Independent+Novel+Study

=//**__The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time__ p.1-48**//=

//**1. What's going on as the novel begins?**// //**2. Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? Give examples, explain.**// //**3. Would you recommend this novel to a friend?**//

Christopher Boone is the main character in the book "The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time". He is fifteen year old boy with autism and a talent with numbers and he hates the colour yellow. He knows all the prime numbers up to 7057. He knows the capital of every country in the world. We read this book from Christopher's perspective and it introduces to a few of the problems faced by an autistic person. He has troubles reading people's emotions and body language. He has difficulties communicating at times and can't stand to be touched by another human being. Christopher almost understands animals better that humans because they are much more simple. They're emotion's are less complex and for this reason he feels a strong connection between animals and himself.

At the beginning of the book Christopher finds the dead body of a neighbour's poodle in their yard. He'd always cared for this dog and it hurt him deeply that he was dead. Christopher proceeded to hold the dog in his arms and as he did so his neighbour came out from her house and saw him. Thinking he was the one who had stabbed her dog with a garden fork she phoned the police whilst yelling at him. Christopher becomes overwhelmed and curls up in a ball on her lawn with his forehead against the grass. When the police finally arrive they begin to question him but what they don't know is that Christopher has extreme autism and he can't handle all of their questions. When the policeman touches him he loses it. He hits the officer and must be taken to the station. We can't really blame him because of his disability and as a reader this strengthens our connection with Christopher because we feel sorry for him. After being released from jail thanks to his father we learn that he lost his mother to a heart attack. Christopher's father warns him not meddle in other people's business yet he still decides to solve the mystery of who killed the dog.

I like the writing style of this novel because although the language is relatively simplistic, for it is supposed to be written by an autistic boy, it has depth and it makes you look through the simple writing to find how he's really feeling. He has trouble expressing himself and the book really illustrates this and forces you to think. Having it written from his perspective as well helps me, as a reader, bond with Christopher's character. I'd never really thought about how difficult it must be to not be able to read expressions until I began this book. It places you in the shoes of someone else and it's one of those books that you just disappear into!

So far I am enjoying this book immensely! I believe it gives you an entirely new outlook on people with disabilities and it also has an engrossing plot. I had trouble putting this book down at my first fifth and can't wait to continue. I would recommend this novel to anyone and everyone! I think just about any age can connect with Christopher and appreciate this book. The language is simple enough for an older child and yet when you're older there's enough depth behind the simple writing. I think this is an incredible book and I've only just started it!

=//P.48-88//=

1. Describe any new characters that are introduced. hat is their purpose? 2. What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could it be happening anywhere? Why? 3. How does the author get you to read on or hold your attention?

The second section of the book “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” has been just as addicting as the first. In this section Christopher continues to investigate who killed his neighbour’s, Mrs. Shears’s, poodle. Christopher’s father tells him once again not to get involved in other people’s business, in fact he makes him promise but Christopher finds away around this and claims to be chatting to people rather than investigating.

In this section several characters are greatly expanded upon and become much more major roles in the story: Mr. Shears (whom we do not meet but hear much about) and Mrs. Alexander. Mrs. Alexander is one of the neighbours Christopher made an attempt to talk to about Walter, the poodle’s death. Although he is not allowed to interrogate her when she begins to chat to him in the corner store, he’s does “chat” about Mr. Shears’s (his prime suspect). He is Christopher’s prime suspect for Christopher believes that since he left Mrs. Shears he may have wanted to make her sad by killing Walter and murders were normally committed by someone known to the family. Christopher explained to Mrs. Alexander that when he had attempted to ask his father about Mr. Shears he had told him never to utter that name in his house, and Mrs. Alexander accidentally lets slip that Mr. Shears and his mother had had an affair before she had died. Mrs. Alexander makes him promise not to tell his father that he knows. Mrs. Alexander’s purpose in the story so far has been to help Christopher through his investigation and try to become his friend. That of Mr. Shears is to add more depth to the plot and make us wonder if perhaps he did have something to do with Walter’s death. The novel is set in what seems to be a quiet neighbourhood. One of those areas where everyone knows everyone else; with small local corner stores and friendly neighbours. Christopher does go to school but the book gives us no idea if it’s close to the area in which Christopher lives or not. I think it’s probably early fall or early summer for Christopher is wandering around late at night and otherwise it would be quite cold. He doesn’t mention anything about snow or rain either so that suggests a mild season. This novel is non-stop action. It really holds the attention of the reader because there’s always something new happening, some new information, a new character. Also, because it’s supposed to be written from the perspective of an autistic boy it’s not written in a classic way. It’s written differently; it jumps around a bit but not too much that it doesn’t make sense. It’s got an interesting story and an intriguing writing style which hooks the reader and encourages him or her to continue reading. This is partly why the book is so incredibly addicting. The way you read it, it feels as if you’re actually there witnessing everything and you develop a strong emotional bond with Christopher, feeling bad for him because of his disability and wanting him to succeed with his endeavors!

