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Goldfish Boy #1
De Goudvisjongen
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2017)De 12-jarige Matthew lijdt aan OCD. Hij schrobt zijn handen keer op keer op keer, is doodsbang voor bacteriën en is al weken niet naar school geweest. Zijn eigen kamer durft hij nauwelijks uit. Om de tijd te doden kijkt hij uit zijn slaapkamerraam en maakt hij aantekeningen over de dagelijkse beslommeringen van zijn buren. Niet veel bijzonders.
Tot op een dag een peuter, Teddy, vermist wordt en Matthew de laatste blijkt te zijn die hem heeft gezien. Het is aan Matthew om op onderzoek uit te gaan. Al snel staat hij in het middelpunt van het onderzoek en zijn al zijn buren verdacht. Lukt het Matthew om het mysterie op te lossen? Ook als dit betekent dat hij zijn eigen angsten onder ogen moet komen en hij de veiligheid van zijn huis moet verlaten?
Tot op een dag een peuter, Teddy, vermist wordt en Matthew de laatste blijkt te zijn die hem heeft gezien. Het is aan Matthew om op onderzoek uit te gaan. Al snel staat hij in het middelpunt van het onderzoek en zijn al zijn buren verdacht. Lukt het Matthew om het mysterie op te lossen? Ook als dit betekent dat hij zijn eigen angsten onder ogen moet komen en hij de veiligheid van zijn huis moet verlaten?
351 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2017
528 people are currently reading
10070 people want to read
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October 7, 2024
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
Suitably heralded as a cross between Rear Window and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, this middle-grade mystery is an unsettling page-turner with a memorably flawed protagonist.
Hand this book to your middle-grade reader for a great spooky season read!
One of my all-time favorite movies is Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, so imagine my delight when I learned that a middle-grade novel based on Hitchcock's thrilling story of isolation and murder would soon be published. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and it didn't disappoint.
This is the story of Matthew Corbin, a boy who suffers from OCD and refuses to leave his bedroom. He sits in his room day after day, observing the neighborhood through his bedroom window. And he's the last person to have seen the toddler next door alive before he went missing.
Can he solve the mystery from the confines of his bedroom? Or will he need the help of the quirky neighborhood girl? Find out by reading this marvelous mystery debut from Lisa Thompson.
Suitably heralded as a cross between Rear Window and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, this middle-grade mystery is an unsettling page-turner with a memorably flawed protagonist.
Hand this book to your middle-grade reader for a great spooky season read!
One of my all-time favorite movies is Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, so imagine my delight when I learned that a middle-grade novel based on Hitchcock's thrilling story of isolation and murder would soon be published. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and it didn't disappoint.
This is the story of Matthew Corbin, a boy who suffers from OCD and refuses to leave his bedroom. He sits in his room day after day, observing the neighborhood through his bedroom window. And he's the last person to have seen the toddler next door alive before he went missing.
Can he solve the mystery from the confines of his bedroom? Or will he need the help of the quirky neighborhood girl? Find out by reading this marvelous mystery debut from Lisa Thompson.
December 14, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: https://www.goodreads.com/
WARNING: After take one last peek at what I had written before posting, I realize you have to read about 117 pages before I actually get to anything about the book. #sorry.
I’m going to begin by saying that (in MY opinion) middle-grade has to be the hardest (fictional) genre to write. There’s just soooooo much that can be going on in this age range. Maybe they’ve already hit puberty, maybe they haven’t – maybe they have parents who let them watch R-rated movies, maybe they are still only allowed to watch Pixar flicks because they haven’t reached that magical number “13” (or ten-plus-three as young Matthew in our story here would say). I mean, there’s just no middle-ground when it comes to this in-between age. Even we parents are often lost thinking stuff like: “Am I really going to let this kid play GTA??? Isn’t that the one where he can earn money by being a pixelated drug dealer or pimp????” Only to find out that yes, that is the right game, but he and his buddies spend all their allowance buying these cards that give them fake money so they don’t have to do anything nefarious in order to drive DeLoreans. #ihavenoideawhatimdoingasaparent
This no idea what I’m doing state of child rearing is what led me to dabbling in more middle-grade books. It’s also what made me realize how hard it must be to write something that isn’t too babyish or too adult or too benign or too offensive. Mad props to the authors who can pull it off. Authors like Lisa Thompson here.
I’ll admit I was an insta-sell on wanting to read this as soon as I saw the comparison to . . . .
Rear Window is hands down my favorite movie of all time. Like I love it so much I am pretty sure I was able to channel all of my brain power and make it be on television one time when we just had switched over to satellite and I lost my DVR of it and I needed to get it re-recorded stat for my insomniac viewing pleasure. I used to fantasize about living in a place like L.B. Jefferies’ apartment . . . .
That didn’t end up happening, but I do have a sick fascination of driving around as the passenger in the dark during the holiday season and crossing my fingers for open doors and curtains so I can peep into people’s houses and see their Christmas decorations. #notsorry #arentyougladyoudontlivenearme
All that being said, a comparison to Rear Window is a major double-edged sword because if I hate it, I will hate it exponentially. Luckily for Ms. Thompson she had nothing to worry about.
The story here is of a young boy named Matthew who stopped going to school or outside or almost anywhere other than his room and the “office” of his family’s home. Matthew is no longer able to be around things he can’t guarantee are germ free – including things like Nigel the cat. Well, okay, Nigel the cat was probably always disgusting and hard to be around, but even that relationship has become more strained. Now - when he’s not cleaning, that is – Matthew passes the time watching the neighborhood from his two upstairs vantage points. It’s from there that he takes note of something very important . . . .
“12:55 p.m. That time was important. I don’t know why it stuck in my mind but it did, even without writing it down. At some point after 12:55 p.m. on that bright, scorching day, Teddy Dawson went missing.”
It’s now up to Matthew (and an unlikely assistant or two) to decipher all of Matthew’s observations in order to help the police solve the case of the missing toddler.
As I said before, Lisa Thompson really hit this one out of the park. Matthew’s OCD was soooooo believable and I never felt like I was being hit over the head about him being a little “different” for lack of a better term (I’m looking at YOU here Ginny Moon). His sleuthing was also realistic. Although he was playing a bit of amateur detective he wasn’t allowed to get in the way of the police, for obvious reasons, but he also had a compulsion to not let something happen to this little boy on his watch (and his reasoning makes sense, is hinted at/eventually explained throughout the book). Goldfish Boy is a book for kids and parents both to enjoy. It gets all the stars.
WARNING: After take one last peek at what I had written before posting, I realize you have to read about 117 pages before I actually get to anything about the book. #sorry.
