Plot

Christopher is the main character and is a fifteen-year-old boy with autism, and lives with his father, Ed. He explains that his mother, Judy, died two years ago. He discovers the dead body of Wellington, a neighbour’s dog, speared by a garden fork. Mrs Shears, Wellington’s owner, calls the police, and Christopher becomes a suspect. When a policeman touches him, he hits the policeman, and is arrested, then released with a caution. He decides to investigate the dog’s death, even though his father had ordered him to stay out of other people’s business. Throughout his adventures, Christopher writes them down in a book. Also, Christopher attends a special needs school due to his autism and has a close relation with his teacher Siobhan. During his investigation, Christopher meets people who he has never before never met before, even though they live on the same street, including the elderly Mrs Alexander, who informs Christopher that his mother had an affair with Mr Shears and had been with him for a long time.

His father, discovers the book and takes it away from Christopher, after an argument between them. While searching for the confiscated book, Christopher uncovers a ton of letters which his mother wrote to him, dated after the date of her supposed death. He is so thoroughly shocked by his father lying about his mother’s death that he is unable to move, curls up on the bed, vomits and groans for several hours until his father returns home. Ed realizes that Christopher has read the letters and cleans him up. Ed then confesses that he had indeed lied about Christopher's mother’s death and also that it was he who had killed Wellington. He said it was a mistake due to his anger after a he had an argument with Mrs Shears. Christopher, having lost all trust in his father and fearing that he may try to kill him since he had already killed the dog, runs away. Guided by his mother’s address from the letters, he heads to London, where his mother lives with Mr Shears.

After a while, he finally finds his way to his mother’s home, and waits outside until she arrives. Judy is delighted that Christopher has come to her. She cannot believe that Ed would tell Christopher that she was dead. Mr Shears doesn’t want Christopher living with them and never did. Moreover, very soon after arriving, Christopher wants to return to Swindon in order to take his mathematics A-level. His mother leaves Mr Shears, their relationship having broken down because of the conflict and his rejection of Christopher. Christopher and his mother then move into a rented room in Swindon. After an argument with Ed, she agrees to let Ed visit Christopher for daily brief visits. Christopher is still terrified of his father and hopes that his father  will be arrested for killing Wellington. The story ends by Ed giving Christopher a pet dog, which Christopher names Sandy because of its colour, because Toby, Christopher's pet rat, had died, and Ed promises to rebuild his trust with Christopher “no matter how long it takes”. Christopher says that he will continue to take A-level exams and that he will go to University. He completes his first A-level exam at high grades, and he he has the ultimate goal of becoming a scientist, despite his previous goal of becoming an astronaut. The book finishes with Christopher being excited about his future, having solved the mystery of the murdered dog, gone to London, England on his own, finding his mother and achieving amazing grades on his A-level exam. Christopher continues to live with his mother and he occasionally visits his father's place.


Jameel Walji