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The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
What more can be said of Mark Haddon’s extraordinary, darkly humorous depiction of a boy with asperger syndrome determined to find the true murderer of his neighbours poodle, Wellington? It is touching, poignant, at times unbearably sad. A profound and original novel; I heard someone at a National Autistic Society conference remark that the book has done more for autism awareness than any organisation in the world – and that may be true.

One Child
This 1980 non-fiction account of the special ed teacher, Torey Hayden, was recently re-issued along with its sequel, Tiger’s Child. You really ought to read One Child first, which you will do very quickly because once you pick it up, you will not put it down. It is the combination of Hayden’s intelligence and her extraordinary subject, a little girl named Sheila, that makes the book so completely absorbing. You can read all about Torey, her books, and her work with children at her website, www.torey-hayden.com

Why Did I Ever?
It is said that the way a diamond is cut is critical to its brilliance. Mary Robison hones her fiction with a precision that makes it sparkle just so. This terse, absorbing novel held me completely as I learned more about a mother’s relationship with her children, her boyfriends, her cat, her neighbours. I laughed out loud; I wondered silently to myself. I read the thing once, then flipped it over and read it again. For me, who loves this kind of sparse, minimalist approach, the novel is indispensable, thoroughly compelling, and collectible. I’m going to go get a first edition hardback for myself!