The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

When Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim disappears while riding the London Eye (the huge ferris-wheel-like observatory vehicle), only the kids are able to unravel the clues to find the missing boy.

What makes this pair uniquely qualified is what most people would define as a disability… Ted has Asperger’s Syndrome. Ted is obsessed with weather patterns and his logical (rather than emotional) mind leads him to wonder if Salim’s disappearance might have evolved in the same ways that the weather has evolved. Ted is constantly trying to share his thoughts with the adults, who tell him to “Shush.” It is his special abilities make him worth paying attention to!

This is a British novel, with a few spellings and uniquely English references that may provide a moment of pause for young American readers, but they add cultural character and realism to the story.

This book was listed on “Best Books” lists in both 2008 and 2009 and I highly recommend this for grades 5-8.