The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Christopher Boone narrates with total logical precision and absolutely no awareness of the emotional undercurrents swirling around him—which means the reader has to hold both layers simultaneously, and the result is quietly devastating. Haddon wrote this before autism representation standards were what they are today, so approach it knowing the science is more vibes-based than research-based, but the narrative voice is genuinely unlike anything else. A short, fast read that stays with you longer than it has any right to.