I’ve enjoyed this section of reading as much as the last and hope this book continues to hold my attention and encourage me to keep reading. It’s excellent and I’ve almost used it as an escape from everyday life; to disappear into Christopher’s little world. I can’t wait to find out who killed Walter the poodle... = = P. 88-136 1. What happened before the novel began? 2. What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on? 3. What information do you need to know before the novel began?

Before this novel began Christopher live with his mother and father. At the beginning of the novel we wee led to believe that Christopher lost his mother to a heart attack, but we now know that she s having an affair with Mr. Shears and they left together for she felt that Christopher and his father were better off without her. Christopher’s father lied to Christopher, telling him his mother was in hospital and later that she had died unexpectedly but when Christopher discovered the letters from his mother, hidden in his father’s closet, addressed to him, he realized the truth.

The fact that Christopher’s mother isn’t actually dead was a huge unexpected twist in the novel. After everyone saying she was dead I did not see that coming! The only reason Christopher found out was because he discovered the hidden letters. Who knows how long his father would have hidden it from him otherwise. His father was just trying to protect him yet I think he deserved to know the truth from the beginning. It’s going to be much harder for his father to explain now than if he had never lied in the first place.

One thing that you do need to know before beginning this book is that Christopher is autistic. You may be able to guess but it would be confusing at first if you didn’t read the description. You’d know that he isn’t “normal” but it’s important to know exactly what his disability is. P. 136-166 1. What new things are added to the original problem as he novel progresses?2. What is he climax of the novel?3. Is there a message or main theme emerging from the book? How is it shown?


 * One of the conflicts now solved in this novel is the initial question of “who killed the dog?”. We know that Christopher’s father killed Wellington and this scared Christopher. It was for his reason, and that his father had led to him that he ran away to London to live with his mother. Christopher’s father was very upset by the fact that his only son had left him and all this has caused a new conflict... Christopher’s father may sue Christopher’s mother for possession of him. Another minor problem is that Christopher is supposed to write his A level in math but because of all the drama his mother may not be able to get him back to his school for the day of the exam. **


 * From what I’ve read so far the climax of the novel has bee when Christopher discovered the letter. Right after that the major conflict was resolved and although there are a few minor conflicts, it seems the story is starting to wind down. **


 * I think the main theme emerging from the book is about trust. Christopher put all his trust in his father and his father lied to him. Christopher has a hard enough time trusting anyone in the first place and the one person who he trusted most let him down. The novel also portrays all the difficulties of having a mental disability. How everyday things can seem scary and how many people just don’t get it and are rude to him because he is difficult, but he is only that way because he doesn’t know any better, and he probably never will. **


 * P.166-221**


 * 1. Is the novel believable?**
 * 2. What were the major things that helped to resolve the plot?**
 * 3. Why did (or didn't) this novel meet your expectations?**


 * I think this novel is very believable. The way it's written really makes it all seem extremely real! It puts you into the novel, into Christopher's everyday life. There's no magic, or time travel, or unicorns. It's all stuff that you might see happen in your own life, or in your own neighborhood. Everything that happens in the book could most definitely happen i real life under the same circumstances.**


