Cross-Genre Christopher

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time offers us an interesting example of the cross-genre novel - it is, I believe significant for having been released simultaneously in the children's fiction and adult novel markets. It's not hard to see why the formula works - it's the story of a child character dealing with adult issues in a certainly adult-dominated world. Certainly, bereft of any "normal" children, or at any rate a school environment populated by younger characters, the world of Christopher Boone revolves mostly around the adults that influence him, and his stoic actions and reactions against. To the young, it's a beginner's detective novel and a convincing portrait of the confusion and newness of youth. To the older set, it's an examination of how the traditions of 'The Detective Novel' and typical translators can be twisted to serve new purposes and tell new stories, stories that give a different message and are more about the human condition than they are about the deviant criminal mind. The book certainly serves as an important bridge between the genres and is a fine example of a book that has a specific focus with a huge appeal.