$ $ Front$Cover$ $ $ $ $ (Maria$Gubiev)$1.$ $$ Letter$from$the$Editors$$ $ $ (Riccardo$Mancini)$2.$$ $ Mark$Haddon$$ $ $ $ (Giulia$Sopranzi)$3.$$ $ What$is$it?$$ $ $ $ $ (Drusa$Carrassi)$4$A$5.$$ $ Horoscope$$ $ $ $ $ (Drusa$Carrassi)$6A7A8.$$$ An$Interview$with$Ed$Boone$$ $ (Riccardo$Mancini)$9.$$ $ Christopher$Boone$$ $ $ $ (Giulia$Sopranzi)$10A11A12.$$ Trivia$$$ $ $ $ $ (Gennaro$Fusillo)$13.$$ $ Different$Eyes,$Different$Perspectives,$$$$$$$$$$ $ Different$Lives$ $ $ $ (Kristen$Ong)$14.$$ $ A$Second$in$Christopher’s$Thoughts$ (Giulia$Sopranzi)$15.$$ $ Sharing$a$Room$with$Someone$$$ $ with$Asperger’s$$ $ $ $ (Shahriar$Hossain)$16A17.$$$ An$Interview$with$Judy$Boone$ $ (Gennaro$Fusillo)$18.$$ $ Critique$of$the$Novel$$ $ $ (Maria$Gubiev)$19A20.$$$ Christopher’s$Birthday$ $ $ (Shahriar$Hossain)$$ $ Back$Cover$$ $ $ $ $ (Maria$Gubiev)$$ $ Advertisments$on$Pages$ $ $ (Kristen$Ong)$!$ $ Editor$ $ $ $ $ $ (Kristen$Ong)$!

Magazine$by$English$9$Advanced$3

TABLE OF CONTENTS:$

All#Images#courtesy#of#Google#Images

A"Letter"From"the"Editors:"Finalised"by"Riccardo"Mancini"!

The$ magazine$ that$ we$ made$ will$ include$ a$ bit$ of$everything.$ It$ can$ be$ described$ as$ a$ super$ creative$booklet$that$informs$and$teaches$the$reader$more$about$the$ novel$ we$ have$ read:$ “The$ Curious$ Incident$ of$ the$Dog$ in$ the$ NightAtime.”$ The$ main$ purpose$ of$ this$magazine$is$to$portray$our$knowledge$of$the$novel$and$to$show$you$all$the$things$we$have$learned$in$a$creative$way!$ You$ will$ be$ able$ to$ play$ our$ trivia$ games,$ at$ a$certain$point,$after$having$learned$about$the$characters$in$ Drusa’s$ very$ detailed$ horoscope.$ So$ the$ main$attribute$that$we$were$aiming$for$in$this$magazine$was$creativity$ and$ we$ hope$ that$ we$ were$ able$ to$ achieve$that.$Not$to$mention$the$fact$that$we$also$all$had$some$harder$written$tasks$to$do$that$range$from$a$critique$on$the$ novel$ to$ a$ writing$ based$ on$ the$ themes$ that$ are$found$in$the$novel.$You$might$not$yet$know$that$this$ is$book$is$quite$a$peculiar$one;$one$that$might$be$different$from$all$ the$ books$ that$ you’ve$ read$ so$ far$ in$ your$ life,$because$ Christopher,$ the$ main$ character,$ is$ not$ any$ordinary$ 15AyearAold$ boy.$ Therefore,$ to$ conclude$with,$we$ would$ like$ to$ wish$ you$ a$ happy$ reading$ of$ our$magazine$and$we$hope$that$you’ll$be$able$to$understand$more$ about$ the$ novel$ after$ having$ gone$ through$ the$pages.$ We$ have,$ as$ editors,$ all$ worked$ hard$ on$ this$magazine$ and$ we$ hope$ that$ the$ creativity$ that$ we$utilized$ in$ some$ sections$mixed$with$ the$writing$ tasks$that$ we$ did$ will$ successfully$ give$ you$ a$ complete$overview$ of$ the$ most$ important$ parts$ of$ the$ novel,$ a$novel$ that$we$strongly$advise$ for$you$ to$read$as$ it$will$surely$leave$you$out$of$breath.$Enjoy!!!!!$

I$liked$spending$my$birthdays$like$this$a$lot$better$than$what$I$did$last$time:$my$ ‘friends’$ had$ invited$me$ to$ a$ cafe$where$ there$were$ too$many$ people,$noises,$things$to$see,$and$it$gave$me$a$headache$and$I$wanted$to$get$out$but$my$

‘friends$wouldn’t$let$me$and$then$my$memory$went$blank$from$there$and$then$I$remember$being$back$home$again.$At$exactly$6:00pm,$the$doorbell$rang.$When$I$opened$the$door$it$was$my$parents$and$they$were$ carrying$ a$ bag$ and$ they$ held$ up$ their$ hands$ and$ I$ touched$ their$ hands$with$mine$Tinger$to$Tinger$to$show$that$they$loved$me.$“Hello,$mother,$father,”$I$said$“Hey$ Mr.$ Scientist,”$ father$ said$ with$ a$ smirk,$ which$ meant$ he$ was$ happy$ or$ was$ hiding$something.$ I$didn’t$understand$what$he$meant$by$ ‘Mr.$Scientist$ Tirst$but$ then$ I$ realized$ it$was$because$I$was$working$for$SpaceX$and$although$I$wouldn’t$be$able$to$get$into$space$(I$learnt$ to$ understand$ my$ limitations$ and$ put$ my$ talents$ to$ use$ from$ my$ last$ year$ with$Siobhan),$I$can$help$other$people$do$that.$“How$are$you,$Christopher?”$mother$said.$“I’m$Tine,$mother.$Please$come$inside$for$tea.”$“We$won’t$be$very$long.$We$know$you’re$a$busy$man$with$work$and$all$that,”$father$said.$I$did$not$say$anything$because$it$was$not$a$question.$After$we$sat$down$and$had$roughly$30$seconds$of$silence$my$parents$got$the$bag$and$pulled$out$a$neatly$wrapped$box$that$was$red$and$gave$it$to$me.$“Go$ahead,$you$can$open$it.”$father$said.$“You’ll$like$it,$I’m$sure$you$will.”$mother$said.$I$ opened$up$ the$wrapping$paper$ carefully$ and$ slide$ the$ box$ out$ from$ the$ side.$ It$was$ an$assembly$model$of$an$airAplane$that$was$missing$from$my$collection$that$was$set$up$in$my$bedroom.$$“Thank$you.”$I$said.$I$did$like$it.$After$some$mechanical$conversation$and$Tinishing$tea$my$parents$said$goodbye$and$left.$It$was$nice$to$have$company,$but$I$prefered$to$be$alone$for$most$of$the$time.$I$was$preparing$ to$ leave$ for$ the$cinema.$ I$ took$my$headphones$so$ that$ I$wouldn’t$have$ to$listen$to$anything$and$I$ looked$down$all$the$way$because$I$didn’t$need$to$see$where$I$was$going$because$I$knew$how$many$left$turns$and$right$turns$I$had$to$take$and$how$long$I$had$to$go$straight$for$because$I$had$a$GPS$on$my$smartphone$but$I$didn’t$even$need$that$because$I$had$it$all$memorized.$When$I$arrived$at$the$cinema$I$saw$my$friend$and$we$exchanged$greetings.$We$bought$two$tickets$and$went$inside.$I$liked$going$to$the$movies$because$I$didn’t$have$to$talk$and$if$you$went$on$the$right$days$it$wouldn’t$be$very$crowded,$but$this$movie$wasn’t$very$popular$at$this$time$so$it$wasn’t$very$crowded$so$it$was$perfect$for$me.$I$enjoyed$the$movie$because$ it$was$about$space$and$sending$humans$ to$Mars$but$ I$didn’t$understand$a$lot$of$the$humor$so$I$just$thought$about$how$I$can$work$on$a$spaceship$which$can$ send$ humans$ to$Mars.$ After$ the$movie$ ended$ I$ said$ goodbye$ to$my$ friend$ and$went$home.$On$the$way$home$someone$accidentally$bumped$into$me$and$I$wanted$to$hit$him$for$doing$that$but$I$didn’t$because$I$knew$it$was$wrong$to$hit$people$so$I$kept$walking.$I$saw$his$lips$moving$but$I$had$my$headphones$in$so$I$couldn’t$hear$him.$When$I$got$home$I$took$a$bath,$got$into$my$pyjamas,$had$a$light$dinner,$gave$Toby$his$dinner,$

! I!liked!spending!my!birthdays!like!this!a!lot!better!than!what!I!did!last!time:!my!‘friends’!had!invited!me!to!a!cafe!where!there!were!too!many!people,!noises,!things!to!see,!and!it!gave!me!a!headache!and!I!wanted!to!get!out!but!my!‘friends!wouldn’t!let!me!and!then!my!memory!went!blank!from!there!and!then!I!remember!being!back!home!again.!! At!exactly!6:00pm,!the!doorbell!rang.!When!I!opened!the!door!it!was!my!parents!and!they!were!carrying!a!bag!and!they!held!up!their!hands!and!I!touched!their!hands!with!mine!Cinger!to!Cinger!to!show!that!they!loved!me.!“Hello,!mother,!father,”!I!said!! “Hey!Mr.!Scientist,”!father!said!with!a!smirk,!which!meant!he!was!happy!or!was!hiding!something.!I!didn’t!understand!what!he!meant!by!‘Mr.!Scientist!Cirst!but!then!I!realised!it!was!because!I!was!working!for!SpaceX!and!although!I!wouldn’t!be!able!to!get!into!space!(I!learnt!to!understand!my!limitations!and!put!my!talents!to!use!from!my!last!year!with!Siobhan),!I!can!help!other!people!do!that.!“How!are!you,!Christopher?”!mother!said.!“I’m!Cine,!mother.!Please!come!inside!for!tea.”!“We!won’t!be!very!long.!We!know!you’re!a!busy!man!with!work!and!all!that,”!father!said.!! I!did!not!say!anything!because!it!was!not!a!question.!After!we!sat!down!and!had!roughly!30!seconds!of!silence!my!parents!got!the!bag!and!pulled!out!a!neatly!wrapped!box!that!was!red!and!gave!it!to!me.!“Go!ahead,!you!can!open!it.”!father!said.!“You’ll!like!it,!I’m!sure!you!will.”!mother!said.!! I!opened!up!the!wrapping!paper!carefully!and!slide!the!box!out!from!the!side.!It!was!an!assembly!model!of!an!airSplane!that!was!missing!from!my!collection!that!was!set!up!in!my!bedroom.!!“Thank!you.”!I!said.!I!did!like!it.!! After!some!mechanical!conversation!and!Cinishing!tea!my!parents!said!goodbye!and!left.!It!was!nice!to!have!company,!but!I!preferred!to!be!alone!for!most!of!the!time.!I!was!preparing!to!leave!for!the!cinema.!I!took!my!headphones!so!that!I!wouldn’t!have!to!listen!to!anything!and!I!looked!down!all!the!way!because!I!didn’t!need!to!see!where!I!was!going!because!I!knew!how!many!left!turns!and!right!turns!I!had!to!take!and!how!long!I!had!to!go!straight!for!because!I!had!a!GPS!on!my!smartphone!but!I!didn’t!even!need!that!because!I!had!it!all!memorised.!! When!I!arrived!at!the!cinema!I!saw!my!friend!and!we!exchanged!greetings.!We!bought!two!tickets!and!went!inside.!I!liked!going!to!the!movies!because!I!didn’t!have!to!talk!and!if!you!went!on!the!right!days!it!wouldn’t!be!very!crowded,!but!this!movie!wasn’t!very!popular!at!this!time!so!it!wasn’t!very!crowded!so!it!was!perfect!for!me.!! I!enjoyed!the!movie!because!it!was!about!space!and!sending!humans!to!Mars!but!I!didn’t!understand!a!lot!of!the!humour!so!I!just!thought!about!how!I!can!work!on!a!spaceship!which!can!send!humans!to!Mars.!After!the!movie!ended!I!said!goodbye!to!my!friend!and!went!home.!On!the!way!home!someone!accidentally!bumped!into!me!and!I!wanted!to!hit!him!for!doing!that!but!I!didn’t!because!I!knew!it!was!wrong!to!hit!people!so!I!kept!walking.!I!saw!his!lips!moving!but!I!had!my!headphones!in!so!I!couldn’t!hear!him.!! When!I!got!home!I!took!a!bath,!got!into!my!pyjamas,!had!a!light!dinner,!gave!Toby!his!dinner,!and!went!to!sleep.!Today!was!a!good!day

Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, was born in 1962. He graduated from Oxford University and became involved in numerous jobs that included dealing with adults and children with physical and mental disabilities. His life experience in looking after patients with several syndromes influenced his literary writing. His f irst book for chi ldren,  Gilbert 's Gobstopper, was first published in 1987 and resulted in writing many other children books. In 2003 his novel,  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, was published and has been greatly successful in two editions with different covers, both for adults and teenagers. Moreover, it has won prestigious awards. Mark Haddon decided to write about the image of a dead poodle with a gardening tool sticking out of it because he thought it was an entertaining idea. As stated by Haddon, the novel is not based on the syndrome of Asperger’s syndrome but the difference it makes in the person’s life. Even though Haddon has written the novel in first person, he claims of not having done previous research on autism but learning from his past experiences. In an interview with Powell’s Books, Haddon said that when he worked with autistic children, “autism wasn't a term that was even used much at the time, and only in retrospect do I realize that some of the people I worked with had autism, although they had it much more seriously than Christopher does.” Instead, Christopher’s character began to structure itself after the author had written a few pages of the book. He didn’t initially plan to write about an autistic boy. In an interview he’s been asked about the syndrome in the novel and Haddon explained, “I wish I’d never allowed the publishers to put the word ‘Asperger’s’ on the cover of Curious Incident. It became an issue book, and I found myself repeatedly saying: it’s not really about Asperger’s, it’s about difference. It’s about acceptance of others. It’s about that sidelong, Martian view of the world.” Furthermore, in another interview he revealed, “I am atheist in a very religious mould.” His atheism is evident in the novel and may have influenced the protagonist view over religion.

Christopher’s Birthday By Shahriar Hossain

! I!woke!up!at!7:20am!and!got!up! to! clean!my! teeth!and!wash!my! face.!While!doing! so,! I!glanced!at!my!calendar,!saw!that!it!was!January!16th,!and,!I!remembered!that!in!roughly!9!hours,!I!would!be!9855!days! old,! or! 27! years! old,! and! at! this! very!moment,! I! am!26! years,! 11!months,! 4!weeks,!3!days,!7!hours!and!25!minutes!old.!It!was!my!birthday,!so!I!decided!that!it!would!be!a!good!day!and!to!be!happy.!! I!gave!my!chihuahua!Toby!his!morning!meal,!had!my!breakfast,!got!dressed!(I!put!on!my!favourite!red!shirt),!and!I!read!a!book!for!half!an!hour.!At!8:30am!I!went!to!my!desk!to!start!working!on! improvements! and! calculations! for! SpaceX’s! Falcon! 9! space! ship.! When! I! got! to! my! desk,! I!checked!my!email!and!saw!that!I!have!5!new!messages.!The!Cirst!one!was!sent!at!8:00am!and!was!from!my!parents!under!the!subject!of!‘Happy!Birthday,!Son!’!and!it!said!!!Dear!Christopher.!!We!wish!you!a!happy!birthday!!We’ll!be!coming!around!for!tea!today!(as!usual),!only!this!time!we’ve!some!some!gifts!for!your!special!day!!!Love,!Mom!and!Dad!!! The!second!and! third!emails!were!sent!by!some!acquaintances! that! I!would!meet!rarely!from!work! that! happened! to! know!my!birthday.! The! last! two!were! from! two! friends! I! had!made!online!who!were!people!like!me,!and!they!had!both!gifted!me!a!video!game!on!my!wishlist!each.!One!of!them!lived!in!Swindon!and!had!invited!me!to!the!cinema!to!watch!‘The!Martian’!a!7:00pm.!After!reading!the!emails,!and!responding!to!all!of!them!with!the!expected!‘thank!you’,!I!started!my!work.!2!hours!had!passed!and!I! took!a!break!to!have!some!coffee!and!play!some!minesweeper.!My!time!today!was!96!seconds,!which!beat!my!longest!standing!(10!years)!record!of!97,!so!I!felt!a!bit!happier!after!that.!After!I!Cinished!my!coffee,!I!went!back!to!work.!! At! 12:30am! I! was! getting! hungry! so! I! got! up! to! go! cook! my! lunch.! Today’s! lunch! was!special!because!it!was!my!birthday!and!I!used!some!extra!ketchup.!After!cooking!lunch!I!sat!down!at!the!table!to!eat!and!while!I!was!eating!I!thought!about!Cinishing!work!early!today,!but!then!I!thought!that!would!be!a!waste!of!the!day!and!I!don’t!mind!working!on!my!birthdays.!After!Cinishing!my!lunch!I!put!the!dishes!in!the!sink!and!washed!them!and!put!them!away!neatly!where!they!are!supposed!to!go.!!! After!washing! the! dishes! I!went! back! to!work! until! it!was! 3:30!which!was!when! I! stop!working!and!then!I!sent!my!calculations!to!my!employer!in!SpaceX,!but!I!knew!he!would!not!reply!soon!because! it!was! the!weekend..! I! got!up! from!my!desk! to!have!a! snack!and!played!some! fetch!with!my!dog!to!give!it!some!exercise.!! After!that!I!went!to!watch!some!videos!on!my!computer,!which!was!when!I!realized!that!I!had!turned!27!years!old!exactly.!Just!another!year!of!life,!and!another!year!closer!to!death!I!suppose.!At!5:00!I!started!making!preparations! for! tea!and!planning! for! the!ensuing!conversation!between!my!parents!and!I.!

By!Giulia!Sopranzi

Aspergers# syndrome# (ASD)# is# a# neurological# disorder# and# individuals#affected#by#this#illness#encounter#many#dif=iculties#concerning#the#control#of#their#behaviour.# This# syndrome# is# one# of# a# distinct# group# of# complex# brain# disorders#characterised# by# social# de=iciency,# communication# dif=iculties,# and# limited,#repetitive,#patterns#of#behaviour.##Although#the#diagnosis#at#age#2#is#the#goal,#many#with# ASD# are# not# recognised# until# later# because# of# the# poor# support# from# their#parents#in#early#life.#Aspergers#syndrome#is#considered#to#be#the#slightest#form#of#ASD#and#the#people#af=licted#are#the#most#highly#functioning#autistic#individuals,#in#fact,#most kids with Aspergers are able to live with less difficulties and complications than those with classic autism.

Furthermore,#each#child#with#this#particular#syndrome#is#different#and#his/her#disability#presents#it’s#own#unusual#challenges,#which#the#child#has#to#face.#The#student# often# demonstrates# great# scholastic# strengths,# although,# due# to# this#disorder,#the#individual#often#needs#special#assistance,#which#helps#to#make#those#strengths# develop.# Unfortunately,# students#with# Aspergers# Syndrome#meet#many#obstacles# in# their# daily# life,# regarding# interactions#with# other# people.# Since# they#don’t# actually# know# how# to# socialise,# they# often# become# victims# of# scapegoating#especially#in#school.

Additionally, a child with Aspergers may seem clumsy and drop things. He can easily fall and tries to avoid physical games with other kids. The youngster with Aspergers may show an insufficiency in his math skills, but does well in vocabulary. Most children affected by this disorder are unable to learn certain subjects, but may excel in others. Although they don’t intend to be mean, these children may seem to be insensible to other people’s feelings. They have few facial expressions, and, while speaking, they may stare into space. Another sign of Aspergers is obsessive interests. In fact the Aspergers child tends to show extraordinary commitment in some topics by the amount of time he spends to study them and how endlessly he talks about them and this adds#to#their#odd#performance#and their voice may seem that one of a robot, which doesn’t change its tone. Also, children# with# AS# aren’t# able# to# understand# human#relationships.

Moreover,#at#=irst,#a#student#affected#by#this#condition#may#act#or#seem#like#many#other#peers#in#his#class#but#then,#their#naivety#and#lacking#in#common#sense#become# more# visible.# Furthermore# their# inability# to# change# causes# these#individuals# to# be# easily# stressed# and# emotionally# vulnerable.# But# in# contrast,# the#focused#exposure#of#their#interests#can#lead#to#great#achievements#later#in#life.

What is it? By Drusa Carrassi

The3Curious3Incident3Of3The3Dog3In3The3NightKTime3 is#truly#one#of#a#kind.#For#some#it#can#be#a#brilliant#work#of#art,#a#way#to#connect#with#those#struggling#with#Aspergers# syndrome,#however# some#may#not#understand#a#unique# style#of#the#book#or#the#realism#of#characters#and#events.##!

A#very#distinctive# feature#of# the#novel#would#be# the#occasional# ‘random’#chapters,#which#would#provide#the#reader#with#seemingly#useless#information#and#facts.#However,# for#an#attentive#reader,# it# is#clearly#visible# that#such#chapters#are#extremely# important# for# they# provide# the# audience# with# an# insight# view# into#Christopher’s# mind.# Through# such# chapters,# readers# can# learn# more# not# only#about# the# protagonist# but# also# about# the# people# struggling# with# Aspergers#syndrome.#!# In# The# Curious# Incident3 Of3 the3 Dog3 in3 The3 NightKTime,# characters# and#events# are# very# straightforward# and# realistic.# For# some# readers,# such# style# is#favorable,#whereas#others# =ind#the#book# lacking# in#detail#and#that# for# them#is#an#automatic# loss#of# interest.#However,# the# lack#of#adjectives#and#descriptive#words#can#be#easily#explained#by#the#fact#that#Christopher,#from#whose#point#of#view#the#book# is# written,# simply# doesn’t# view# the# world# the# way# we# do:# he# doesn’t# see#beauty#and#he#doesn’t#know#how#to#describe#it,#however,#he#knows#numbers#–#and#that’s#what#the#reader#is#given.##!

The#novel# follows# a#detective# storyline#unlike# any#other.#As#Christopher#uncovers# the# truth# about# the# incident,# his# personal# life# becomes# involved.# The#reader#grows#attached#to#Christopher#–#a#boy,#who#is#clueless#about#emotions#and#what# love,# jealousy# can# drive# people# to.# Often# cases# of# dramatic# irony,#Christopher’s#struggles#and#hardships#make#the#reader#feel#even#more#sympathy#towards#his#character.##!# In#conclusion,#The#Curious#Incident3Of3the3Dog3in3The3NightKTime3is#a#very#unique# book,# and# everybody’s# opinion# is# also# unique.# Some# can# =ind# a# lot# of#negatives,#whereas#others#can#=ind#the#positives,#but#there#is#one#thing#for#sure#–#the#book#will#leave#everyone#with#some#kind#of#a#feeling,#emotion#or#opinion.#

A Critique on the Novel By Maria Gubiev

Horoscopes By Drusa Carrassi

Q:# I# know# it#must# have# been# extremely#dif=icult# for# a#mother# not# to# be# able#to# have# physical# contact# with# her#son.#As#we#both#know,#children#with#autism# frequently# dislike# hugging,#kissing# or# contact# of# any# kind.# How#did#you#overcome#this#problem?#

A:$ It$wasn’t$ easy$by$ any$means,$ especially$at$ Tirst.$ It$ took$ some$ getting$ used$ to.$Even$now,$sometimes$I$forget$that$I$am$not$ supposed$ to$ hug$ him.$ To$make$ up$for$it,$Ed$and$I$came$up$with$a$sign$all$of$our$own.$We$spread$our$hands$in$a$fan$and$touch$our$Tinger$tips$likes$this$[she$demonstrates].$ It$ seems$ a$ little$ silly$ at$T irst$ but$ i ts$ special$ to$ us$ and$Christopher$ knows$ we$ love$ him$ when$we$do$that.$

Q:#Christopher#is#doing#a#lot#better#now.#I# know# he# has# passed# his# Further#Maths# for# A# level# exam# with# =lying#colours# and# he# is# headed# for#university#in#a#couple#of#years.#What#do#you#think#has#helped#him#most?##

A:$I$am$so$proud$of$Christopher$right$now.$He$ was$ able$ to$ reach$ his$ goal$ and$pursue$his$ interest$ in$math.$ I$ think$his$teachers$at$the$school,$particularly$Miss$Siobhan,$have$helped$him$a$lot.$His$trip$to$London$a$few$years$back$also$helped$him$gain$conTidence$in$himself$and$has$encouraged$him$to$do$even$better.$!!!!!!