I’m going to begin by saying that (in MY opinion) middle-grade has to be the hardest (fictional) genre to write. There’s just soooooo much that can be going on in this age range. Maybe they’ve already hit puberty, maybe they haven’t – maybe they have parents who let them watch R-rated movies, maybe they are still only allowed to watch Pixar flicks because they haven’t reached that magical number “13” (or ten-plus-three as young Matthew in our story here would say). I mean, there’s just no middle-ground when it comes to this in-between age. Even we parents are often lost thinking stuff like: “Am I really going to let this kid play GTA??? Isn’t that the one where he can earn money by being a pixelated drug dealer or pimp????” Only to find out that yes, that is the right game, but he and his buddies spend all their allowance buying these cards that give them fake money so they don’t have to do anything nefarious in order to drive DeLoreans. #ihavenoideawhatimdoingasaparent
This no idea what I’m doing state of child rearing is what led me to dabbling in more middle-grade books. It’s also what made me realize how hard it must be to write something that isn’t too babyish or too adult or too benign or too offensive. Mad props to the authors who can pull it off. Authors like Lisa Thompson here.
I’ll admit I was an insta-sell on wanting to read this as soon as I saw the comparison to . . . .
Rear Window is hands down my favorite movie of all time. Like I love it so much I am pretty sure I was able to channel all of my brain power and make it be on television one time when we just had switched over to satellite and I lost my DVR of it and I needed to get it re-recorded stat for my insomniac viewing pleasure. I used to fantasize about living in a place like L.B. Jefferies’ apartment . . . .
That didn’t end up happening, but I do have a sick fascination of driving around as the passenger in the dark during the holiday season and crossing my fingers for open doors and curtains so I can peep into people’s houses and see their Christmas decorations. #notsorry #arentyougladyoudontlivenearme
All that being said, a comparison to Rear Window is a major double-edged sword because if I hate it, I will hate it exponentially. Luckily for Ms. Thompson she had nothing to worry about.
The story here is of a young boy named Matthew who stopped going to school or outside or almost anywhere other than his room and the “office” of his family’s home. Matthew is no longer able to be around things he can’t guarantee are germ free – including things like Nigel the cat. Well, okay, Nigel the cat was probably always disgusting and hard to be around, but even that relationship has become more strained. Now - when he’s not cleaning, that is – Matthew passes the time watching the neighborhood from his two upstairs vantage points. It’s from there that he takes note of something very important . . . .
“12:55 p.m. That time was important. I don’t know why it stuck in my mind but it did, even without writing it down. At some point after 12:55 p.m. on that bright, scorching day, Teddy Dawson went missing.”
It’s now up to Matthew (and an unlikely assistant or two) to decipher all of Matthew’s observations in order to help the police solve the case of the missing toddler.
As I said before, Lisa Thompson really hit this one out of the park. Matthew’s OCD was soooooo believable and I never felt like I was being hit over the head about him being a little “different” for lack of a better term (I’m looking at YOU here Ginny Moon). His sleuthing was also realistic. Although he was playing a bit of amateur detective he wasn’t allowed to get in the way of the police, for obvious reasons, but he also had a compulsion to not let something happen to this little boy on his watch (and his reasoning makes sense, is hinted at/eventually explained throughout the book). Goldfish Boy is a book for kids and parents both to enjoy. It gets all the stars.
April 26, 2018
El imprevisto caso del chico en la pecera ha sido una historia muy entretenida, con la que he sufrido y lo he pasado por el protagonista, con la que he empatizado muchísimo y que he disfrutado. Aún así, siento que podría haberla disfrutado muchísimo más en otro momento de mi vida, pero ahora que ya he leído varios libros donde el protagonista sufre este mismo problema, este, cuyo protagonista tiene años, se me ha quedado muy "suave".
Y es que Matthew tiene un trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo, necesita que todo este excesivamente limpio, porque sino, piensa que puede enfermar y morir, y que los de su alrededor podrán morir también. Esto le produce un bucle de pensamientos horrible, que iremos averiguando de donde viene durante la novela (aunque yo me lo vi venir desde el momento 0). Como no sale de casa, se pasa la vida mirando por su ventana y apuntando en un cuaderno todo lo que desde ella, sobretodo los movimientos de sus vecinos. Y un día, un niño desaparece. Matthew fue la última persona que vio al pequeño y será la pieza clave para resolver el caso.
¿Lo recomiendo? Sí, pero por supuesto no será la lectura de vuestras vidas. Yo creo que jamás lo hubiera leído si no hubiera tenido acceso al audiolibro. Que por cierto, me ha encantado la experiencia de escucharlo.
Y es que Matthew tiene un trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo, necesita que todo este excesivamente limpio, porque sino, piensa que puede enfermar y morir, y que los de su alrededor podrán morir también. Esto le produce un bucle de pensamientos horrible, que iremos averiguando de donde viene durante la novela (aunque yo me lo vi venir desde el momento 0). Como no sale de casa, se pasa la vida mirando por su ventana y apuntando en un cuaderno todo lo que desde ella, sobretodo los movimientos de sus vecinos. Y un día, un niño desaparece. Matthew fue la última persona que vio al pequeño y será la pieza clave para resolver el caso.
¿Lo recomiendo? Sí, pero por supuesto no será la lectura de vuestras vidas. Yo creo que jamás lo hubiera leído si no hubiera tenido acceso al audiolibro. Que por cierto, me ha encantado la experiencia de escucharlo.
March 27, 2017
a middle grade book where the mc suffers from ocd. it was done so well, capturing matthew's struggles & illness. the mystery was done well too.i i really liked how matthew was so keen on finding the missing child, even though the thought of leaving his house made him sick.
May 19, 2017
3 STARS!!!
I really enjoyed that the main character Matty has OCD and I felt it was a very good portrayal of the most talked about type of OCD. I personally suffer from OCD but not the exact type as Matty in this story so I can't say that it's perfectly accurate. I thought the mystery part of this story was executed nicely, though it wasn't as thrilling as the synopsis leads on and the ending is pretty anti-climatic and I kind of went "meh" after the mystery was solved. I think it could've been 10x better.
Something that bothers me and this is something that isn't a huge deal but to me it's worth mentioning. This book takes a lot from the 1954 thriller "Rear Window", I won't say what exactly because spoilers! but if you've seen the movie and end up reading this book, you'll get what I mean.
