This novel is about a boy named Christopher, and his struggle to go through daily life with autism. It is written from his perspective and the author allows the readers to see how Christopher thinks and sees. Autism makes it tough for Christopher to do everyday tasks that would typically be easy for people not on the spectrum. This includes understanding social cues, being independent, and even going on vacation without a set schedule or routine. His autism makes him a little more high-maintenance than other kids his age which is why his father is so protective over him. One day Christopher discovers a dead dog with a garden fork pierced through its stomach in his neighbor’s yard. This shocking discovery motivates him to find out who killed the dog and why. His father, on the other hand, does not approve of Christopher’s decision to become a detective and attempts to shut it down. Throughout the story, Christopher makes a few shocking discoveries that he was lied to about his whole life, and his perspective on everything changes. The story follows Christopher and how he changes alongside these events and how he must adjust to the ever-changing world around him. The ending was eye-opening and uncovered the truth about trust.
I loved the way the author portrayed autism and how it can affect an individual. The book was interesting throughout and I did not lose interest simply because of how the author gave us a peek into Christopher’s mind with graphs, charts, diagrams, drawings, and etc. This book allowed me to truly understand how a neurodivergent mind works and thinks. I would definitely consider this book a much lighter read with less plot twists, storytelling, and drama as other novels. It focused more on the main character and how he functioned with a neurological disability. I would recommend this to readers with a desire to understand the complexity of a neurodivergent mind or simply to anyone who would like a light and easy read. I would recommend this to ages 13, and up and I would give this book 4 stars.