By"now"it"was"past"four"o’clock"(4:14"pm"as" Christopher"would" say)." I" bid"my" farewell" to" Mrs" Boone" and"thanked" her" for" her" time." As" I" was"walking" to" my" car," I" saw" a" young"teenage"boy"walk"to"the"house."!

Q:# You# suffered# from# depression# a# few#years# ago.# It# must# have# been# very#dif=icult# for# you# to# accept# that# life#would# never# be# the# same# now# that#you# had# to# take# care# of# a# child#with#disabilities.# How# did# you# surmount#that# obstacle?# What# advice# can# you#give# to# other# parents# with# children#who#suffer#from#autism?#

A:$As$I$have$said$before,$raising$a$child$with$autism$was$very$difTicult$for$me.$It$put$a$strain$ on$ my$ relationship$ with$ my$husband$ and$ caused$ me$ to$ severely$doubt$ myself.$ There$ were$ days$ I$thought$ I$ was$ completely$ invisible$ in$my$ house,$ since$ I$ felt$ that$ no$ one$understood$ how$ I$ felt.$ That$ was$ the$lowest$ moment$ of$ my$ life.$ Now,$however,$ I$have$learned$how$to$control$my$ emotions$ better$ and$ take$ better$care$of$myself.$It$is$still$hard$sometimes,$but$ I$ have$ learned$ how$ to$ appreciate$the$ good$ times$ more.$ My$ advice$ to$other$parents$ is$ to$ take$ it$one$day$at$a$time.$ Some$ days$ will$ be$ difTicult$ and$will$ make$ you$ want$ to$ tear$ your$ hair$out,$but$seeing$your$child$grow$up$will$make$up$for$all$of$it.$

He" was" carrying" a" book" on" physics"and"was"so"caught"up" in" it"he"didn’t"even"notice"I"was"there."Who"knows,"maybe" one" day" I’ll" see" that" boy"again." At" that" time," he" might" have"become" a" renowned" scientist," or"maybe"even"an"astronaut."

!!

Q:#When#was#the#=irst#time#you#noticed#that# your# son# was# affected# by#Asperger’s#syndrome?

A:$ I$ don’t$ really$ remember$ the$ exact$moment.$ I$ started$ seeing$ different$signs$ when$ he$ was$ just$ a$ little$ boy.$However,$ I$ think$ the$ moment$ he$started$ kindergarten,$ everything$became$ clear.$ The$ teachers$ called$ us$because$ they$noticed$that$he$wouldn’t$interact$ with$ the$ other$ children,$ and$that$he$would$even$hit$them$if$they$got$too$close$to$him$or$tried$to$touch$him.$So,$ my$ exAhusband$ and$ I$ decided$ to$take$him$to$the$doctor$and$that’s$when$we$found$out$the$truth.$

Q:#What#was#your#favourite#memory#of#Christopher#growing#up?#

A:$ I$ vividly$ remember$ a$ Christmas$ we$bought$Christopher$a$train$set.$He$was$so$happy$he$refused$to$go$to$sleep$that$night$ because$ he$ wanted$ to$ keep$playing.$He$was$obsessed$with$ it$ for$a$while.$Ed$and$I$explained$to$him$about$timetables$ and$ he$ loved$ that$ part$ so$much$ he$ made$ his$ own.$ You$ see,$ he$always$ likes$ to$ know$ the$ exact$ time.$This$is$probably$my$favourite$memory$of$him$as$a$child.$$

Q:#Was# it#dif=icult# to#raise#a#child#with#this# condition?# What# was# the#hardest#part?#

A:$Yes,$ raising$a$child$with$ this$condition$wasn’t$ easy.$ For$ a$ very$ long$ time$ I$believed$ I$ wasn’t$ a$ good$ enough$mother$to$Christopher,$but$the$truth$is$I$did$my$best.$Ed$was$always$better$at$it$ than$ I$ was.$ Christopher$ wasn’t$ an$easy$ child$ to$ bring$ up.$ He$ frequently$threw$ tantrums,$ for$ example,$ when$ I$had$to$prepare$his$meals.$I$don’t$know$if$you$know$this,$but$Christopher$hates$the$ colours$ yellow$ and$ brown,$ so$ he$always$ refused$ to$ eat$ anything$ with$that$ colour.$ I$ admit$ that$ it$ was$ very$tiring$ for$me$at$ times.$The$worst$part$was$that$I$couldn’t$explain$my$feelings$to$him$so$we$always$ended$up$arguing.$

Q:# I# know# that# you# left# your#family#a#few#years#ago.#Do#you#regret#your#decision?#

A:$ At$ the$ time,$ I$ thought$ that$ was$the$best$for$them$and$for$myself.$I$ needed$ a$ break$ from$ that$ life$and$ I$ thought$ that$ Christopher$would$have$been$better$off$with$his$father.$However,$I$now$realise$I$ was$ wrong$ and$ there$ is$ not$ a$day$that$goes$by$in$which$I$don’t$regret$ having$ left$ my$ son.$ I$ am$glad$though$that$we$were$able$to$rebuild$our$relationship.$

Q:#So,#you#have#now#mended#your#relationship# with# your# son.#What# activities# do# you# do#together?#

A:$ Christopher$ and$ I$ don’t$ really$have$ a$ lot$ of$ things$ in$ common.$He$really$likes$math$and$science,$which$ I$ admit$ are$ not$ my$ best$subjects.$ However,$ I$ do$ enjoy$spend ing$ t ime$ w i th$ h im .$Sometimes$we$watch$ the$nature$programs$ on$ TV$ together,$ while$other$ times$ I$ take$ him$with$me$at$the$garden$centre$and$we$look$at$the$different$plants.$He$always$knows$a$lot$of$stuff$about$them.$

An Interview with Judy Boone

By Gennaro Fusillo

An Interview with Ed Boone By Riccardo Mancini !Interview3with3Ed3Boone,3the3father3of3Christopher3Boone.3The33interviewer,3in3this3case,3is3aware3of3Christopher’s3problem3and3the3fact3that3he3has3Aspergers3syndrome.3All3of3these3questions3 are3 asked3 to3 father3 before3 Christopher3 starts3writing3 his3 detective3 book3 and3lead3 us3 into3 what3 father3 might3 be3 like3 in3 the3 plot.3 This3 interview3 does3 include3 some3slightly3vulgar3language3(common3in3father’s3case)3and3does3include3lots3of3reference3to3Ed’s3son,3Christopher.3!How%does%it%feel%personally%to%you%to%have%a%son%with%such%a%condition?%%Why#what# an# insane# question.# Parents# are# the# people# that# love# their# children#more#than#anyone#else#in#the#world#and#cannot#be#stopped#by#anything#in#doing#so.#I#love#my#child#with#this#syndrome#and#I#would#have#loved#my#child#in#the#same#way#if#he#hadn’t#had# Aspergers.# It# is# obvious# that# it#might# be#more# complicated# to# look# after# such# a#child#but#by#no#means#does#that#make#my#love#for#Christopher#decrease.#He#does#cross#the#line#and#get#me#irate#at#times#for#any#bloody#(sic.),#foolish#thing#that#he#does#but#I#love#him#and#that’s#what#matters.#!How%do%you%look%after%your%child?%%I#am#alone#but#I#can#perfectly#handle#and#cope#with#my#son.#I#might#not#have#help#to#care#and#look#after#Christopher#but#why#should#I#bloody#care?#I#don’t#need#any#help#to#keep#Christopher#out#of#trouble.#And,#plus,#he#loves#me#and#that’s#the#important#part.#He#trusts#me#and#he#knows#that#I#will#always#be#there#for#him#and#I#don’t#mind#if#I’m#the#only#person#in#the#world#that#loves#him#and#looks#after#him#because#I#know#that#he#loves#me# as#well# and#we#wont# ever# let# each# other# down.# By# now# I’m# used# to# being#alone#with#my#son.#

Imagine* seeing* a* 15* year* old* boy* in* the*mall*wetting* himself,* rocking* back* and*forth,*making*loud,*animalistic*noises.*The*Lirst*thought*that*might*come*to*mind*is*deLinitely*not*that* ‘he*has*Aspergers’.*Dealing*with*someone*who*is*afLlicted*with*Aspergers*syndrome*can*be*very*difLicult,*and*different*perspectives*of*people*will*treat*them*differently.*!NImmediate*Family*Member:*!* It* might* be* the* most* difLicult* for* a* close* family* member,* like* a* mother,*father,* brother* or* sister* to* be* the* one* to*have* to*deal*with*Aspergers* syndrome.*People*afLlicted*like*their*space,*do*not*like*being*touched,*do*not*like*their*routine*being*broken,*and*all*this*can*be*very*challenging*for*a*normal*person*to*abide*to,*because*it*is*simply*abnormal*to*us.*It*takes*getting*used*to,*and*can*be*frustrating.*Love*is*very*hard*to*get*across,*and*social*interaction*is*kept*to*the*bare*minimum.*The*way* they* express* love*may*not*be* the*way*we*express* it* at* all,* and*at* times*there*is*no*way*to*communicate*at*all.*All*these*problems*can*seriously*irritate*the*relationship* between,* for* example,* a* father*who* has* to* take* care* of* his* afLlicted*son.*!NDistant*Family/Friends:*!* Once* again,* it* is* very* difLicult* for* normal* people* to* abide* to* the* rules* a*person* with* Aspergers* has* set* up* for* themselves,* especially* if* they* do* not*frequently*meet* the*person.* It*can*be*very*hard*to*make*acquaintances*with*that*person*because* it*might*make*you*extremely*uncomfortable,*or*vice*versa.* It*can*drive*one’s*patience*away*to*try*and*make*friends*with*someone*with*Aspergers.*There*is*no*way*around*it,*but*to*take*time*and*learn*about*them,*their*condition,*and*being*there*for*them*when*they*need*you.*!NA*stranger*!* It*is*the*easiest*for*someone*with*no*connection*to*the*person*to*deal*with*them,* for* they* can* simply* write* them* off* as* ‘mad’.* Although* one* might* express*concern,*it*will*most*likely*be*rebuked*and*they*will*refuse*to*help*any*farther*than*needed.*There* is*no*need* for* that*person*to*go* through*the* trouble* to*help* them*when* they* are* being* punished* for* doing* so.* It* is* a* simple* and* straightforward*choice*for*them*to*make.** *In* conclusion,*having* to*deal*with*someone*with*Aspergers*can*be*a*burden,*but*with*effort*and*understanding,*you*can*work*around* it* to*see* them*for*who*they*are.*It* is*a*long*and*perplexing*path*to*wrap*one’s*head*around*the*situation,*but*once*it*is*done,*the*endeavour*pays*off.*

Sharing a room with someone with Aspergers By Shahriar Hossain

Everything*is*so*small,*So*thick,*so*blurred*I*cannot*face*reality*

I’m*here*Lost*in*confusion*

Dealing*with*my*future*Should*I*go*back?*No,*is*the*answer*

I’ve*done*what’s*best*for*me*I’ve*chosen*my*path*

And*I’ve*decided*to*follow*it*Just*as*dad*did*

By*lying*to*me*for*no*reason.*It*feels*like*eternity*My*head*is*spinning*

Every*hour*Every*minute*Every*second*

Weighs*too*much*But*I*have*to*face*my*life.*

I’m*here*And*I’m*halfway*there.*

A Second in Christopher’s Thoughts By Giulia Sopranzi

Does% your% son% frequently% get% into% trouble?% If% you’re% alone% then% how% can% you%constantly%be%looking%after%your%son%at%home?%Christopher#stays#home#alone#and#waits# for#me#to#come#home#from#work#for#dinner.#

