RSHE, Asperger's Syndrome, mystery, detective, disappearance, London
The London Eye Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd
Key information
Author: Siobhan Dowd
Illustrator: n/a
Release Date: 1st September 2016
Book type: Chapter, 336 pages, paperback
Star rating: ★★★★
Reader level: Confident (10+) [complex language and mature concepts]
Series: First of a series of 2
Age: Year 5+
Overview
Ted is a 12 year old boy who has Asperger Syndrome. When his Auntie comes to stay with her son, Salim, Ted makes his first friend outside of his immediate family, but this friendship is to be short lived as his Auntie has plans to move to New York. Before they leave, Salim is eager for a ride on the London Eye and the family head out to make this happen before their departure. However, things take a turn for the worst when Salim fails to return after his ride on the Eye, despite Ted keeping a watchful eye on the entire journey.
When the news is broken to his family, hysteria sets in and the adults begin to fear the worst. Ted, with his "unique" brain, decides that he has what it takes to solve the mystery of Salim's disappearance, with or without the adults' help. Ted begins to retrace their steps and looks for any clue that might lead to the safe return of his cousin. Throughout the story, we get an insight into Ted's mind and how his meticulous attention to details and ability to think laterally enables him to make progress towards returning Salim to his family safely.
During his investigation, Ted generates 9 theories of what might have happened to Salim. With the help of his sister, Ted tests each hypothesis with the aim of finding the one logical and therefore feasible explanation to Salim's disappearance. Meanwhile, the police department conduct their own investigation that send shock-waves through the family. Although written for children, this book contains some "real-life" scenarios that can be linked to missing person cases, such as murder, kidnap and child-trafficking, which is something to consider if using this book as a class read. There is also a body of a young man that is discovered by the police which Ted's father is asked to identify (it is not Salim's body!).
Key concepts/ideas
- Missing child
- Mystery
- Detective
- Asperger Syndrome (neurodivergence)
- Meteorology
- Social interactions
- Family
Considerations
- Kidnap (theoretical)
- Murder (theoretical)
- Police investigations
- Missing child
- Run-aways
- Death
Curriculum links
- Geography: London- the book is set in London, various human features mentioned (barracks, houses of parliament, underground, London Eye)
- Science - Ted's fixation on the weather. He uses many technical terms (gale force, meteorology, cumulonimbus)
Additional teaching opportunities
1. Writing:
- Newspaper report (Salim missing)
- Character description (Ted)
- Chronological report (sequence of events)
2. Reading lessons:
- Character profiles
- Sequencing events
- How is Ted unique?
- How does Ted's sister develop over the story?
- Was Salim wrong to disappear?
3. RSHE
- Asperger Syndrome
- Understanding and celebrating differences
- Social cues and interactions
4. Science
- Weather systems
5. DT
- Ferris wheel construction
Vocabulary opportunities
This book contains plenty of Tier 3 vocabulary linked to the topics of London and Meteorology.
| Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|
| neurologist, anticyclone, variables, shipping forecast, air pressure, convection currents, isobars, isotherms | |
| London underground, tube, London Eye, Barracks, Houses of Parliament |
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The Guggenheim Mystery (sequel)
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