Twelve-year-old Ted Spark is the main protagonist and narrator. He lives in a small house in South London with his mother, father, and sister. Ted’s mind is unusually brilliant, but he has trouble interpreting social cues. The reader can infer that Ted knows he has autism and that this sets him apart from others. He dislikes it when attention is drawn to his autism, and his body reacts to the stress: “My hand shook itself out and a bad feeling went up my esophagus” (15-16).

He and Kat have trouble getting along: Kat is impatient with Ted and his methods of processing the world around him. Her abrupt mood changes and pushy personality baffle him. He trains himself to be patient with her, and she, in turn, begins to respect and admire his sharp intelligence and calming logic.

Ted strains against the dismissive adults in his life who don’t take the time to listen to him. They regard his mind as more eccentric than useful, and they patronize, ignore, or silence him when he attempts to explain his understanding of Salim’s disappearance. Only when Detective Pearce takes his call and appreciates his detective work does the case get resolved.