 * The major things that helped resolve the plot, or the main conflict were, first of all, Christopher discovering the letters from his mother. This set off a whole chain of event, leading to his father's confession (the second major thing) that he had killed Wellington. This prompted Christopher to run away out of fear for his father to live with his mother i London. His mother began to argue with her new boyfriend and so Christopher and his mother moved back to Swindon (Christopher's old home) and this allowed Christopher's father to begin to solve his conflict with his son slowly regaining his trust.**

= = = **//__ Focus Assignment: Plot __//** = ===The novel "//The Curious case of the Dog in the Night-Time//" is narrated by Christopher John Francis Boone. He is a fifteen year old autistic boy. It is set in Christopher's a small town called Swindon, in England, not too far from London. Christopher's enjoys mystery books and is extremely good in science and maths (he is to take his math A-levels that year). He goes to a special school and often goes down to the corner store for a chocolate bar and wanders his neighbourhood at night. He lives with his father, for his mother "died" of a heart-attack. One evening, while wandering, Christopher discovers his neighbour Mrs. Shears, who's husband had mysteriously left a while ago, poodle Wellington dead and decides that he will write his own detective story, the novel itself, called "//Who killed Wellington?//". He hunts for clues and records all the happenings of his life in his book. He tells his father about his investigation and his father makes him promise to stay out of other people's buisness. Christopher cannot break his promise for that would be lying and Christopher //never// tells lies but he finds ways around it and continues searching for clues and chatting with "suspects". While at the corner store he begins to chat with Mrs. Alexander who accidentally lets slip that Christopher's mother had had an affair with Mr. Shears. Later Christopher's father discovers his book and realizes that Christopher now know about his mother and Mrs. Shear's husband so he takes the book and hides it. Christopher goes searching and finds it in a box, hidden with a bunch of letters from his mother, sent from London after the date she supposedly died, saying how she misses him and how she and Mr. Shears are living together. Christopher panicks, realizing that his father had lied to him and his father admits to lying //and// also killing Wellington out of spite. This frightens Christopher and he runs away from home to London to live with his mother for he is to frightened of his father now to stay. On his way to London he narrowly avoids being dragged back to Swindon by the police, back to his father. When he finally reaches his mother's home she welcomes him but Mr. Shears doesn't //really// want him to stay. Christopher's father shows up but in the end Christopher stay with his mother in London. His mother and Mr. Shears begin to argue and Christopher and his mother take Mr. Shears car and return to Swindon, living in the old house while his father stayed with a friend. Mr. Shears angrily comes and takes his car back and Christopher and his mother move into a tiny flat, for Christopher is still terrified of his father. He agrees to work with his father on trust and takes his A-levels. He gets an A grade and his trust with his father begins to re-build. Christopher now knows he can do anything, because he traveled to London all by himself, and he solved the case "//Who Killed Wellington?//".===
 * I was expecting this novel to be good because several people had suggested a read i even before this project. So for this reason I had high hopes and high expectations. The book fully met my expectations, in fact it may have been better than I expected! It was thrilling, with non-stop action. I felt like I disappeared into the novel every time I picked it up, which is what I want and expect from any book. It held my attention with an interesting plot and an unusual writing style. I enjoyed the many sub-plots and twist and turns the author managed to incorporate flawlessly. I'd say the entire story flowed very nicely and that this is a good, high quality novel.**

===I believe the climax of the story is when Christopher reaches London. This point kind of marks the end of his adventure and the story slowly begins to wind down. The main conflict of the book is who killed Mrs. Shear's dog and that is eventually solved by the discovery of the letters and his father's confessions. I enjoyed the plot because it really put you in Christopher's shoes and it was non-stop action throughout the entire thing. There was always //something// happening! And it wasn't just one big issue. There were all the minor issues and dissputes too, like him running away etc.Overall I thought it was an excellent book.===

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