Chapter 2

The novel has irregular chapter numbering, as the chapter numbers are only prime numbers.

It’s seven minutes past midnight when the story begins. The precise time is given because details like that are important to the narrator, Christopher Boone, a fifteen year old boy with autism. Knowing the time helps him feel safe. Christopher notes the time and the event, a dog is lying dead on the lawn with a pitchfork through its body. The dog’s name is Wellington. Christopher immediately wants to know who killed it.

Chapter 2 Quotes

The dog was dead. There was a garden fork sticking out of the dog. (Christopher Boone) Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Christopher declares he is good at numbers and geography. He can name capitals of the world but he can’t recognise facial expressions. His teacher, Siobhan, has drawn faces on a page to help, but he eventually abandons the guide.

Chapter 3 Quotes

My name is Christopher John Francis Boone. I know all the countries of the world and their capital cities and every prime number up to 7,507. Chapter 3

I got Siobhan to draw lots of these faces and then write down next to them exactly what they meant. I kept the piece of paper in my pocket and took it out when I didn’t understand what someone was saying. But it was very difficult to decide which of the diagrams was most like the face they were making because people’s faces move very quickly. Chapter 3

Chapter 5

Returning to the story, Christopher removes the pitchfork from the dog. Christopher explains why he likes dogs, because they are honest and can’t lie. Mrs Shears, the dog’s owner, appears from within the house and is yelling. Christopher can’t abide the yelling and puts his hands over his ears and curls up on the lawn. This further gives insight into aspects of Christopher’s character, influenced through his being on the autism spectrum.

Chapter 5 Quotes

I like dogs. You always know what a dog is thinking. It has four moods. Happy, sad, cross and concentrating. Chapter 5

Also, dogs are faithful and they do not tell lies because they cannot talk. Chapter 5

I do not like people shouting at me. It makes me scared that they are going to hit me or touch me and I do not know what is going to happen. Chapter 5

Chapter 7

It is revealed that the reader is reading the story written by Christopher, a story that his teacher had suggested he write. It will be like a murder mystery, because Christopher likes the genre and sees it like solving puzzles; he enjoys Sherlock Holmes’ novels like The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Chapter 7 Quotes

Siobhan said that the book should begin with something to grab people’s attention. That is why I started with the dog. I also started with the dog because it happened to me and I find it hard to imagine things which did not happen to me. Chapter 7

Chapter 11

Returning to the overarching narrative, the police arrive and question Christopher. Generally speaking, he likes the police because of the order and logic that surrounds them; they have a uniform, they have numbers and Christopher knows what they are supposed to do. Christopher begins answering the questions but as there are too many, he becomes overwhelmed and rolls into a ball on the lawn again. The police officer grabs him and Christopher strikes the officer. There is no malice in the act and this is seen as the reader developing an understanding of Christopher. The first person narrative gives valuable insight into the mind of the young character.

Chapter 11 Quotes

I like policemen, too, and I wanted to answer the question properly, but the policeman did not give me enough time to work out the correct answer. Chapter 11

Then the police arrived. I like the police. They have uniforms and numbers and you know what they are meant to be doing. Chapter 11

Chapter 13

More exposition into the type of book Christopher is writing and, in turn, further understanding of the author. He explains there won’t be any jokes because he doesn’t understand them. He especially dislikes puns and exploitation of a word’s double meaning.

Chapter 13 Quotes

This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them. Chapter 13

Chapter 17

The police officer explains he is arresting Christopher. Rather than being alarmed, this actually calms Christopher as this is what police are supposed to say according to the movies he has seen. On the way to the station, Christopher looks out the window at the cars. He ponders the size and shape of the universe, describing it as a disc. He shows some sound astronomical knowledge about the milky way which seems out of place in the situation; this disparity between situation and response is typical of the narrator and symptomatic of the autism spectrum.

Chapter 17 Quotes

This made me feel a lot calmer because it is what policemen say on television and in films. Chapter 17

Chapter 19

There is finally an explanation for why the chapters have been numbered irregularly, that they are all prime numbers, and an explanation as to what prime numbers represent. Christopher thinks that prime numbers are similar to life, in that they’re logical, but no one can figure out the rules that govern them. Between this and the previous chapter’s explanation of the universe, we see that Christopher shows genuinely advanced knowledge for his age. This is now juxtaposed with his lack of ability to negotiate the meeting with the police officer.

Chapter 19 Quotes

Prime numbers are what is left when you have taken all the patterns away. I think prime numbers are like life. They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them. (Christopher Boone) Chapter 19

Chapter 23

The next understanding of Christopher comes at the police station when he empties his pockets on command and describes every item in great detail. It shows how meticulous his mind is and how he enjoys the observance of details. On being placed in the cell, he is struck by the fact it is nearly a perfect cube and is somewhat comforted by the symmetry. He refuses to surrender his watch as knowledge of the exact time is essential to his world. He wonders if Mrs Shears has lied and told the police he killed Wellington the dog. Unconcerned for himself, he thinks Mrs Shears may go to jail for lying to the police.

Chapter 23 Quotes

I was also wearing my watch and they wanted me to leave this at the desk as well but I said that I needed to keep my watch on because I needed to know exactly what time it was. And when they tried to take it off me I screamed, so they let me keep it on. Chapter 23

It was nice in the police cell. Chapter 23

Chapter 29

Christopher reveals that metaphors such as ‘He was the apple of her eye’ or ‘We had a real pig of a day’ bother him as they aren’t truthful. This is important as truth is significant to Christopher and a pervasive theme in his writing. He also mentions that he finds people confusing because they often communicate nonverbally.

Chapter 29 Quotes

Mother used to say that it meant Christopher was a nice name because it was a story about being kind and helpful, but I do not want my name to mean a story about being kind and helpful. I want my name to mean me. Chapter 29

Chapter 31

Christopher’s father arrives at the police station. They greet each other in a unique way by holding up their hands with their fingers outspread, allowing their fingers to touch. Christopher explains that they greet each other this way because he does not like to be hugged. This compromise is symbolic of the relationship in that Christopher’s father has found a way to express his love in a way that Christopher can receive. Christopher is released after a stern warning, a warning that Christopher will remember and that will influence his later decisions.

Chapter 31 Quotes

He held up his right hand and spread his fingers out in a fan. I held up my left hand and spread my fingers out in a fan and we made our fingers and thumbs touch each other. (Christopher Boone) Chapter 31