Personally,#I#do#get#worried#when#I#remember#that#my#son#is#bloody#home#alone.#But#

then#I#remember#that#there#isn’t#any#alternative#solution#for#when#I’m#at#work#and#he#

comes#back#from#school.#I#mean#he#wouldn’t#last#a#minute#in#my#of=ice#without#yelling#

or#doing#any#of#his#usual#groaning#and#I#wouldn’t#trust#those#bloody#teachers#at#school#

to#look#after#him#for#like#2#or#3#hours#for#God’s#sake.#He#does#tend#to#get#into#trouble,#

Christopher.# But# I# know# that# even#when# he# does# get# into# trouble# he# knows# how# to#

redeem# his# mistake# and# try# to# atone# the# damage# that# he’s# done# which# isn’t# much,#

usually.##!Could%you%give%me%a%general%overview%of%your%relationship%with%your%son%and%the%community% that% surrounds% both% of% you?% Does% anybody% else% have% a% close%relationship%with%Christopher?%%Being# alone# my# son# and# I# depend# on# each# other.# I# depend# on# him# as# much# as# he#

depends#on#me.# I#wash#his#clothes,# I# feed#him#and#I# love#him.#He#keeps#me#company#

and#is#my#bloody#son.#Our#relationship#mainly#depends#on#the#idea#of#trust.#If#I# leave#

him#home#alone#I#have#to#trust#him#to#not#make#a#mess#or#get#into#any#trouble.#He#also#

has#to#trust#me#and#the#fact#that#I#love#him#and#I#wont#hurt#him.#Even#though#we#don’t#

constantly# respect# our# “trust# rules”# we# still# love# each# other# and# give# each# other#

another#chance.#Based#on#the#community#I#mean…#Christopher#doesn’t#really#have#lots#

of# friends# although# we# all# have# quite# a# nice# relationship# with# one# another,# us#

neighbours# I#mean.#Apart# from# those#drug# addicts# that# live# close# to# us.# I# always# tell#

Christopher#to#stay#away#from#them#to#not#get#negatively#in=luenced#by#them#and#not#

get#into#any#damned#trouble.##!You%previously%stated%that%you%are%alone%in%looking%after%your%son…%why%is%that?%My# wife# has# passed# away.# Yes,# she# died# of# a# heart# attack# and# left# the# two# of# us,#

Christopher#and#I.#I#bloody#miss#her#at#times#but#we#need#to#be#strong#and#accept#the#

truth.#Well…# yeah.# That’s# pretty#much# all# I# can# say# about# such# a# small# topic# and# it#

disturbs#me#to#go#into#detail,#I#mustn’t#say#why.#I#mean#nothing#too#personal#but#surely#

none#of#your#business.##!Are%there%any%neighbours%that%you%get%along%particularly%well%with%or%any%that%you%dislike%(apart%from%the%drug%addicts)?%I#must#say#that#both#Christopher#and#I#have#quite#a#close#relationship#with#Mrs.#Shears.#

She#leaves#next#door#to#us#and#whenever#I#need#her#to#help#me#in#any#way#I#know#she#

will#and#I#know#I#can#count#on#her…#at#least#I#thought#I#could.#As#well#as#that,#she#treats#

Christopher#like#a#son.#She#treats#him#well#(although#they#don’t#really#see#each#other#a#

lot)#and#I#know#that#she#wouldn’t#ever#do#any#harm#to#him#although#by#no#means#will#I#

want#to#leave#my#son#with#her#alone.

Different Eyes, Different perspectives,

Different Lives By Kristen Ong !!

“The# Curious# Incident# of# the# Dog# in# the# NightEtime”,# is# a# book#written# from# an# autistic# teenager’s# point# of# view.# Christopher,# the#protagonist,# is# a# =ifteenEyearEold# boy# who# has# been# diagnosed# with#Aspergers# and# this# book# shows# how# he# deals# with# life# and#communicates#with#people#who#are#different#from#him.#Throughout#the#course#of# the#story,#Christopher#has# to#go# through#many#events# in# life,#which#for#some#other#teenagers#would#be#easy,#but#in#his#case,#they#are#obstacles.#He# is#different.#He# is# special.#He# is#not# like#any#of# the#other#people#in#his#life.# !

“I find people confusing.” !Because Christopher has Asperger’s Syndrome, he is very

intellectual but struggles once it comes to socialising#and#interacting#with#other# people.# He# =inds# them# “confusing”.# Whenever# he# is# in# the#presence#of#a#stranger#or#surrounded#by#a#herd#of#people#in#a#store,#he#would# moan,# groan# and# “start# to# shout”.# Normal# teenagers# would#complain# to# their#parents#or# go#outside# and# simply#wait# for# them# to#=inish.#Most#people#would#=ind#that#rude#on#his#part,#but#for#him,#it#is#the# only#way# he# can# cope#with# those# situations.# His# struggles# aren’t#solely# with# strangers# but# also# with# his# own# family# and# neighbours.#Every# time#his#parents# try# to# show#him#any#sense#of# compassion,#he#shuts#them#down#and#=inds#them#negligible.#When#his#mother#wanted#to# hug# him# after# not# seeing# him# for# a# long# time,# he# rejected# her.# He#personally#doesn’t#enjoy#physical#contact#but#he#doesn’t#even#consider#what#a#simple#action#could#mean#to#someone#else.#He#goes#through#life#not# knowing# how# emotions# work# or# how# to# communicate# with#another# human# being;# his# mind# is# like# a# computer.# He# can# solve#mathematical#equations#in#a#split#second,#and#can#discuss#facts#about#physics#and#science#for#hours#on#end.##!

In#the#presence#of#a#human,#he#may#seem#weird;#he#may#not#be#normal# to#YOUR#eyes.#But#he# just# sees# the#world# through#a#different#pair#of#eyes.#

Did3Christopher3 ever3 talk3 about3 his3 difIiculties3 or3 show3 them3 to3 you3 in3 any3 sort3 of3way?3!What#do#you#mean#by#show?#Christopher#never#intentionally#showed#how#hard#a#time#he#was#having#to#me.#All#he#did#was#continue#to#live#his#life#and#I#noticed#how#hard#it#might#have#been#for#him#at#times#without#him#speci=ically#telling#me.##!How3does3Christopher3generally3express3his3feeling3and3emotions?3!That#is#probably#the#thing#he#=inds#hardest#to#understand:#emotions.#He#generally#doesn’t#express#his#feelings#explicitly#and,#therefore,# it# is#up#to#me#to#understand#how#he#feels#and#what#he#might#need#in#that#moment.#If#he#is#worried#I#understand#it#by#myself.#I#usually#interpret#what#he#is#feeling#by#the#bloody#questions#that#he#asks# me.# Christopher# used# to# spend# most# of# his# day# (especially# when# he# was#younger)# asking# me# questions# about,# for# example,# what# colour# the# food# would#have#been#for#dinner#and#that#was#when#I#assumed#that#he#was#hungry.##!Do3 you3 ever3 feel3 like3 you3 need3 to3 talk3 to3 someone3 about3 the3 situation3 and3 the3difIiculties3in3your3life?3!At# times# I# do.# But# when# I# realise# I# don’t# have# anyone# to# talk# to# at# that# speci=ic#moment,# I# consult# myself.# Am# I# doing# the# right# job# to# be# a# good# father# to#Christopher?#I#end#up#asking#questions#like#that#to#myself#and#sometimes#it#looks#quite#strange#because#I#start#talking#to#myself.#But#the#only#thing#I’m#certain#about#is#that#I#love#Christopher.#I#have#nothing#else#to#add.##

CHRISTOPHER By Giulia Sopranzi

!Closed Hardworking Rebellious Intelligent Serious Talented Opinionated Particular Hardhearted Emotional Reclusive

!•! Analogies*

1)##################is#to#prudence#as#observant#is#to#perceptive#2)frosted#is#to#melted#as##############is#to#calm#3)padded#is#to#cushion#as##############is#to#newspapers#!

•! Fill*in*the*Blank*1)#That############attempt#of#hitting#the#ball,#barely#reached#the#=irst#base.#2)#The#policeman#told#Christopher#they#would#keep#a###########of#what#happened#that#day#that#they#would#use#if#he#got#into#any#more#trouble.#3)#After#a#brief############,#the#professor#got#back#on#track#and#continued#explaining#the#process#of#photosynthesis.#!

•! Synonym*&*Antonym*1)#S:#a#crumpled#pipe#E##2)#A:#lightly#wounded#E##3)#A:#permanent#job#E##

SANCTUARY ILLITERACY HATCH FLEECESPAZZERS HEDGESTOWEDFACILITIES ROISTERERS

Novel*Challenges*!•! Guess*the*Quote*1.# “Yes,#I#was#listening#to#what#you#were#saying,#but#

when#someone#gets#murdered#you#have# to# =ind#out#who#did#it#so#that#they#can#be#punished.”##

2.# “No.# It’s# an# ordinary# hospital.# She# has# a#problem…a#problem#with#her#heart.”#

3.# “Don’t# you# ever,# ever# think# about# other# people#for#one#second,#eh?”#

4.# “Christopher,# I# am# just# about# holding# this#together.#But#I#am#this#close#to#losing#it,#all#right?#So#just#give#me#some#time…”#!

•! Facts*in*Chronological*Order*A.# The# policeman# arrests# Christopher# –# Christopher# =inds# the#

dog#dead#on#Mrs#Shears’#garden#–#Father#tells#Christopher#to#keep#his#nose#out#of#people’s#business#–#Christopher#goes#to#Mrs.#Shears’#house#to#tell#her#he#didn’t#kill#the#dog.#1)# ##2)# ##3)# ##4)# ##

B.# Christopher’s#father#=inds#his#book#–#Christopher#promises#he#will# stop# investigating# –# Christopher# talks# with# Mrs#Alexander# and# she# invites# him# to# tea# –# Christopher# and# his#father#go#to#the#zoo##1)#2)#3)#4)#

!Trivia Challenge: The Curious

Incident of the Dog in the Night Time !By Gennaro Fusillo

A.# Christopher’s# father#admits#he#killed#Wellington#–#Christopher#=inds#his#mother’s# letters#–#Christopher# takes#his#Math#A# level#exam#–#Christopher#goes#to#London#1)#2)#3)#4)#!

•! Multiple*Choice*1)# How#was#Wellington#killed?#

a)# gun#b)# knife#c)# shovel#d)# garden#fork#

2)# How# do# Mother# and# Father# express# their# love# for#Christopher?#a)# they#hug#him#b)# they#kiss#him#c)# they#pat#him#on#the#back#d)# spreading#their#=ingers#apart#in#a#fan#

3)# What#is#Christopher’s#favourite#book?#a)3 The3Hound3of3the3Baskervilles#by#Sir#Arthur#Conan#Doyle#b)3 Heart3of3Darkness#by#Joseph#Conrad#c)3 The3Masqueraders#by#Georgette#Heyer#d)3 A3Study3in3Scarlet#by#Sir#Arthur#Conan#Doyle#!

•! True*or*False*1)# The#Case#of#the#Cottingley#Fairies#refers#to#one#of#Christopher’s#

favorite#math#problems.#T/F#2)# Christopher#dislikes#the#colors#red#and#blue.#T/F#3)# Christopher#compares#his#memory#to#a#DVD#player.#T/F#!

Vocabulary*Challenges*3 Word#Bank:#stacked3–3hatch3–3padded3–3caution3–3record3–3Ileece3–33 corrugated3–3observant3–3sanctuary3–3spazzers3–3digression3–3frosted3–33 hedge3–3stowed3–3facilities3–3anemic3–3illiteracy3–3roisterers3–333 grievously3–3giddy3K3temporary3!