I felt it played so much with the story of "Rear Window" that the author might as well have called it a remake of sorts, yes, it's that close. The only original thing about this story is that Matty has OCD and that there's a kidnapping instead of a murder on his street, that's it, everything else was taken from "Rear Window" and worked to fit this book. I'm not calling the author a copycat, I honestly feel as if she was paying homage to the film, but it might have come off a tad more rip-off than homage. I'd still say check this out because of the main character having OCD which is something we don't see a lot of in MG. But I'd say go watch "Rear Window" before you read this book, it's worth watching as an amazing film but also to compare to "The Goldfish Boy". :)
- Richard
I really enjoyed that the main character Matty has OCD and I felt it was a very good portrayal of the most talked about type of OCD. I personally suffer from OCD but not the exact type as Matty in this story so I can't say that it's perfectly accurate. I thought the mystery part of this story was executed nicely, though it wasn't as thrilling as the synopsis leads on and the ending is pretty anti-climatic and I kind of went "meh" after the mystery was solved. I think it could've been 10x better.
Something that bothers me and this is something that isn't a huge deal but to me it's worth mentioning. This book takes a lot from the 1954 thriller "Rear Window", I won't say what exactly because spoilers! but if you've seen the movie and end up reading this book, you'll get what I mean.
I felt it played so much with the story of "Rear Window" that the author might as well have called it a remake of sorts, yes, it's that close. The only original thing about this story is that Matty has OCD and that there's a kidnapping instead of a murder on his street, that's it, everything else was taken from "Rear Window" and worked to fit this book. I'm not calling the author a copycat, I honestly feel as if she was paying homage to the film, but it might have come off a tad more rip-off than homage. I'd still say check this out because of the main character having OCD which is something we don't see a lot of in MG. But I'd say go watch "Rear Window" before you read this book, it's worth watching as an amazing film but also to compare to "The Goldfish Boy". :)
- Richard
May 27, 2025
I smiled and cried and held my hand over my heart the whole way through this book. Lisa Thompson’s The Goldfish Boy absolutely squeezed my heart to bits! You have to meet these people, this neighborhood, this book.
Twelve year old, Matthew Corbin has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He washes and washes his hands in hopes things will feel right. He can’t stop. His fear of touching, germs, illness, and the bad number “tenplusthree” has escalated over the past few months though. He’s now confined himself to his room. Disposable rubber gloves, a lion’s eye, and his cleaning supplies are all that’s keeping Matthew calm and secure right now. In the safety of his room, Matthew sits and watches life slide by his windows—like a fish looking out from a bowl. He watches and takes notes on his neighbors as they move through their days. Watering plants, jogging, errands, bike rides, mysterious trips to the graveyard, and more. But Matthew’s sheltered little world soon turns upside down when a little boy from next door goes missing. Matthew is the best and only witness. He was the last one to see young Teddy before he vanished. Can Matthew face his fears and help solve the crime?
There is a lot going on in this little cul-de-sac. Every house has a story and Ms. Thompson depicts them all with humor, heart, sympathy, and warmth without feeling claustrophobic or overwhelming. The little moments in life—the joys and pains--are captured so beautifully on the pages here. Teary eyes, “aww’s, and big fat tears hit me again and again through the course of this book. Matthew’s story and the lives of his neighbors all touched me. Lost children (in more ways than one), Matthew’s fears, a bully’s hurt feelings, and a young girl’s secret all slowly came into focus. This neighborhood has some serious pain and loneliness pulsing through it! But the joy is there as well. Some of my favorite parts of this book were the simple, little things we see and experience every day— like sharing a smile with an old friend, cracking jokes with your Dad, or just remembering a sweet, long ago feeling. This bittersweet moment between a 5 year old Matthew and his Mom really got to me….
“Do you know what?” said Mum. “One day you’ll be a really big boy and you won’t want to hold your mummy’s hand anymore.”
I frowned up at her and she laughed.
“It’s true! Us mummies know these things.”
Swinging our arms back and forth, I giggled as we marched onward like clockwork soldiers.
“I’ll always hold your hand, Mummy,” I said after we’d slowed down. “I promise. Even when I’m twelve years old!”
Mum laughed so much that this time I saw her bright, white teeth.
“We’ll see, Matthew,” she said, smiling. “We’ll see.”
And then she squeezed my hand a little tighter.”
Ms. Thompson excels at capturing little memories and slices of life like that one. Moments that add so much power to the story and Matthew’s condition. Matthew’s Mum would do anything to hold her son’s hand now—to touch her son! The power of this story truly caught me off guard. But then, THEN throw a mystery into the emotional force and swirl and you’ve got a page turner on your hands! I had to know what happened to Teddy. Everyone on the street became a suspect! The mystery unraveled piece by piece bringing every house and character on this dead end street into play. Watching Matthew battle his fears to try to solve the crime was at times hard, hilarious, and inspiring. His OCD and anxieties were shown in simple, relatable ways though. Ways and words that made me see and feel his raw, red skin; smell the bleach in the air; and see the agitation build and build as his whole body tensed to fight the urge to run or slam the door and hide. I wanted to protect him. But we can’t hide away forever. With help, therapy, patience, and a few pushy neighbors—Matthew begins to open up and share his secrets and fears. He will break your heart when his whole story comes out. Break your heart into pieces!
It never ceases to amaze me how we can hurt each other in this world—intentionally and unintentionally. And sometimes we just don’t know how to handle all the pain and hurt. We all find ways to cope. This book will remind readers that sometimes we need help. We can’t sit and watch life go by without us. We have to get out there and live! Matthew will be in my head and heart for a long time. I wish him all the best in the world.
Highly recommended.
**Re-read May 2025**
Matthew and his neighbors made me smile and cry all over again. Loved it!
July 19, 2019
Reto 22- 2019 Book Challenge: Un libro con un detective amateur.
December 12, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“Listen to me, Matthew. Listen to what I’m going to tell you and things will start to make a lot more sense.”
I waited; her forehead was furrowed and her hand gripped tighter.
“Don’t ever wait for a storm to pass. You’ve got to go out there and dance in the rain.”
Suspenseful yet tender, heart-warming and gripping, Lisa Thompson's debut novel The Goldfish Boy was a well-written middle grade thriller that kept me on my toes and firmly engaged with the characters and the mystery that had to be solved. It was an interesting premise with an equally unique protagonist that made it all the more compelling to know how it would all be revealed.👌🏻👌🏻
“In my dream I’d asked him a question: How does it feel being stuck up there all day, Lion? Just watching the world go by?
Sounding a bit nervous, like he knew he shouldn’t be talking but really couldn’t help himself, he said: Surely you know how that feels … don’t you, Matthew?”
