To become more familiar with some of the ideas and places in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, you will be researching one of four topics: author, setting, neurodivergence, or mental health.
Your goal is to read and take notes on the article, then create an annotated bibliography entry to contribute information to small group discussions. Ultimately, you will learn about all of these topics, but you will only need to do the research for one!
In case you don't remember what an Annotated Bibligraphy looks like, take a look at our "How Do You School" Sources.
Completing an Annotated Bibliography entry is super-easy using NoodleTools. Before you choose your article(s) and start reading, be sure to set up your NoodleTools account and create a project so you have a place to record your thoughts. The slide deck below will take you through NoodleTools step-by-step.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Pre-Reading Articles
Choose 1 or 2 source to read and annotate (depending on your teacher's instructions) from your assigned column.
The author of this The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is Mark Haddon. As you listen, read, and watch consider the following:
1. What are 5 words to best describe Mark Haddon?
2. Identify at least two ways Mark Haddon is similar Christopher and at least two ways he is different from Christopher, the main character in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time?
3. What was the process of writing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time like for Mark Haddon?
Sources
Davies, Dave. "Author Mark Haddon." Fresh Air, NPR, 17 June 2005, www.npr.org/2005/06/17/4707767/-author-mark-haddon. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Gussow, Mel. "Novel's Sleuth Views Life From Unusual Perspective." New York Times, 3 Aug. 2004, p. E1. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A120101157/BIC?u=rose62723&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=497331d3. Accessed 29 Sept. 2025.
Haddon, Mark. "Mark Haddon on the Origins of the Curious Incident." Penguin Books Limited, Penguin Random House, 7 Apr. 2015, www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/mark-haddon-on-the-origins-of-the-curious-incident. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"Mark Haddon Interview. Author the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time & More." YouTube, uploaded by Goldmark Gallery, 25 Jan. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RcDm7BOOAk. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Watch 29:42-34:02 for the segment about writing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time!
The setting of this book is in England during the 1990s. The main character, Christopher, lives in a town called Swindon and, at one point, he travels to London by train. As you listen, read, and watch consider the following:
1. In what ways are Swindon/London similar to and different from where you live?
2. What strategies would Christopher have had available to him in 1998 to navigate from Swindon to London?
3. Identify three major ways growing up in the 90s was different from how you are growing up now.
Sources
England
Sutcliffe, Anthony, and Peter R. Mounfield. "England." World Book Student, 2025, www.worldbookonline.com/student-new/#/article/home/ar181560. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Harford Thomas, William, and Peter Kellner. "England." Britannica, 29 Sept. 2025, www.britannica.com/place/England. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Swindon
Historic England. "Swindon: The Heritage of a Railway Town." Google Arts & Culture, artsandculture.google.com/story/cgVhOX83Xt4rLA. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"Magazine Archive." The Link, Swindon Publications, 1998, swindonlink.com/magazine-archive/1998/?magazine=6973&edition=1. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"Swindon Through the Years - Series 5 Episode 2." YouTube, uploaded by Swindon Cable Television, 22 May 2021, youtu.be/56wiTI0Eb5c?si=wDYb9QS0K1al0WYg. Accessed Oct. 2025.
Train Transportation
"London Underground-83 Stock Jubilee Line 1998." YouTube, uploaded by Soi Buakhao, 4 Nov. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccb5AziRxo8&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"How the Tube Works | Guide to the London Underground!" YouTube, uploaded by Bright Trip, 3 Sept. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=k- rlZL2eydM. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
London
"Willesden Green Area Guide." Marsh & Parsons, www.marshandparsons.co.uk/london-area-guides/willesden-green/. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
The 1990s
BBC Radio 4. "What Really Happened in the Nineties?" BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles /1fmV75tVwWLQ71llZZK95km/how-the-90schanged-the-world-in-ways-you-wouldn-t-expect. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
BBC Bitesize. "What Did Children Do In The 1990s?" BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrsw4xs. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"This Is What Life Was Really like in BRITAIN during the 90s." YouTube, uploaded by UK Nostalgia, 12 July 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWc3gZ-Ewwo. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Though it is never directly stated, many readers believe the main character, Christopher, exhibits some characteristics of a person who is neurodivergent. As you listen, read, and watch consider the following:
1. What is neurodivergence?
2. What are some of the characteristics of a person who is neurodiverse?
3. Reflect on your own life. Do you or someone you know share any of the characteristics of someone who is neurodivergent? If so, which ones?
Sources
Alic, Margaret. "Neurodiversity." Gale Health and Wellness Online Collection, 2022. Gale Health and Wellness, link.gale.com/apps/doc/YYNTID156897016/HWRC?u=rose62723&sid=bookmark-HWRC&xid=fbbd7af9. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Coffman, Marika C. "Autism". World Book Student, World Book, 2025, https://www.worldbookonline.com/student-new/#/article/home/ar038765. Accessed 01 Oct.2025.
Watson, Stephanie, and Kight Pruszynski. "Autism." Gale Health and Wellness Online Collection, Gale, 2024. Gale Health and Wellness, link.gale.com/apps/doc/WQHKPF402789148/HWRC?u=rose62723&sid=bookmark-HWRC&xid=d38b6279. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"Neurodivergent." Cleveland Clinic, 2 June 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"Autism and neurodiversity." National Autistic Society, www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/identity/autism-and-neurodiversity. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"What It's Really like to Have Autism." YouTube, uploaded by Ethan Lisi, 29 Apr. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4vurv9usYA. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"The Party: A Virtual Experience of Autism – 360 Film." YouTube, uploaded by The Guardian, 7 Oct. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtwOz1GVkDg. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Several characters in this book have experiences that affect their mental health. As you listen, read, and watch consider the following:
1. What is some advice for individuals navigating relationships with people who are experiencing mental health issues?
2. When experiencing mental health issues, where should one seek help?
3. How can experiencing mental health issues influence how a person acts, responds, or interacts with their surroundings?
Sources
Emotional Regulation
Adams, Jenn. “Emotional Regulation in Children with Autism.” Exceptional Parent, vol. 55, no. 4, Apr. 2025, pp. 15–17. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=05244950-cb5b-313a-a900-72fa9bc0b68a.
"Emotion Regulation." Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/emotion-regulation. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Depression
"Depression (Major Depressive Disorder)." Mayo Clinic, 14 Oct. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Tesla, Catherine L., et al. "Depression." The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, edited by Brigham Narins, 5th ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2022, pp. 526-533. Gale Health and Wellness, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX8289300162/HWRC?u=rose62723&sid=bookmark-HWRC&xid=b7c129f9. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Anxiety
"Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders." Gale In Context Online Collection, Gale, 2022. Gale In Context: High School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/SGHGGJ399459012/SUIC?u=rose62723&sid=bookmark-SUIC&xid=5ac24a56. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"Anxiety, Fear and Panic." NHS, 17 Jan. 2023, www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/anxiety-fear-panic/. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Parental Idealism vs. Realism
Golden, Ph.D., Bernard. "Unhealthy Idealization of Parents as a Contribution to Anger." Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 14 July 2022 www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overcoming-destructive-anger/202507/ unhealthy-idealization-of-parents-as-a-contribution-to. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
"Dr. Dan Siegel - on the Idealization of Parents." YouTube, uploaded by PsychAlive, 3 Mar. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOhby7cb_U8. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.