Mother#Christopher#Mrs#Shears##Mr#Shears##Father#Siobhan#

Novel*Challenges*!•! Guess*the*Quote*1.# “Yes,#I#was#listening#to#what#you#were#saying,#but#

when#someone#gets#murdered#you#have# to# =ind#out#who#did#it#so#that#they#can#be#punished.”##

2.# “No.# It’s# an# ordinary# hospital.# She# has# a#problem…a#problem#with#her#heart.”#

3.# “Don’t# you# ever,# ever# think# about# other# people#for#one#second,#eh?”#

4.# “Christopher,# I# am# just# about# holding# this#together.#But#I#am#this#close#to#losing#it,#all#right?#So#just#give#me#some#time…”#!

•! Facts*in*Chronological*Order*A.# The# policeman# arrests# Christopher# –# Christopher# =inds# the#

dog#dead#on#Mrs#Shears’#garden#–#Father#tells#Christopher#to#keep#his#nose#out#of#people’s#business#–#Christopher#goes#to#Mrs.#Shears’#house#to#tell#her#he#didn’t#kill#the#dog.#1)# ##2)# ##3)# ##4)# ##

B.# Christopher’s#father#=inds#his#book#–#Christopher#promises#he#will# stop# investigating# –# Christopher# talks# with# Mrs#Alexander# and# she# invites# him# to# tea# –# Christopher# and# his#father#go#to#the#zoo##1)#2)#3)#4)#

!Trivia Challenge: The Curious

Incident of the Dog in the Night Time !By Gennaro Fusillo

A.# Christopher’s# father#admits#he#killed#Wellington#–#Christopher#=inds#his#mother’s# letters#–#Christopher# takes#his#Math#A# level#exam#–#Christopher#goes#to#London#1)#2)#3)#4)#!

•! Multiple*Choice*1)# How#was#Wellington#killed?#

a)# gun#b)# knife#c)# shovel#d)# garden#fork#

2)# How# do# Mother# and# Father# express# their# love# for#Christopher?#a)# they#hug#him#b)# they#kiss#him#c)# they#pat#him#on#the#back#d)# spreading#their#=ingers#apart#in#a#fan#

3)# What#is#Christopher’s#favourite#book?#a)3 The3Hound3of3the3Baskervilles#by#Sir#Arthur#Conan#Doyle#b)3 Heart3of3Darkness#by#Joseph#Conrad#c)3 The3Masqueraders#by#Georgette#Heyer#d)3 A3Study3in3Scarlet#by#Sir#Arthur#Conan#Doyle#!

•! True*or*False*1)# The#Case#of#the#Cottingley#Fairies#refers#to#one#of#Christopher’s#

favorite#math#problems.#T/F#2)# Christopher#dislikes#the#colors#red#and#blue.#T/F#3)# Christopher#compares#his#memory#to#a#DVD#player.#T/F#!

Vocabulary*Challenges*3 Word#Bank:#stacked3–3hatch3–3padded3–3caution3–3record3–3Ileece3–33 corrugated3–3observant3–3sanctuary3–3spazzers3–3digression3–3frosted3–33 hedge3–3stowed3–3facilities3–3anemic3–3illiteracy3–3roisterers3–333 grievously3–3giddy3K3temporary3!

Mother#Christopher#Mrs#Shears##Mr#Shears##Father#Siobhan#

CHRISTOPHER By Giulia Sopranzi

!Closed Hardworking Rebellious Intelligent Serious Talented Opinionated Particular Hardhearted Emotional Reclusive

!•! Analogies*

1)##################is#to#prudence#as#observant#is#to#perceptive#2)frosted#is#to#melted#as##############is#to#calm#3)padded#is#to#cushion#as##############is#to#newspapers#!

•! Fill*in*the*Blank*1)#That############attempt#of#hitting#the#ball,#barely#reached#the#=irst#base.#2)#The#policeman#told#Christopher#they#would#keep#a###########of#what#happened#that#day#that#they#would#use#if#he#got#into#any#more#trouble.#3)#After#a#brief############,#the#professor#got#back#on#track#and#continued#explaining#the#process#of#photosynthesis.#!

•! Synonym*&*Antonym*1)#S:#a#crumpled#pipe#E##2)#A:#lightly#wounded#E##3)#A:#permanent#job#E##

S J R B H T S I T EP L O C A Y E L T CA V I T T R I L E EZ H S U C A T I G EZ L T S H U I T D LE J E T A T L E E FR F R O L C I R H GS T E W S N C A X MI T R E G A A C D PJ J S D E S F Y X I

SANCTUARY ILLITERACY HATCH FLEECESPAZZERS HEDGESTOWEDFACILITIES ROISTERERS

Different Eyes, Different perspectives,

Different Lives By Kristen Ong !!

“The# Curious# Incident# of# the# Dog# in# the# NightEtime”,# is# a# book#written# from# an# autistic# teenager’s# point# of# view.# Christopher,# the#protagonist,# is# a# =ifteenEyearEold# boy# who# has# been# diagnosed# with#Aspergers# and# this# book# shows# how# he# deals# with# life# and#communicates#with#people#who#are#different#from#him.#Throughout#the#course#of# the#story,#Christopher#has# to#go# through#many#events# in# life,#which#for#some#other#teenagers#would#be#easy,#but#in#his#case,#they#are#obstacles.#He# is#different.#He# is# special.#He# is#not# like#any#of# the#other#people#in#his#life.# !

“I find people confusing.” !Because Christopher has Asperger’s Syndrome, he is very

intellectual but struggles once it comes to socialising#and#interacting#with#other# people.# He# =inds# them# “confusing”.# Whenever# he# is# in# the#presence#of#a#stranger#or#surrounded#by#a#herd#of#people#in#a#store,#he#would# moan,# groan# and# “start# to# shout”.# Normal# teenagers# would#complain# to# their#parents#or# go#outside# and# simply#wait# for# them# to#=inish.#Most#people#would#=ind#that#rude#on#his#part,#but#for#him,#it#is#the# only#way# he# can# cope#with# those# situations.# His# struggles# aren’t#solely# with# strangers# but# also# with# his# own# family# and# neighbours.#Every# time#his#parents# try# to# show#him#any#sense#of# compassion,#he#shuts#them#down#and#=inds#them#negligible.#When#his#mother#wanted#to# hug# him# after# not# seeing# him# for# a# long# time,# he# rejected# her.# He#personally#doesn’t#enjoy#physical#contact#but#he#doesn’t#even#consider#what#a#simple#action#could#mean#to#someone#else.#He#goes#through#life#not# knowing# how# emotions# work# or# how# to# communicate# with#another# human# being;# his# mind# is# like# a# computer.# He# can# solve#mathematical#equations#in#a#split#second,#and#can#discuss#facts#about#physics#and#science#for#hours#on#end.##!

In#the#presence#of#a#human,#he#may#seem#weird;#he#may#not#be#normal# to#YOUR#eyes.#But#he# just# sees# the#world# through#a#different#pair#of#eyes.#

Did3Christopher3 ever3 talk3 about3 his3 difIiculties3 or3 show3 them3 to3 you3 in3 any3 sort3 of3way?3!What#do#you#mean#by#show?#Christopher#never#intentionally#showed#how#hard#a#time#he#was#having#to#me.#All#he#did#was#continue#to#live#his#life#and#I#noticed#how#hard#it#might#have#been#for#him#at#times#without#him#speci=ically#telling#me.##!How3does3Christopher3generally3express3his3feeling3and3emotions?3!That#is#probably#the#thing#he#=inds#hardest#to#understand:#emotions.#He#generally#doesn’t#express#his#feelings#explicitly#and,#therefore,# it# is#up#to#me#to#understand#how#he#feels#and#what#he#might#need#in#that#moment.#If#he#is#worried#I#understand#it#by#myself.#I#usually#interpret#what#he#is#feeling#by#the#bloody#questions#that#he#asks# me.# Christopher# used# to# spend# most# of# his# day# (especially# when# he# was#younger)# asking# me# questions# about,# for# example,# what# colour# the# food# would#have#been#for#dinner#and#that#was#when#I#assumed#that#he#was#hungry.##!Do3 you3 ever3 feel3 like3 you3 need3 to3 talk3 to3 someone3 about3 the3 situation3 and3 the3difIiculties3in3your3life?3!At# times# I# do.# But# when# I# realise# I# don’t# have# anyone# to# talk# to# at# that# speci=ic#moment,# I# consult# myself.# Am# I# doing# the# right# job# to# be# a# good# father# to#Christopher?#I#end#up#asking#questions#like#that#to#myself#and#sometimes#it#looks#quite#strange#because#I#start#talking#to#myself.#But#the#only#thing#I’m#certain#about#is#that#I#love#Christopher.#I#have#nothing#else#to#add.##

Everything*is*so*small,*So*thick,*so*blurred*I*cannot*face*reality*

I’m*here*Lost*in*confusion*

Dealing*with*my*future*Should*I*go*back?*No,*is*the*answer*

I’ve*done*what’s*best*for*me*I’ve*chosen*my*path*

And*I’ve*decided*to*follow*it*Just*as*dad*did*

By*lying*to*me*for*no*reason.*It*feels*like*eternity*My*head*is*spinning*

Every*hour*Every*minute*Every*second*

Weighs*too*much*But*I*have*to*face*my*life.*

I’m*here*And*I’m*halfway*there.*

A Second in Christopher’s Thoughts By Giulia Sopranzi

Does% your% son% frequently% get% into% trouble?% If% you’re% alone% then% how% can% you%constantly%be%looking%after%your%son%at%home?%Christopher#stays#home#alone#and#waits# for#me#to#come#home#from#work#for#dinner.#

Personally,#I#do#get#worried#when#I#remember#that#my#son#is#bloody#home#alone.#But#

then#I#remember#that#there#isn’t#any#alternative#solution#for#when#I’m#at#work#and#he#

comes#back#from#school.#I#mean#he#wouldn’t#last#a#minute#in#my#of=ice#without#yelling#

or#doing#any#of#his#usual#groaning#and#I#wouldn’t#trust#those#bloody#teachers#at#school#

to#look#after#him#for#like#2#or#3#hours#for#God’s#sake.#He#does#tend#to#get#into#trouble,#

Christopher.# But# I# know# that# even#when# he# does# get# into# trouble# he# knows# how# to#

redeem# his# mistake# and# try# to# atone# the# damage# that# he’s# done# which# isn’t# much,#

usually.##!Could%you%give%me%a%general%overview%of%your%relationship%with%your%son%and%the%community% that% surrounds% both% of% you?% Does% anybody% else% have% a% close%relationship%with%Christopher?%%Being# alone# my# son# and# I# depend# on# each# other.# I# depend# on# him# as# much# as# he#

depends#on#me.# I#wash#his#clothes,# I# feed#him#and#I# love#him.#He#keeps#me#company#

and#is#my#bloody#son.#Our#relationship#mainly#depends#on#the#idea#of#trust.#If#I# leave#

him#home#alone#I#have#to#trust#him#to#not#make#a#mess#or#get#into#any#trouble.#He#also#

has#to#trust#me#and#the#fact#that#I#love#him#and#I#wont#hurt#him.#Even#though#we#don’t#

constantly# respect# our# “trust# rules”# we# still# love# each# other# and# give# each# other#

another#chance.#Based#on#the#community#I#mean…#Christopher#doesn’t#really#have#lots#

of# friends# although# we# all# have# quite# a# nice# relationship# with# one# another,# us#

neighbours# I#mean.#Apart# from# those#drug# addicts# that# live# close# to# us.# I# always# tell#

Christopher#to#stay#away#from#them#to#not#get#negatively#in=luenced#by#them#and#not#

get#into#any#damned#trouble.##!You%previously%stated%that%you%are%alone%in%looking%after%your%son…%why%is%that?%My# wife# has# passed# away.# Yes,# she# died# of# a# heart# attack# and# left# the# two# of# us,#

Christopher#and#I.#I#bloody#miss#her#at#times#but#we#need#to#be#strong#and#accept#the#

truth.#Well…# yeah.# That’s# pretty#much# all# I# can# say# about# such# a# small# topic# and# it#

disturbs#me#to#go#into#detail,#I#mustn’t#say#why.#I#mean#nothing#too#personal#but#surely#

none#of#your#business.##!Are%there%any%neighbours%that%you%get%along%particularly%well%with%or%any%that%you%dislike%(apart%from%the%drug%addicts)?%I#must#say#that#both#Christopher#and#I#have#quite#a#close#relationship#with#Mrs.#Shears.#

She#leaves#next#door#to#us#and#whenever#I#need#her#to#help#me#in#any#way#I#know#she#

will#and#I#know#I#can#count#on#her…#at#least#I#thought#I#could.#As#well#as#that,#she#treats#

Christopher#like#a#son.#She#treats#him#well#(although#they#don’t#really#see#each#other#a#

lot)#and#I#know#that#she#wouldn’t#ever#do#any#harm#to#him#although#by#no#means#will#I#

want#to#leave#my#son#with#her#alone.