Matthew, also known as the Goldfish Boy, was a good kid who was dealt a bad hand when an unfortunate event in his life forever changed him and his outlook to life. For five years, he's been carrying the guilt of blame for the reason his mother lost her baby, his unborn younger brother. It's that pain that weighs so heavily on him, for reasons not revealed till the end, that he's kept himself locked inside his room - with only a printout of the print-out of the Mysterious Lion as his companion, obsessed with cleanliness to the extremities that pain his family and have him seen as a troubled soul in their close-knit neighborhood. Forever secure in the sanctity of his room where it's safe and clean and out of reach of prying touches and dirty hands, he's perfectly content to watch the world go by from his window. But, that all changes when he's the last one to see Teddy, a young toddler playing on the sidewalk, before he suddenly disappears. 😥
While the story is heavily centered around Matthew's mental struggles and troubled tendencies, I admired how the author skillfully managed to revolve so much of the plot around it, but not allowing it to overtake the story. His parents' struggles at how agitated he could be towards the simplest of things - unable to hug him or touch him for how he would react, yet still trying to find ways for it to work out for him - aiding him to try and see what he was missing out in life if he stayed holed up in his room all days.
The painful part about it all was that he wasn't always like this - closed off and fearful. 😔 But, Teddy's disappearance was a challenge that he rose to figure out - even as he was in tune to his own compulsive behaviors, he was inadvertently changing himself. In confronting his 'irrational' fears - he was stepping out of his own shadow and embracing life. I liked his openness, his honesty, his vulnerability, but even more so his steadfast determination to use his own creative methods to find Teddy.
The supporting cast that he had to interact with kept the tone fresh and engaging, while also maintaining a sharp vigilant look that not all was right on his block, which I liked. I liked how there was a young group of kids who were willing to help him out, despite his issues - I liked that Matthew grew a backbone and was concerned, overly worried and suspicious, rightfully so, but still help him realize that he could change - or he would be missing out on life. 😟 All the ways that set him apart from others made him all that more determined to find Teddy - noting things and seeing things that others couldn't. It gave him the chance to make friends, enlisting their help to do the things he couldn't because he was too afraid to leave the house for too long, but still be coaxed enough to venture outside simply to save someone in need. It's those subtle little things that I really admired how it was portrayed. 🤍🤍
“It might sound strange, but I miss the brother I never met. The one who died because of me.”
As much as this was the search of a missing boy, there was also another mystery that had to be revealed - one that was the sole reason for Matthew's over-amplified need for cleanliness, his fear of the outdoors, the heightened awareness that if there are germs intact - people will get hurt - namely his brother, which he's forever haunted by grief over it. And how it was his involvement in bringing Teddy home also helped him find a way back home to his own parents - welcoming him again to start over - was a beautiful and teary moment. His parents cared - they weren't just passive participants in the story - even tough love is supportive and caring love and they wanted their son to embrace himself - love himself and see his own worth. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The final reveal brought such closure to Matthew's heart and my own, because I, too wanted to know what caused his sudden change in his behavior. His visit to his brother's grave - the reminder of the guilt that gnawed at him constantly - more so than the severe way he rubbed against his flesh to rid himself of all infection. That ache and fear was palpable, but so too was his courage to try to change himself - with the help of his family and friends. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
The pacing of the story was also very well-balanced and well-fleshed out. I wanted to know what happened to Teddy - fearful for the worst, hopeful for the best - and I didn't know what to expect. The author did a great job dropping enough clues to ascertain that anything could have gone wrong and I also appreciated the small town community vibe the author maintained - and by setting up Matthew in a closed and limited environment, it gave him a chance to look at things closely with a discerning eye, which he used to his advantage. 🥺
He was smart and resourceful, even though his unusual behavior certainly has earned him a strange reputation on the block, but that's what made him all the more interesting for me. That as much as he was expected to be the odd man out, it was all the more possible for him to see things others couldn't. She kept the element of surprise alive and kept my intrigue up high - building up enough suspense that I was actually curious how the truth would come out! 👍🏻👍🏻
“It’s nice to see everyone going about their lives each day, isn’t it? Why, I watch people myself sometimes when I’m feeling a little lonely.
Life isn’t always easy, is it, Matthew?”
The writing was also a very soft and caring one, almost tentative to the point of feelings of friendship and excitement, but still vivid enough to capture the emotions of loneliness and sadness. The author created a great balance between the seriousness of the situation, while still keeping the spirit of youth light and fresh and humorous. Matthew really grew on me as a narrator and I liked being in his mind, experiencing his anxiety, his woes and his heartbreak through him and that feeling of not being normal in other's eyes, and being helpless to doing something about it. I am looking forward to meeting up with another one of the character's in the sequel to this story soon enough. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“Listen to me, Matthew. Listen to what I’m going to tell you and things will start to make a lot more sense.”
I waited; her forehead was furrowed and her hand gripped tighter.
“Don’t ever wait for a storm to pass. You’ve got to go out there and dance in the rain.”
Suspenseful yet tender, heart-warming and gripping, Lisa Thompson's debut novel The Goldfish Boy was a well-written middle grade thriller that kept me on my toes and firmly engaged with the characters and the mystery that had to be solved. It was an interesting premise with an equally unique protagonist that made it all the more compelling to know how it would all be revealed.👌🏻👌🏻
“In my dream I’d asked him a question: How does it feel being stuck up there all day, Lion? Just watching the world go by?
Sounding a bit nervous, like he knew he shouldn’t be talking but really couldn’t help himself, he said: Surely you know how that feels … don’t you, Matthew?”
Matthew, also known as the Goldfish Boy, was a good kid who was dealt a bad hand when an unfortunate event in his life forever changed him and his outlook to life. For five years, he's been carrying the guilt of blame for the reason his mother lost her baby, his unborn younger brother. It's that pain that weighs so heavily on him, for reasons not revealed till the end, that he's kept himself locked inside his room - with only a printout of the print-out of the Mysterious Lion as his companion, obsessed with cleanliness to the extremities that pain his family and have him seen as a troubled soul in their close-knit neighborhood. Forever secure in the sanctity of his room where it's safe and clean and out of reach of prying touches and dirty hands, he's perfectly content to watch the world go by from his window. But, that all changes when he's the last one to see Teddy, a young toddler playing on the sidewalk, before he suddenly disappears. 😥
While the story is heavily centered around Matthew's mental struggles and troubled tendencies, I admired how the author skillfully managed to revolve so much of the plot around it, but not allowing it to overtake the story. His parents' struggles at how agitated he could be towards the simplest of things - unable to hug him or touch him for how he would react, yet still trying to find ways for it to work out for him - aiding him to try and see what he was missing out in life if he stayed holed up in his room all days.
The painful part about it all was that he wasn't always like this - closed off and fearful. 😔 But, Teddy's disappearance was a challenge that he rose to figure out - even as he was in tune to his own compulsive behaviors, he was inadvertently changing himself. In confronting his 'irrational' fears - he was stepping out of his own shadow and embracing life. I liked his openness, his honesty, his vulnerability, but even more so his steadfast determination to use his own creative methods to find Teddy.
