetry projects
• Other Works: Gilbert’s Gobstopper (1987); Agent Z Goes Wild (series; 1994); Ocean Star Express (2001); The Red House (2012); The Porpoise (2019)
• Awards: Whitbread Book of the Year (2003); Book Trust Teenage Fiction Award (2003); Booker Prize (longlisted; 2003); Alex Awards (2004); YALSA Best Books for Young Adults (2004)                   

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Coping Mechanisms and Safety in an Uncertain World
• The Quest for Understanding Between Different Minds
• Accomplishing Goals and Overcoming Obstacles

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Develop a deeper understanding of how to cope with uncertainty and anxiety.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Coping Mechanisms and Safety in an Uncertain World, The Quest for Understanding Between Different Minds, and Accomplishing Goals and Overcoming Obstacles.
• Learn about the tremendous human capacity for achieving goals, even if they might seem impossible.
• Write structured essay responses regarding the novel’s themes and content in which they analyze and evaluate how Christopher’s neurodivergence impacts his ability to interact effectively with others and affects his view of the world.