An Interview with Ed Boone By Riccardo Mancini !Interview3with3Ed3Boone,3the3father3of3Christopher3Boone.3The33interviewer,3in3this3case,3is3aware3of3Christopher’s3problem3and3the3fact3that3he3has3Aspergers3syndrome.3All3of3these3questions3 are3 asked3 to3 father3 before3 Christopher3 starts3writing3 his3 detective3 book3 and3lead3 us3 into3 what3 father3 might3 be3 like3 in3 the3 plot.3 This3 interview3 does3 include3 some3slightly3vulgar3language3(common3in3father’s3case)3and3does3include3lots3of3reference3to3Ed’s3son,3Christopher.3!How%does%it%feel%personally%to%you%to%have%a%son%with%such%a%condition?%%Why#what# an# insane# question.# Parents# are# the# people# that# love# their# children#more#than#anyone#else#in#the#world#and#cannot#be#stopped#by#anything#in#doing#so.#I#love#my#child#with#this#syndrome#and#I#would#have#loved#my#child#in#the#same#way#if#he#hadn’t#had# Aspergers.# It# is# obvious# that# it#might# be#more# complicated# to# look# after# such# a#child#but#by#no#means#does#that#make#my#love#for#Christopher#decrease.#He#does#cross#the#line#and#get#me#irate#at#times#for#any#bloody#(sic.),#foolish#thing#that#he#does#but#I#love#him#and#that’s#what#matters.#!How%do%you%look%after%your%child?%%I#am#alone#but#I#can#perfectly#handle#and#cope#with#my#son.#I#might#not#have#help#to#care#and#look#after#Christopher#but#why#should#I#bloody#care?#I#don’t#need#any#help#to#keep#Christopher#out#of#trouble.#And,#plus,#he#loves#me#and#that’s#the#important#part.#He#trusts#me#and#he#knows#that#I#will#always#be#there#for#him#and#I#don’t#mind#if#I’m#the#only#person#in#the#world#that#loves#him#and#looks#after#him#because#I#know#that#he#loves#me# as#well# and#we#wont# ever# let# each# other# down.# By# now# I’m# used# to# being#alone#with#my#son.#

Imagine* seeing* a* 15* year* old* boy* in* the*mall*wetting* himself,* rocking* back* and*forth,*making*loud,*animalistic*noises.*The*Lirst*thought*that*might*come*to*mind*is*deLinitely*not*that* ‘he*has*Aspergers’.*Dealing*with*someone*who*is*afLlicted*with*Aspergers*syndrome*can*be*very*difLicult,*and*different*perspectives*of*people*will*treat*them*differently.*!NImmediate*Family*Member:*!* It* might* be* the* most* difLicult* for* a* close* family* member,* like* a* mother,*father,* brother* or* sister* to* be* the* one* to*have* to*deal*with*Aspergers* syndrome.*People*afLlicted*like*their*space,*do*not*like*being*touched,*do*not*like*their*routine*being*broken,*and*all*this*can*be*very*challenging*for*a*normal*person*to*abide*to,*because*it*is*simply*abnormal*to*us.*It*takes*getting*used*to,*and*can*be*frustrating.*Love*is*very*hard*to*get*across,*and*social*interaction*is*kept*to*the*bare*minimum.*The*way* they* express* love*may*not*be* the*way*we*express* it* at* all,* and*at* times*there*is*no*way*to*communicate*at*all.*All*these*problems*can*seriously*irritate*the*relationship* between,* for* example,* a* father*who* has* to* take* care* of* his* afLlicted*son.*!NDistant*Family/Friends:*!* Once* again,* it* is* very* difLicult* for* normal* people* to* abide* to* the* rules* a*person* with* Aspergers* has* set* up* for* themselves,* especially* if* they* do* not*frequently*meet* the*person.* It*can*be*very*hard*to*make*acquaintances*with*that*person*because* it*might*make*you*extremely*uncomfortable,*or*vice*versa.* It*can*drive*one’s*patience*away*to*try*and*make*friends*with*someone*with*Aspergers.*There*is*no*way*around*it,*but*to*take*time*and*learn*about*them,*their*condition,*and*being*there*for*them*when*they*need*you.*!NA*stranger*!* It*is*the*easiest*for*someone*with*no*connection*to*the*person*to*deal*with*them,* for* they* can* simply* write* them* off* as* ‘mad’.* Although* one* might* express*concern,*it*will*most*likely*be*rebuked*and*they*will*refuse*to*help*any*farther*than*needed.*There* is*no*need* for* that*person*to*go* through*the* trouble* to*help* them*when* they* are* being* punished* for* doing* so.* It* is* a* simple* and* straightforward*choice*for*them*to*make.** *In* conclusion,*having* to*deal*with*someone*with*Aspergers*can*be*a*burden,*but*with*effort*and*understanding,*you*can*work*around* it* to*see* them*for*who*they*are.*It* is*a*long*and*perplexing*path*to*wrap*one’s*head*around*the*situation,*but*once*it*is*done,*the*endeavour*pays*off.*

Sharing a room with someone with Aspergers By Shahriar Hossain

!!

Q:#When#was#the#=irst#time#you#noticed#that# your# son# was# affected# by#Asperger’s#syndrome?

A:$ I$ don’t$ really$ remember$ the$ exact$moment.$ I$ started$ seeing$ different$signs$ when$ he$ was$ just$ a$ little$ boy.$However,$ I$ think$ the$ moment$ he$started$ kindergarten,$ everything$became$ clear.$ The$ teachers$ called$ us$because$ they$noticed$that$he$wouldn’t$interact$ with$ the$ other$ children,$ and$that$he$would$even$hit$them$if$they$got$too$close$to$him$or$tried$to$touch$him.$So,$ my$ exAhusband$ and$ I$ decided$ to$take$him$to$the$doctor$and$that’s$when$we$found$out$the$truth.$

Q:#What#was#your#favourite#memory#of#Christopher#growing#up?#

A:$ I$ vividly$ remember$ a$ Christmas$ we$bought$Christopher$a$train$set.$He$was$so$happy$he$refused$to$go$to$sleep$that$night$ because$ he$ wanted$ to$ keep$playing.$He$was$obsessed$with$ it$ for$a$while.$Ed$and$I$explained$to$him$about$timetables$ and$ he$ loved$ that$ part$ so$much$ he$ made$ his$ own.$ You$ see,$ he$always$ likes$ to$ know$ the$ exact$ time.$This$is$probably$my$favourite$memory$of$him$as$a$child.$$

Q:#Was# it#dif=icult# to#raise#a#child#with#this# condition?# What# was# the#hardest#part?#

A:$Yes,$ raising$a$child$with$ this$condition$wasn’t$ easy.$ For$ a$ very$ long$ time$ I$believed$ I$ wasn’t$ a$ good$ enough$mother$to$Christopher,$but$the$truth$is$I$did$my$best.$Ed$was$always$better$at$it$ than$ I$ was.$ Christopher$ wasn’t$ an$easy$ child$ to$ bring$ up.$ He$ frequently$threw$ tantrums,$ for$ example,$ when$ I$had$to$prepare$his$meals.$I$don’t$know$if$you$know$this,$but$Christopher$hates$the$ colours$ yellow$ and$ brown,$ so$ he$always$ refused$ to$ eat$ anything$ with$that$ colour.$ I$ admit$ that$ it$ was$ very$tiring$ for$me$at$ times.$The$worst$part$was$that$I$couldn’t$explain$my$feelings$to$him$so$we$always$ended$up$arguing.$

Q:# I# know# that# you# left# your#family#a#few#years#ago.#Do#you#regret#your#decision?#

A:$ At$ the$ time,$ I$ thought$ that$ was$the$best$for$them$and$for$myself.$I$ needed$ a$ break$ from$ that$ life$and$ I$ thought$ that$ Christopher$would$have$been$better$off$with$his$father.$However,$I$now$realise$I$ was$ wrong$ and$ there$ is$ not$ a$day$that$goes$by$in$which$I$don’t$regret$ having$ left$ my$ son.$ I$ am$glad$though$that$we$were$able$to$rebuild$our$relationship.$

Q:#So,#you#have#now#mended#your#relationship# with# your# son.#What# activities# do# you# do#together?#

A:$ Christopher$ and$ I$ don’t$ really$have$ a$ lot$ of$ things$ in$ common.$He$really$likes$math$and$science,$which$ I$ admit$ are$ not$ my$ best$subjects.$ However,$ I$ do$ enjoy$spend ing$ t ime$ w i th$ h im .$Sometimes$we$watch$ the$nature$programs$ on$ TV$ together,$ while$other$ times$ I$ take$ him$with$me$at$the$garden$centre$and$we$look$at$the$different$plants.$He$always$knows$a$lot$of$stuff$about$them.$

An Interview with Judy Boone

By Gennaro Fusillo

Horoscopes By Drusa Carrassi

Q:# I# know# it#must# have# been# extremely#dif=icult# for# a#mother# not# to# be# able#to# have# physical# contact# with# her#son.#As#we#both#know,#children#with#autism# frequently# dislike# hugging,#kissing# or# contact# of# any# kind.# How#did#you#overcome#this#problem?#

A:$ It$wasn’t$ easy$by$ any$means,$ especially$at$ Tirst.$ It$ took$ some$ getting$ used$ to.$Even$now,$sometimes$I$forget$that$I$am$not$ supposed$ to$ hug$ him.$ To$make$ up$for$it,$Ed$and$I$came$up$with$a$sign$all$of$our$own.$We$spread$our$hands$in$a$fan$and$touch$our$Tinger$tips$likes$this$[she$demonstrates].$ It$ seems$ a$ little$ silly$ at$T irst$ but$ i ts$ special$ to$ us$ and$Christopher$ knows$ we$ love$ him$ when$we$do$that.$

Q:#Christopher#is#doing#a#lot#better#now.#I# know# he# has# passed# his# Further#Maths# for# A# level# exam# with# =lying#colours# and# he# is# headed# for#university#in#a#couple#of#years.#What#do#you#think#has#helped#him#most?##

A:$I$am$so$proud$of$Christopher$right$now.$He$ was$ able$ to$ reach$ his$ goal$ and$pursue$his$ interest$ in$math.$ I$ think$his$teachers$at$the$school,$particularly$Miss$Siobhan,$have$helped$him$a$lot.$His$trip$to$London$a$few$years$back$also$helped$him$gain$conTidence$in$himself$and$has$encouraged$him$to$do$even$better.$!!!!!!

By"now"it"was"past"four"o’clock"(4:14"pm"as" Christopher"would" say)." I" bid"my" farewell" to" Mrs" Boone" and"thanked" her" for" her" time." As" I" was"walking" to" my" car," I" saw" a" young"teenage"boy"walk"to"the"house."!