The supporting cast that he had to interact with kept the tone fresh and engaging, while also maintaining a sharp vigilant look that not all was right on his block, which I liked. I liked how there was a young group of kids who were willing to help him out, despite his issues - I liked that Matthew grew a backbone and was concerned, overly worried and suspicious, rightfully so, but still help him realize that he could change - or he would be missing out on life. 😟 All the ways that set him apart from others made him all that more determined to find Teddy - noting things and seeing things that others couldn't. It gave him the chance to make friends, enlisting their help to do the things he couldn't because he was too afraid to leave the house for too long, but still be coaxed enough to venture outside simply to save someone in need. It's those subtle little things that I really admired how it was portrayed. 🤍🤍
“It might sound strange, but I miss the brother I never met. The one who died because of me.”
As much as this was the search of a missing boy, there was also another mystery that had to be revealed - one that was the sole reason for Matthew's over-amplified need for cleanliness, his fear of the outdoors, the heightened awareness that if there are germs intact - people will get hurt - namely his brother, which he's forever haunted by grief over it. And how it was his involvement in bringing Teddy home also helped him find a way back home to his own parents - welcoming him again to start over - was a beautiful and teary moment. His parents cared - they weren't just passive participants in the story - even tough love is supportive and caring love and they wanted their son to embrace himself - love himself and see his own worth. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The final reveal brought such closure to Matthew's heart and my own, because I, too wanted to know what caused his sudden change in his behavior. His visit to his brother's grave - the reminder of the guilt that gnawed at him constantly - more so than the severe way he rubbed against his flesh to rid himself of all infection. That ache and fear was palpable, but so too was his courage to try to change himself - with the help of his family and friends. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
The pacing of the story was also very well-balanced and well-fleshed out. I wanted to know what happened to Teddy - fearful for the worst, hopeful for the best - and I didn't know what to expect. The author did a great job dropping enough clues to ascertain that anything could have gone wrong and I also appreciated the small town community vibe the author maintained - and by setting up Matthew in a closed and limited environment, it gave him a chance to look at things closely with a discerning eye, which he used to his advantage. 🥺
He was smart and resourceful, even though his unusual behavior certainly has earned him a strange reputation on the block, but that's what made him all the more interesting for me. That as much as he was expected to be the odd man out, it was all the more possible for him to see things others couldn't. She kept the element of surprise alive and kept my intrigue up high - building up enough suspense that I was actually curious how the truth would come out! 👍🏻👍🏻
“It’s nice to see everyone going about their lives each day, isn’t it? Why, I watch people myself sometimes when I’m feeling a little lonely.
Life isn’t always easy, is it, Matthew?”
The writing was also a very soft and caring one, almost tentative to the point of feelings of friendship and excitement, but still vivid enough to capture the emotions of loneliness and sadness. The author created a great balance between the seriousness of the situation, while still keeping the spirit of youth light and fresh and humorous. Matthew really grew on me as a narrator and I liked being in his mind, experiencing his anxiety, his woes and his heartbreak through him and that feeling of not being normal in other's eyes, and being helpless to doing something about it. I am looking forward to meeting up with another one of the character's in the sequel to this story soon enough. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
March 25, 2020
This Middle Grade novel is set in a neighborhood and is about a 12 year old boy who lives in it named Matthew Corbin. The title, "The Goldfish Boy," is representative of how Matthew lives his life. He suffers from severe OCD and spends his days at home, stuck in his bedroom, watching life go on around him on the outside through his window. Two kids are staying with their Grandfather next door to him when the toddler goes missing and a mystery ensues. Of course Matthew knows the neighborhood better than anyone else and was the last one to see the little boy. It was definitely not my favorite Middle Grade book this month, but I did enjoy it.
February 7, 2017
*tears up*This was just beautiful. So beautiful! I flew through the book, read the rest of 250 pages I still had left to read in 2 and a half hours. It was glorious, it was beautiful, I would highly recommend this book to everyone! Be prepared to cry a bit.
I am so glad that I went and pre-ordered this one some months ago. It is always a tricky thing buying a book without knowing much about it but the blurb, maybe a small excerpt, and the cover. But I am definitely happy with this one. It was even better than I had hoped.
It is a book about OCD, about a little toddler going missing, but it is also about family, about friendship (old and new), about acceptation, about love. And yes, I have to say that I cried. It was at times quite heartbreaking. Not only because a little kid disappeared, but I also felt so sad when we find out the truth behind Matthew's OCD.
Yes, the main focus for a part of the book is Matthew's OCD, it is so well written, I do say I have no OCD myself, but I know about anxiety, I do know how it feels when something spins out of control, I do know the feeling of needing to check over and over again, to be afraid. I was just so sad for Matthew, for the fact that he himself was hurting, but also to see his family not knowing what to do and hurting so much. Even the dad. Even though I hated him throughout the book because of what he did. He probably didn't mean it to be mean, but I wish he had just stopped and asked. I just wish he would have been a bit more accepting towards what was happening to his son. Instead of making rude remarks, being angry all the time. We did see that it was breaking the dad's heart, in small hints here and there, but I just wish it was a bit more open, that others also saw it. It is something I see more often in other books, men holding in their emotions, or at least not showing the sad one.
Matthew's OCD manifested in cleaning, but also in numbers. He is deadly afraid of the number 13, and if it pops up in the time, or in other things you will see him do a little thing in his head, trying to get rid of the number 13. His cleaning was never enough for him. He kept cleaning, kept scrubbing, trying to clean himself with bleach. It was just heartbreaking to see a kid go through this. We see him bump into someone and he just has visions of him or his family dying, of germs crawling up to him, of illness coming to him. Even something as simple as someone coming into a room is pure hell for Matthew.
But along the way came Melody. A girl who lives in the same cul-de-sac as him. A girl who isn't afraid to help Matthew. I loved how they bonded, even though I was teary when they fought. Generally because of misunderstanding, and Matthew's ever growing fear of disease, death, germs.
I was happy that they never gave up on each other, instead opening up to each other. Showing their fears and secrets. Because yes, Melody also has a secret, a secret that people might not accept so readily.
As we see Matthew spiral into OCD hell even more, there is something else that happens in his little neighbourhood, a tiny toddler, the grandchild of his neighbour, disappears, and Matthew is the last to see him, right before he disappears. Matthew who always looks out of the windows and observes everything (and is thus dubbed Goldfish boy, or Fishy by the two grandchildren, but also later Jake). Matthew who earlier saw what the toddler's little sister (horrendous little girl) did to her brother and was just on time to find help, Matthew who also saw so much more happening in the cul-de-sac. Thanks to all this he is able, with the help of Melody and later also Jake (more on him in a bit), to solve the mystery of what happened to the little kid.
Of course he bumps against resistance on all sides. His parents, the police, the adults, no one believes him, and they often openly mock him or look at him with eyes that judge. But he perseveres, continues, and tries his best. I loved that kid, and I loved how he slowly got more and more out of his shell. How he went outside. How he went to therapy sessions. How he desperately wanted to be normal again.
