This story is an empathetic portrayal of a human situation. The behaviors of those around Christopher are also human. What happens when trust is loss and feelings of safety, so related to trust, shattered? How are these restored when they are destroyed? Christopher's responses to these losses may be unorthodox, but they are human. I strongly recommend this book to people working with those who have "special needs." The author also addresses the universal needs of trust and safety. While using Christopher's words to describe his world and responses to it, the author provides the reader with insight and empathy for the people-including Christopher-in that world. The protagonist of the book, Christopher Boone, does this by using his abilities, perceptions, and logic. They are able to make sense of and feel safe with the world around them by providing it with a structure. Their seemingly pointless rituals and behaviors are just as important to them as my morning cup of coffee is to me. I am a special educator, and, as I read this book, I am reminded of students, past and present, with whom I have worked and work. This done while maintaining the protagonists point of view and addressing the general themes of trust and safety. The author's writing skillfully conveys the frustrations and concerns of the protagonist, an autistic teenager, with his world and those of his caregivers with him. I found Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time an amazing read.
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