Q:# You# suffered# from# depression# a# few#years# ago.# It# must# have# been# very#dif=icult# for# you# to# accept# that# life#would# never# be# the# same# now# that#you# had# to# take# care# of# a# child#with#disabilities.# How# did# you# surmount#that# obstacle?# What# advice# can# you#give# to# other# parents# with# children#who#suffer#from#autism?#

A:$As$I$have$said$before,$raising$a$child$with$autism$was$very$difTicult$for$me.$It$put$a$strain$ on$ my$ relationship$ with$ my$husband$ and$ caused$ me$ to$ severely$doubt$ myself.$ There$ were$ days$ I$thought$ I$ was$ completely$ invisible$ in$my$ house,$ since$ I$ felt$ that$ no$ one$understood$ how$ I$ felt.$ That$ was$ the$lowest$ moment$ of$ my$ life.$ Now,$however,$ I$have$learned$how$to$control$my$ emotions$ better$ and$ take$ better$care$of$myself.$It$is$still$hard$sometimes,$but$ I$ have$ learned$ how$ to$ appreciate$the$ good$ times$ more.$ My$ advice$ to$other$parents$ is$ to$ take$ it$one$day$at$a$time.$ Some$ days$ will$ be$ difTicult$ and$will$ make$ you$ want$ to$ tear$ your$ hair$out,$but$seeing$your$child$grow$up$will$make$up$for$all$of$it.$

He" was" carrying" a" book" on" physics"and"was"so"caught"up" in" it"he"didn’t"even"notice"I"was"there."Who"knows,"maybe" one" day" I’ll" see" that" boy"again." At" that" time," he" might" have"become" a" renowned" scientist," or"maybe"even"an"astronaut."

Aspergers# syndrome# (ASD)# is# a# neurological# disorder# and# individuals#affected#by#this#illness#encounter#many#dif=iculties#concerning#the#control#of#their#behaviour.# This# syndrome# is# one# of# a# distinct# group# of# complex# brain# disorders#characterised# by# social# de=iciency,# communication# dif=iculties,# and# limited,#repetitive,#patterns#of#behaviour.##Although#the#diagnosis#at#age#2#is#the#goal,#many#with# ASD# are# not# recognised# until# later# because# of# the# poor# support# from# their#parents#in#early#life.#Aspergers#syndrome#is#considered#to#be#the#slightest#form#of#ASD#and#the#people#af=licted#are#the#most#highly#functioning#autistic#individuals,#in#fact,#most kids with Aspergers are able to live with less difficulties and complications than those with classic autism.

Furthermore,#each#child#with#this#particular#syndrome#is#different#and#his/her#disability#presents#it’s#own#unusual#challenges,#which#the#child#has#to#face.#The#student# often# demonstrates# great# scholastic# strengths,# although,# due# to# this#disorder,#the#individual#often#needs#special#assistance,#which#helps#to#make#those#strengths# develop.# Unfortunately,# students#with# Aspergers# Syndrome#meet#many#obstacles# in# their# daily# life,# regarding# interactions#with# other# people.# Since# they#don’t# actually# know# how# to# socialise,# they# often# become# victims# of# scapegoating#especially#in#school.

Additionally, a child with Aspergers may seem clumsy and drop things. He can easily fall and tries to avoid physical games with other kids. The youngster with Aspergers may show an insufficiency in his math skills, but does well in vocabulary. Most children affected by this disorder are unable to learn certain subjects, but may excel in others. Although they don’t intend to be mean, these children may seem to be insensible to other people’s feelings. They have few facial expressions, and, while speaking, they may stare into space. Another sign of Aspergers is obsessive interests. In fact the Aspergers child tends to show extraordinary commitment in some topics by the amount of time he spends to study them and how endlessly he talks about them and this adds#to#their#odd#performance#and their voice may seem that one of a robot, which doesn’t change its tone. Also, children# with# AS# aren’t# able# to# understand# human#relationships.

Moreover,#at#=irst,#a#student#affected#by#this#condition#may#act#or#seem#like#many#other#peers#in#his#class#but#then,#their#naivety#and#lacking#in#common#sense#become# more# visible.# Furthermore# their# inability# to# change# causes# these#individuals# to# be# easily# stressed# and# emotionally# vulnerable.# But# in# contrast,# the#focused#exposure#of#their#interests#can#lead#to#great#achievements#later#in#life.

What is it? By Drusa Carrassi

The3Curious3Incident3Of3The3Dog3In3The3NightKTime3 is#truly#one#of#a#kind.#For#some#it#can#be#a#brilliant#work#of#art,#a#way#to#connect#with#those#struggling#with#Aspergers# syndrome,#however# some#may#not#understand#a#unique# style#of#the#book#or#the#realism#of#characters#and#events.##!

A#very#distinctive# feature#of# the#novel#would#be# the#occasional# ‘random’#chapters,#which#would#provide#the#reader#with#seemingly#useless#information#and#facts.#However,# for#an#attentive#reader,# it# is#clearly#visible# that#such#chapters#are#extremely# important# for# they# provide# the# audience# with# an# insight# view# into#Christopher’s# mind.# Through# such# chapters,# readers# can# learn# more# not# only#about# the# protagonist# but# also# about# the# people# struggling# with# Aspergers#syndrome.#!# In# The# Curious# Incident3 Of3 the3 Dog3 in3 The3 NightKTime,# characters# and#events# are# very# straightforward# and# realistic.# For# some# readers,# such# style# is#favorable,#whereas#others# =ind#the#book# lacking# in#detail#and#that# for# them#is#an#automatic# loss#of# interest.#However,# the# lack#of#adjectives#and#descriptive#words#can#be#easily#explained#by#the#fact#that#Christopher,#from#whose#point#of#view#the#book# is# written,# simply# doesn’t# view# the# world# the# way# we# do:# he# doesn’t# see#beauty#and#he#doesn’t#know#how#to#describe#it,#however,#he#knows#numbers#–#and#that’s#what#the#reader#is#given.##!

The#novel# follows# a#detective# storyline#unlike# any#other.#As#Christopher#uncovers# the# truth# about# the# incident,# his# personal# life# becomes# involved.# The#reader#grows#attached#to#Christopher#–#a#boy,#who#is#clueless#about#emotions#and#what# love,# jealousy# can# drive# people# to.# Often# cases# of# dramatic# irony,#Christopher’s#struggles#and#hardships#make#the#reader#feel#even#more#sympathy#towards#his#character.##!# In#conclusion,#The#Curious#Incident3Of3the3Dog3in3The3NightKTime3is#a#very#unique# book,# and# everybody’s# opinion# is# also# unique.# Some# can# =ind# a# lot# of#negatives,#whereas#others#can#=ind#the#positives,#but#there#is#one#thing#for#sure#–#the#book#will#leave#everyone#with#some#kind#of#a#feeling,#emotion#or#opinion.#

A Critique on the Novel By Maria Gubiev

Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, was born in 1962. He graduated from Oxford University and became involved in numerous jobs that included dealing with adults and children with physical and mental disabilities. His life experience in looking after patients with several syndromes influenced his literary writing. His f irst book for chi ldren,  Gilbert 's Gobstopper, was first published in 1987 and resulted in writing many other children books. In 2003 his novel,  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, was published and has been greatly successful in two editions with different covers, both for adults and teenagers. Moreover, it has won prestigious awards. Mark Haddon decided to write about the image of a dead poodle with a gardening tool sticking out of it because he thought it was an entertaining idea. As stated by Haddon, the novel is not based on the syndrome of Asperger’s syndrome but the difference it makes in the person’s life. Even though Haddon has written the novel in first person, he claims of not having done previous research on autism but learning from his past experiences. In an interview with Powell’s Books, Haddon said that when he worked with autistic children, “autism wasn't a term that was even used much at the time, and only in retrospect do I realize that some of the people I worked with had autism, although they had it much more seriously than Christopher does.” Instead, Christopher’s character began to structure itself after the author had written a few pages of the book. He didn’t initially plan to write about an autistic boy. In an interview he’s been asked about the syndrome in the novel and Haddon explained, “I wish I’d never allowed the publishers to put the word ‘Asperger’s’ on the cover of Curious Incident. It became an issue book, and I found myself repeatedly saying: it’s not really about Asperger’s, it’s about difference. It’s about acceptance of others. It’s about that sidelong, Martian view of the world.” Furthermore, in another interview he revealed, “I am atheist in a very religious mould.” His atheism is evident in the novel and may have influenced the protagonist view over religion.

Christopher’s Birthday By Shahriar Hossain

! I!woke!up!at!7:20am!and!got!up! to! clean!my! teeth!and!wash!my! face.!While!doing! so,! I!glanced!at!my!calendar,!saw!that!it!was!January!16th,!and,!I!remembered!that!in!roughly!9!hours,!I!would!be!9855!days! old,! or! 27! years! old,! and! at! this! very!moment,! I! am!26! years,! 11!months,! 4!weeks,!3!days,!7!hours!and!25!minutes!old.!It!was!my!birthday,!so!I!decided!that!it!would!be!a!good!day!and!to!be!happy.!! I!gave!my!chihuahua!Toby!his!morning!meal,!had!my!breakfast,!got!dressed!(I!put!on!my!favourite!red!shirt),!and!I!read!a!book!for!half!an!hour.!At!8:30am!I!went!to!my!desk!to!start!working!on! improvements! and! calculations! for! SpaceX’s! Falcon! 9! space! ship.! When! I! got! to! my! desk,! I!checked!my!email!and!saw!that!I!have!5!new!messages.!The!Cirst!one!was!sent!at!8:00am!and!was!from!my!parents!under!the!subject!of!‘Happy!Birthday,!Son!’!and!it!said!!!Dear!Christopher.!!We!wish!you!a!happy!birthday!!We’ll!be!coming!around!for!tea!today!(as!usual),!only!this!time!we’ve!some!some!gifts!for!your!special!day!!!Love,!Mom!and!Dad!!! The!second!and! third!emails!were!sent!by!some!acquaintances! that! I!would!meet!rarely!from!work! that! happened! to! know!my!birthday.! The! last! two!were! from! two! friends! I! had!made!online!who!were!people!like!me,!and!they!had!both!gifted!me!a!video!game!on!my!wishlist!each.!One!of!them!lived!in!Swindon!and!had!invited!me!to!the!cinema!to!watch!‘The!Martian’!a!7:00pm.!After!reading!the!emails,!and!responding!to!all!of!them!with!the!expected!‘thank!you’,!I!started!my!work.!2!hours!had!passed!and!I! took!a!break!to!have!some!coffee!and!play!some!minesweeper.!My!time!today!was!96!seconds,!which!beat!my!longest!standing!(10!years)!record!of!97,!so!I!felt!a!bit!happier!after!that.!After!I!Cinished!my!coffee,!I!went!back!to!work.!! At! 12:30am! I! was! getting! hungry! so! I! got! up! to! go! cook! my! lunch.! Today’s! lunch! was!special!because!it!was!my!birthday!and!I!used!some!extra!ketchup.!After!cooking!lunch!I!sat!down!at!the!table!to!eat!and!while!I!was!eating!I!thought!about!Cinishing!work!early!today,!but!then!I!thought!that!would!be!a!waste!of!the!day!and!I!don’t!mind!working!on!my!birthdays.!After!Cinishing!my!lunch!I!put!the!dishes!in!the!sink!and!washed!them!and!put!them!away!neatly!where!they!are!supposed!to!go.!!! After!washing! the! dishes! I!went! back! to!work! until! it!was! 3:30!which!was!when! I! stop!working!and!then!I!sent!my!calculations!to!my!employer!in!SpaceX,!but!I!knew!he!would!not!reply!soon!because! it!was! the!weekend..! I! got!up! from!my!desk! to!have!a! snack!and!played!some! fetch!with!my!dog!to!give!it!some!exercise.!! After!that!I!went!to!watch!some!videos!on!my!computer,!which!was!when!I!realized!that!I!had!turned!27!years!old!exactly.!Just!another!year!of!life,!and!another!year!closer!to!death!I!suppose.!At!5:00!I!started!making!preparations! for! tea!and!planning! for! the!ensuing!conversation!between!my!parents!and!I.!

By!Giulia!Sopranzi

A"Letter"From"the"Editors:"Finalised"by"Riccardo"Mancini"!