The reason for his OCD? I won't spoil, but boy. That was just so terribly sad. :(
What happens to the toddler, and also who took him (as that is quite soon clear)? I had a few suspects, but I didn't expect those people until the last moment, until certain things turned that way. I loved that the author did this. Sometimes the mystery is easy, sometimes you can easily see the culprits, but not in this one. It is a lot of mystery, and a lot of hints, clues, and twists and turns that will have you guessing right up until the end.
I didn't totally like Jake, but with his backstories (Yes we do get some chapters that explain more about Matthew, about Jake, about their friendship. We also get backstory chapters about Matthew and what happened to him.) I started liking him more and more. Sure, he was still mean, but I could see what happened. Poor guy. I know the feeling. I won't say why, but I know his pain. I just wanted to hug him. Tell him I understand.
All in all this is a book that is an emotional rollercoaster. It is a book that won't let you go. It is a book about mystery, but also, foremost, about OCD. The author did a magnificent job.
I also have to say that I loved the little illustrations at the beginning of the chapters.
Highly, very highly, recommended!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
I am so glad that I went and pre-ordered this one some months ago. It is always a tricky thing buying a book without knowing much about it but the blurb, maybe a small excerpt, and the cover. But I am definitely happy with this one. It was even better than I had hoped.
It is a book about OCD, about a little toddler going missing, but it is also about family, about friendship (old and new), about acceptation, about love. And yes, I have to say that I cried. It was at times quite heartbreaking. Not only because a little kid disappeared, but I also felt so sad when we find out the truth behind Matthew's OCD.
Yes, the main focus for a part of the book is Matthew's OCD, it is so well written, I do say I have no OCD myself, but I know about anxiety, I do know how it feels when something spins out of control, I do know the feeling of needing to check over and over again, to be afraid. I was just so sad for Matthew, for the fact that he himself was hurting, but also to see his family not knowing what to do and hurting so much. Even the dad. Even though I hated him throughout the book because of what he did. He probably didn't mean it to be mean, but I wish he had just stopped and asked. I just wish he would have been a bit more accepting towards what was happening to his son. Instead of making rude remarks, being angry all the time. We did see that it was breaking the dad's heart, in small hints here and there, but I just wish it was a bit more open, that others also saw it. It is something I see more often in other books, men holding in their emotions, or at least not showing the sad one.
Matthew's OCD manifested in cleaning, but also in numbers. He is deadly afraid of the number 13, and if it pops up in the time, or in other things you will see him do a little thing in his head, trying to get rid of the number 13. His cleaning was never enough for him. He kept cleaning, kept scrubbing, trying to clean himself with bleach. It was just heartbreaking to see a kid go through this. We see him bump into someone and he just has visions of him or his family dying, of germs crawling up to him, of illness coming to him. Even something as simple as someone coming into a room is pure hell for Matthew.
But along the way came Melody. A girl who lives in the same cul-de-sac as him. A girl who isn't afraid to help Matthew. I loved how they bonded, even though I was teary when they fought. Generally because of misunderstanding, and Matthew's ever growing fear of disease, death, germs.
I was happy that they never gave up on each other, instead opening up to each other. Showing their fears and secrets. Because yes, Melody also has a secret, a secret that people might not accept so readily.
As we see Matthew spiral into OCD hell even more, there is something else that happens in his little neighbourhood, a tiny toddler, the grandchild of his neighbour, disappears, and Matthew is the last to see him, right before he disappears. Matthew who always looks out of the windows and observes everything (and is thus dubbed Goldfish boy, or Fishy by the two grandchildren, but also later Jake). Matthew who earlier saw what the toddler's little sister (horrendous little girl) did to her brother and was just on time to find help, Matthew who also saw so much more happening in the cul-de-sac. Thanks to all this he is able, with the help of Melody and later also Jake (more on him in a bit), to solve the mystery of what happened to the little kid.
Of course he bumps against resistance on all sides. His parents, the police, the adults, no one believes him, and they often openly mock him or look at him with eyes that judge. But he perseveres, continues, and tries his best. I loved that kid, and I loved how he slowly got more and more out of his shell. How he went outside. How he went to therapy sessions. How he desperately wanted to be normal again.
The reason for his OCD? I won't spoil, but boy. That was just so terribly sad. :(
What happens to the toddler, and also who took him (as that is quite soon clear)? I had a few suspects, but I didn't expect those people until the last moment, until certain things turned that way. I loved that the author did this. Sometimes the mystery is easy, sometimes you can easily see the culprits, but not in this one. It is a lot of mystery, and a lot of hints, clues, and twists and turns that will have you guessing right up until the end.
I didn't totally like Jake, but with his backstories (Yes we do get some chapters that explain more about Matthew, about Jake, about their friendship. We also get backstory chapters about Matthew and what happened to him.) I started liking him more and more. Sure, he was still mean, but I could see what happened. Poor guy. I know the feeling. I won't say why, but I know his pain. I just wanted to hug him. Tell him I understand.
All in all this is a book that is an emotional rollercoaster. It is a book that won't let you go. It is a book about mystery, but also, foremost, about OCD. The author did a magnificent job.
I also have to say that I loved the little illustrations at the beginning of the chapters.
Highly, very highly, recommended!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
August 31, 2017
Reseña completa en: http://elcaosliterario.blogspot.com.e...
Desde el principio del libro me llamó muchísimo la atención la forma de tratar el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo de Matthew por parte de la autora. Con muchos detalles y referencias continuas a su obsesión, la autora consigue que el lector se crea totalmente el trastorno del personaje y se meta en su cabeza sufriéndolo con él. En algunos momentos el propio protagonista le quite hierro a la situación que vive mostrando su faceta más divertida con algunas de sus respuestas.
Pese a que el libro está narrado en primera persona por un niño de doce años, en ningún momento resulta infantil o simple. Esconde grandes lecciones aplicables a nuestra vida entre sus líneas.
La lectura evoca grandes momentos de ternura, tristeza o pena que muchas veces hemos sentido en nuestra vida ante situaciones similares. Las ganas de querer ayudar al protagonista están muy presentes en todo momento, quizá más que por parte de sus padres que no ponen todo el empeño que deberían. Hasta entonces no era consciente de lo que supone un trastorno obsesivo compulsivo y este libro me ha acercado mucho más a entenderlo e incluso a comprender los motivos del protagonista que lo llevaron a encontrarse de frente con este problema.
Lo que no me ha convencido demasiado ha sido como se resuelve el tema de la desaparición del niño vecino de Matthew, creo que necesitaba alguna explicación más, que se evidenciase un motivo de peso. Simplemente cuando se resuelve me dejó un poco indiferente pero no me importó demasiado ya que considero que la fuerza del libro reside en lo que sucede en los demás personajes en lo relativo a esta desaparición.
