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Book: The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Genre: Middle grade fiction
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Publication date: 2007
Pages: 323

Source: Library

Summary: Ted’s cousin disappears while taking a ride on the London Eye in full view of CC cameras and the watchful eyes of Ted and his sister. Ted has “a funny brain that runs on a different operating system from other people’s” but that difference might be just the thing to solve this mystery and figure out what has happened to his cousin, Salim.

Thoughts: The London Eye Mystery reminded me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (which, by the way, I recently learned is now running as a play in the West End of London and it looks fantastic!) because it uses the same technique — a first person narrator with an unusual voice due to Asperger’s Syndrome. This novel, though, is directed at younger readers so the whole experience is more gentle and less jarring.

Appeal: An excellent book for kids to explore the different ways that people experience the world and how that effects their relationships and abilities.

Reviews: Julia Tomiak recommended The London Eye Mystery when I was looking for more fun and easy books to read in advance of my trip to England. Her review includes the reactions of three of her kids! Thanks, Julia! This book definitely hit the spot.

Have you read this book? What did you think?