The$ magazine$ that$ we$ made$ will$ include$ a$ bit$ of$everything.$ It$ can$ be$ described$ as$ a$ super$ creative$booklet$that$informs$and$teaches$the$reader$more$about$the$ novel$ we$ have$ read:$ “The$ Curious$ Incident$ of$ the$Dog$ in$ the$ NightAtime.”$ The$ main$ purpose$ of$ this$magazine$is$to$portray$our$knowledge$of$the$novel$and$to$show$you$all$the$things$we$have$learned$in$a$creative$way!$ You$ will$ be$ able$ to$ play$ our$ trivia$ games,$ at$ a$certain$point,$after$having$learned$about$the$characters$in$ Drusa’s$ very$ detailed$ horoscope.$ So$ the$ main$attribute$that$we$were$aiming$for$in$this$magazine$was$creativity$ and$ we$ hope$ that$ we$ were$ able$ to$ achieve$that.$Not$to$mention$the$fact$that$we$also$all$had$some$harder$written$tasks$to$do$that$range$from$a$critique$on$the$ novel$ to$ a$ writing$ based$ on$ the$ themes$ that$ are$found$in$the$novel.$You$might$not$yet$know$that$this$ is$book$is$quite$a$peculiar$one;$one$that$might$be$different$from$all$ the$ books$ that$ you’ve$ read$ so$ far$ in$ your$ life,$because$ Christopher,$ the$ main$ character,$ is$ not$ any$ordinary$ 15AyearAold$ boy.$ Therefore,$ to$ conclude$with,$we$ would$ like$ to$ wish$ you$ a$ happy$ reading$ of$ our$magazine$and$we$hope$that$you’ll$be$able$to$understand$more$ about$ the$ novel$ after$ having$ gone$ through$ the$pages.$ We$ have,$ as$ editors,$ all$ worked$ hard$ on$ this$magazine$ and$ we$ hope$ that$ the$ creativity$ that$ we$utilized$ in$ some$ sections$mixed$with$ the$writing$ tasks$that$ we$ did$ will$ successfully$ give$ you$ a$ complete$overview$ of$ the$ most$ important$ parts$ of$ the$ novel,$ a$novel$ that$we$strongly$advise$ for$you$ to$read$as$ it$will$surely$leave$you$out$of$breath.$Enjoy!!!!!$

I$liked$spending$my$birthdays$like$this$a$lot$better$than$what$I$did$last$time:$my$ ‘friends’$ had$ invited$me$ to$ a$ cafe$where$ there$were$ too$many$ people,$noises,$things$to$see,$and$it$gave$me$a$headache$and$I$wanted$to$get$out$but$my$

‘friends$wouldn’t$let$me$and$then$my$memory$went$blank$from$there$and$then$I$remember$being$back$home$again.$At$exactly$6:00pm,$the$doorbell$rang.$When$I$opened$the$door$it$was$my$parents$and$they$were$ carrying$ a$ bag$ and$ they$ held$ up$ their$ hands$ and$ I$ touched$ their$ hands$with$mine$Tinger$to$Tinger$to$show$that$they$loved$me.$“Hello,$mother,$father,”$I$said$“Hey$ Mr.$ Scientist,”$ father$ said$ with$ a$ smirk,$ which$ meant$ he$ was$ happy$ or$ was$ hiding$something.$ I$didn’t$understand$what$he$meant$by$ ‘Mr.$Scientist$ Tirst$but$ then$ I$ realized$ it$was$because$I$was$working$for$SpaceX$and$although$I$wouldn’t$be$able$to$get$into$space$(I$learnt$ to$ understand$ my$ limitations$ and$ put$ my$ talents$ to$ use$ from$ my$ last$ year$ with$Siobhan),$I$can$help$other$people$do$that.$“How$are$you,$Christopher?”$mother$said.$“I’m$Tine,$mother.$Please$come$inside$for$tea.”$“We$won’t$be$very$long.$We$know$you’re$a$busy$man$with$work$and$all$that,”$father$said.$I$did$not$say$anything$because$it$was$not$a$question.$After$we$sat$down$and$had$roughly$30$seconds$of$silence$my$parents$got$the$bag$and$pulled$out$a$neatly$wrapped$box$that$was$red$and$gave$it$to$me.$“Go$ahead,$you$can$open$it.”$father$said.$“You’ll$like$it,$I’m$sure$you$will.”$mother$said.$I$ opened$up$ the$wrapping$paper$ carefully$ and$ slide$ the$ box$ out$ from$ the$ side.$ It$was$ an$assembly$model$of$an$airAplane$that$was$missing$from$my$collection$that$was$set$up$in$my$bedroom.$$“Thank$you.”$I$said.$I$did$like$it.$After$some$mechanical$conversation$and$Tinishing$tea$my$parents$said$goodbye$and$left.$It$was$nice$to$have$company,$but$I$prefered$to$be$alone$for$most$of$the$time.$I$was$preparing$ to$ leave$ for$ the$cinema.$ I$ took$my$headphones$so$ that$ I$wouldn’t$have$ to$listen$to$anything$and$I$ looked$down$all$the$way$because$I$didn’t$need$to$see$where$I$was$going$because$I$knew$how$many$left$turns$and$right$turns$I$had$to$take$and$how$long$I$had$to$go$straight$for$because$I$had$a$GPS$on$my$smartphone$but$I$didn’t$even$need$that$because$I$had$it$all$memorized.$When$I$arrived$at$the$cinema$I$saw$my$friend$and$we$exchanged$greetings.$We$bought$two$tickets$and$went$inside.$I$liked$going$to$the$movies$because$I$didn’t$have$to$talk$and$if$you$went$on$the$right$days$it$wouldn’t$be$very$crowded,$but$this$movie$wasn’t$very$popular$at$this$time$so$it$wasn’t$very$crowded$so$it$was$perfect$for$me.$I$enjoyed$the$movie$because$ it$was$about$space$and$sending$humans$ to$Mars$but$ I$didn’t$understand$a$lot$of$the$humor$so$I$just$thought$about$how$I$can$work$on$a$spaceship$which$can$ send$ humans$ to$Mars.$ After$ the$movie$ ended$ I$ said$ goodbye$ to$my$ friend$ and$went$home.$On$the$way$home$someone$accidentally$bumped$into$me$and$I$wanted$to$hit$him$for$doing$that$but$I$didn’t$because$I$knew$it$was$wrong$to$hit$people$so$I$kept$walking.$I$saw$his$lips$moving$but$I$had$my$headphones$in$so$I$couldn’t$hear$him.$When$I$got$home$I$took$a$bath,$got$into$my$pyjamas,$had$a$light$dinner,$gave$Toby$his$dinner,$

! I!liked!spending!my!birthdays!like!this!a!lot!better!than!what!I!did!last!time:!my!‘friends’!had!invited!me!to!a!cafe!where!there!were!too!many!people,!noises,!things!to!see,!and!it!gave!me!a!headache!and!I!wanted!to!get!out!but!my!‘friends!wouldn’t!let!me!and!then!my!memory!went!blank!from!there!and!then!I!remember!being!back!home!again.!! At!exactly!6:00pm,!the!doorbell!rang.!When!I!opened!the!door!it!was!my!parents!and!they!were!carrying!a!bag!and!they!held!up!their!hands!and!I!touched!their!hands!with!mine!Cinger!to!Cinger!to!show!that!they!loved!me.!“Hello,!mother,!father,”!I!said!! “Hey!Mr.!Scientist,”!father!said!with!a!smirk,!which!meant!he!was!happy!or!was!hiding!something.!I!didn’t!understand!what!he!meant!by!‘Mr.!Scientist!Cirst!but!then!I!realised!it!was!because!I!was!working!for!SpaceX!and!although!I!wouldn’t!be!able!to!get!into!space!(I!learnt!to!understand!my!limitations!and!put!my!talents!to!use!from!my!last!year!with!Siobhan),!I!can!help!other!people!do!that.!“How!are!you,!Christopher?”!mother!said.!“I’m!Cine,!mother.!Please!come!inside!for!tea.”!“We!won’t!be!very!long.!We!know!you’re!a!busy!man!with!work!and!all!that,”!father!said.!! I!did!not!say!anything!because!it!was!not!a!question.!After!we!sat!down!and!had!roughly!30!seconds!of!silence!my!parents!got!the!bag!and!pulled!out!a!neatly!wrapped!box!that!was!red!and!gave!it!to!me.!“Go!ahead,!you!can!open!it.”!father!said.!“You’ll!like!it,!I’m!sure!you!will.”!mother!said.!! I!opened!up!the!wrapping!paper!carefully!and!slide!the!box!out!from!the!side.!It!was!an!assembly!model!of!an!airSplane!that!was!missing!from!my!collection!that!was!set!up!in!my!bedroom.!!“Thank!you.”!I!said.!I!did!like!it.!! After!some!mechanical!conversation!and!Cinishing!tea!my!parents!said!goodbye!and!left.!It!was!nice!to!have!company,!but!I!preferred!to!be!alone!for!most!of!the!time.!I!was!preparing!to!leave!for!the!cinema.!I!took!my!headphones!so!that!I!wouldn’t!have!to!listen!to!anything!and!I!looked!down!all!the!way!because!I!didn’t!need!to!see!where!I!was!going!because!I!knew!how!many!left!turns!and!right!turns!I!had!to!take!and!how!long!I!had!to!go!straight!for!because!I!had!a!GPS!on!my!smartphone!but!I!didn’t!even!need!that!because!I!had!it!all!memorised.!! When!I!arrived!at!the!cinema!I!saw!my!friend!and!we!exchanged!greetings.!We!bought!two!tickets!and!went!inside.!I!liked!going!to!the!movies!because!I!didn’t!have!to!talk!and!if!you!went!on!the!right!days!it!wouldn’t!be!very!crowded,!but!this!movie!wasn’t!very!popular!at!this!time!so!it!wasn’t!very!crowded!so!it!was!perfect!for!me.!! I!enjoyed!the!movie!because!it!was!about!space!and!sending!humans!to!Mars!but!I!didn’t!understand!a!lot!of!the!humour!so!I!just!thought!about!how!I!can!work!on!a!spaceship!which!can!send!humans!to!Mars.!After!the!movie!ended!I!said!goodbye!to!my!friend!and!went!home.!On!the!way!home!someone!accidentally!bumped!into!me!and!I!wanted!to!hit!him!for!doing!that!but!I!didn’t!because!I!knew!it!was!wrong!to!hit!people!so!I!kept!walking.!I!saw!his!lips!moving!but!I!had!my!headphones!in!so!I!couldn’t!hear!him.!! When!I!got!home!I!took!a!bath,!got!into!my!pyjamas,!had!a!light!dinner,!gave!Toby!his!dinner,!and!went!to!sleep.!Today!was!a!good!day

$ $ Front$Cover$ $ $ $ $ (Maria$Gubiev)$1.$ $$ Letter$from$the$Editors$$ $ $ (Riccardo$Mancini)$2.$$ $ Mark$Haddon$$ $ $ $ (Giulia$Sopranzi)$3.$$ $ What$is$it?$$ $ $ $ $ (Drusa$Carrassi)$4$A$5.$$ $ Horoscope$$ $ $ $ $ (Drusa$Carrassi)$6A7A8.$$$ An$Interview$with$Ed$Boone$$ $ (Riccardo$Mancini)$9.$$ $ Christopher$Boone$$ $ $ $ (Giulia$Sopranzi)$10A11A12.$$ Trivia$$$ $ $ $ $ (Gennaro$Fusillo)$13.$$ $ Different$Eyes,$Different$Perspectives,$$$$$$$$$$ $ Different$Lives$ $ $ $ (Kristen$Ong)$14.$$ $ A$Second$in$Christopher’s$Thoughts$ (Giulia$Sopranzi)$15.$$ $ Sharing$a$Room$with$Someone$$$ $ with$Asperger’s$$ $ $ $ (Shahriar$Hossain)$16A17.$$$ An$Interview$with$Judy$Boone$ $ (Gennaro$Fusillo)$18.$$ $ Critique$of$the$Novel$$ $ $ (Maria$Gubiev)$19A20.$$$ Christopher’s$Birthday$ $ $ (Shahriar$Hossain)$$ $ Back$Cover$$ $ $ $ $ (Maria$Gubiev)$$ $ Advertisments$on$Pages$ $ $ (Kristen$Ong)$!$ $ Editor$ $ $ $ $ $ (Kristen$Ong)$!

Magazine$by$English$9$Advanced$3

TABLE OF CONTENTS:$

All#Images#courtesy#of#Google#Images

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