En resumen: una historia de superación en la que un niño con TOC deberá dejar atrás sus miedos para arrojar luz a una desaparición. Ternura, miedo y fuerza se unen en una novela inocente y sencilla pero muy educativa.
Desde el principio del libro me llamó muchísimo la atención la forma de tratar el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo de Matthew por parte de la autora. Con muchos detalles y referencias continuas a su obsesión, la autora consigue que el lector se crea totalmente el trastorno del personaje y se meta en su cabeza sufriéndolo con él. En algunos momentos el propio protagonista le quite hierro a la situación que vive mostrando su faceta más divertida con algunas de sus respuestas.
Pese a que el libro está narrado en primera persona por un niño de doce años, en ningún momento resulta infantil o simple. Esconde grandes lecciones aplicables a nuestra vida entre sus líneas.
La lectura evoca grandes momentos de ternura, tristeza o pena que muchas veces hemos sentido en nuestra vida ante situaciones similares. Las ganas de querer ayudar al protagonista están muy presentes en todo momento, quizá más que por parte de sus padres que no ponen todo el empeño que deberían. Hasta entonces no era consciente de lo que supone un trastorno obsesivo compulsivo y este libro me ha acercado mucho más a entenderlo e incluso a comprender los motivos del protagonista que lo llevaron a encontrarse de frente con este problema.
Lo que no me ha convencido demasiado ha sido como se resuelve el tema de la desaparición del niño vecino de Matthew, creo que necesitaba alguna explicación más, que se evidenciase un motivo de peso. Simplemente cuando se resuelve me dejó un poco indiferente pero no me importó demasiado ya que considero que la fuerza del libro reside en lo que sucede en los demás personajes en lo relativo a esta desaparición.
En resumen: una historia de superación en la que un niño con TOC deberá dejar atrás sus miedos para arrojar luz a una desaparición. Ternura, miedo y fuerza se unen en una novela inocente y sencilla pero muy educativa.
February 17, 2017
This week has been an excellent week for first person narratives. After spending Tuesday and Wednesday enveloped in Polly Ho-Yen's 'Boy in the Tower', the next two days were spent engrossed in this superb story.
Thompson and Ho-Yen both succeed in making you feel like nothing else is happening in the world, apart from what's going on inside the head's of their books' main characters.
The Goldfish Boy tells the heartbreaking, frustrating story of Matthew, a child-sufferer of OCD. The book is clearly well thought out and researched. OCD isn't just liking things in a certain order, and as this book shows, it can completely control your life.
The story itself is brilliant. I thought I'd solved the mystery a number of times before it was revealed. The story manages to keep the reader invested in it through the use of a range of interesting characters. I particularly liked Melody, who reminded me of having a similar soul to Gaia from 'Boy in the Tower'.
Thompson and Ho-Yen both succeed in making you feel like nothing else is happening in the world, apart from what's going on inside the head's of their books' main characters.
The Goldfish Boy tells the heartbreaking, frustrating story of Matthew, a child-sufferer of OCD. The book is clearly well thought out and researched. OCD isn't just liking things in a certain order, and as this book shows, it can completely control your life.
The story itself is brilliant. I thought I'd solved the mystery a number of times before it was revealed. The story manages to keep the reader invested in it through the use of a range of interesting characters. I particularly liked Melody, who reminded me of having a similar soul to Gaia from 'Boy in the Tower'.
April 21, 2017
Like a goldfish in a bowl 12-year-old Matthew Corbin sits in the second story windows of his house and witnesses life going on around him. He is unable to wander far or often from his home-bound world due to the paralyzing effects of his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
At the heart of the book is a mystery involving a missing toddler, with Matthew being the last person to see the child. Matthew lives on a small cul-de-sac which is also home to a group of interesting and diverse characters. Readers become privy to many of the characters' stories and secrets as the mystery of the missing toddler unfolds and everyone begins to look like a suspect.
Thompson has written engaging and well-rounded characters and Matthew is an easy kid to like. He's a regular kid with extraordinary burdens to bare. Thompson provides her readers with enough of a description of OCD for them to understand without inundating them with too many facts. She describes Matthew's daily struggles to live within the confines of his OCD, his triggers and how these compulsions influence his life and the lives of his loved ones. His struggle to balance his compulsions with the need to find the missing toddler was handled well and felt believable. He has a couple of quirky sidekicks, who are also in the outer fringes of the tween social spectrum, but it was heartening to see how these three 'misfits' gain confidence and support from one another.
While this book is a mystery, it also has a lot of heart as it deals with several issues. Readers will feel for Matthew as people misinterpret his OCD behaviours as well as his parents who struggle to understand and deal with their child's perplexing behaviours. Other issues, such as bullying, social effects of food allergies and loss, are handled with sympathy, knowledge and heart.
I simply loved this book. Whether you're looking for a mystery, a peek into a young life with OCD or a group of characters that will stay with you, this book has something for everyone.
At the heart of the book is a mystery involving a missing toddler, with Matthew being the last person to see the child. Matthew lives on a small cul-de-sac which is also home to a group of interesting and diverse characters. Readers become privy to many of the characters' stories and secrets as the mystery of the missing toddler unfolds and everyone begins to look like a suspect.
Thompson has written engaging and well-rounded characters and Matthew is an easy kid to like. He's a regular kid with extraordinary burdens to bare. Thompson provides her readers with enough of a description of OCD for them to understand without inundating them with too many facts. She describes Matthew's daily struggles to live within the confines of his OCD, his triggers and how these compulsions influence his life and the lives of his loved ones. His struggle to balance his compulsions with the need to find the missing toddler was handled well and felt believable. He has a couple of quirky sidekicks, who are also in the outer fringes of the tween social spectrum, but it was heartening to see how these three 'misfits' gain confidence and support from one another.
While this book is a mystery, it also has a lot of heart as it deals with several issues. Readers will feel for Matthew as people misinterpret his OCD behaviours as well as his parents who struggle to understand and deal with their child's perplexing behaviours. Other issues, such as bullying, social effects of food allergies and loss, are handled with sympathy, knowledge and heart.
I simply loved this book. Whether you're looking for a mystery, a peek into a young life with OCD or a group of characters that will stay with you, this book has something for everyone.
June 26, 2020
Matthew has a problem that is suffocating his lifestyle. He sees germs everywhere. On his parents, on the family cat and all the surfaces in his house and most importantly - himself. He will do anything he can to stop them spreading even if it means remaining in his bedroom, with a computer and a solitary window to stare out of, for the rest of his life. Matthew wasn't always this way, something happened in the past that triggered this illness and Goldfish Boy is, largely, a book about one young boy's resilience in facing up to this past and embracing it - germs and all.
Lisa Thompson's debut is well executed. A novel woven in multiple-mysteries, Goldfish Boy's central story revolves around a series of shocking events Matthew witnesses out of his germless, bedroom window which sets the whole community alive with intrigue. As the mystery unfolds from Matthew's window-space so do the stories of the cul-de-sac's residents as our protagonist begins to see the patterns of other people's pasts begin to unravel as well. Behind each door resides a carefully plotted story each of which has its part to play in untangling the greatest mystery of all: the guilt the chokes Matthew's past.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me of Hitchock's Rear Window but for children and this should take nothing away from the writer at all. Thompson's prose is so well balanced - she plays the slow reveals with real skill and presents a story that will keep the readers guessing right until the end. A great observer of people, Thompson draws us into the lives of this little community and, like Matthew, want to know each of their stories too. A very impressive debut by a writer who, I hope, is here for the long haul!
Lisa Thompson's debut is well executed. A novel woven in multiple-mysteries, Goldfish Boy's central story revolves around a series of shocking events Matthew witnesses out of his germless, bedroom window which sets the whole community alive with intrigue. As the mystery unfolds from Matthew's window-space so do the stories of the cul-de-sac's residents as our protagonist begins to see the patterns of other people's pasts begin to unravel as well. Behind each door resides a carefully plotted story each of which has its part to play in untangling the greatest mystery of all: the guilt the chokes Matthew's past.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me of Hitchock's Rear Window but for children and this should take nothing away from the writer at all. Thompson's prose is so well balanced - she plays the slow reveals with real skill and presents a story that will keep the readers guessing right until the end. A great observer of people, Thompson draws us into the lives of this little community and, like Matthew, want to know each of their stories too. A very impressive debut by a writer who, I hope, is here for the long haul!
September 6, 2018
Rating: 3.0/5.0
Matthew a 12 years old boy suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He does not leave his room. He spends his day looking at other people and what they do from his room's window. One day a toddler next door goes missing. Matthew then acts like the detective who sees every person as the main suspect!
The book is nicely written but I feel the mystery was not executed the way I expected it to be reading the synopsis. A lot of times I felt the author was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window movie. There are many similarities there except that here we have a kidnap while in the movie it is a murder. And the other thing is that the protagonist in the book is not an adult like the film.
This was not a boring book by any means but I think I had a little higher expectations getting into it, be it from the synopsis or the high ratings. Give it a try, you might like it.
Matthew a 12 years old boy suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He does not leave his room. He spends his day looking at other people and what they do from his room's window. One day a toddler next door goes missing. Matthew then acts like the detective who sees every person as the main suspect!
The book is nicely written but I feel the mystery was not executed the way I expected it to be reading the synopsis. A lot of times I felt the author was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window movie. There are many similarities there except that here we have a kidnap while in the movie it is a murder. And the other thing is that the protagonist in the book is not an adult like the film.
This was not a boring book by any means but I think I had a little higher expectations getting into it, be it from the synopsis or the high ratings. Give it a try, you might like it.
October 4, 2019
¿Qué preciosidad he leído?
Me ha encantado poder leer una historia llena de matices emocionales, de personajes memorables y de enseñanzas.
Ver TOC con un Niño y como algunos sucesos desencadenan aún más esta situación me hace recordar lo complejo de ser Niño.
Ahora bien este chico en la pecera que solo observa y así pasa su vida, me sentí identificada brutalmente porque muchas veces siento exacto eso, solo veo pasar la vida.
Es una historia de amor, valentía, paciencia y mucha observación. Por eso 5 estrellas🤩
Me ha encantado poder leer una historia llena de matices emocionales, de personajes memorables y de enseñanzas.
Ver TOC con un Niño y como algunos sucesos desencadenan aún más esta situación me hace recordar lo complejo de ser Niño.
Ahora bien este chico en la pecera que solo observa y así pasa su vida, me sentí identificada brutalmente porque muchas veces siento exacto eso, solo veo pasar la vida.
Es una historia de amor, valentía, paciencia y mucha observación. Por eso 5 estrellas🤩
August 16, 2016
I thought this was great. A genuinely clever mystery, an awkward, different, difficult detective and a suburban world where nothing is quite what it seems. Definite flavours of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - I'll be recommending this a lot next year. (8+)
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
August 8, 2018
Usually I don't do reviews for books even though they are really good. But right now, I'm just going to say "This book was amazing!"
May 20, 2020
I’m crying.
OCD just isn’t something people write about a lot.
Probably rtc? I feel like I say that a lot and it doesn’t happen but... maybe...
OCD just isn’t something people write about a lot.
Probably rtc? I feel like I say that a lot and it doesn’t happen but... maybe...
November 12, 2017
When I started this one I was not quite sure what to expect. And that was one of the reasons why I liked it so much. The protagonist, portrayed by Lisa was weird, way weird. I think it was psychological at some points(or mental illness). The mystery wasn't top notch, but it wasn't the main focus of the book either. A will written book. :)
October 7, 2017
A young boy goes missing from his grandfather's garden and Matthew is the last person who saw him. But Matthew has problems of his own. He suffers from OCD, a condition so debilitating that he hasn't left his home in months, even for school, he can't bear to hug his own mother and the thought of the pet cat being anywhere near him is unbearable. Consequently, Matty has become isolated and lonely, having lost touch with all his friends. However, he is determined to investigate the mystery of missing baby Teddy.
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. The cast of characters are varied and interesting, having their own secrets and back stories. The 'whodunnit' element is very well done and mature for a children's book. The theme of mental illness is sensitively and accurately portrayed. The development of the characters' relationships with each other is heart-warming and hopeful.
I will admit to a lump in the throats at certain times. You have been warned!
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. The cast of characters are varied and interesting, having their own secrets and back stories. The 'whodunnit' element is very well done and mature for a children's book. The theme of mental illness is sensitively and accurately portrayed. The development of the characters' relationships with each other is heart-warming and hopeful.
I will admit to a lump in the throats at certain times. You have been warned!
February 7, 2017
Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson, a review by Ray (age 9)
I liked this book because it was funny, gripping and carried across a great emotional message really well. A great assortment of characters went with that, and a great mystery and it DEFINITELY needs to be awarded.
Did I like it?
Yes, I loved it in fact, one of my top 10 books in fact, (and believe me I have read a lot of books in my life). (Someone once mistook my bedroom for a library, and I've read about 93% of them). The reason I liked it so much was because of the fact that it was 1) funny, 2) how I could spend hours thinking who did it and I learnt more every read, and 3) how I probably didn't solve it simply because I spent more time reading than thinking. Some people (clever ones) would call it "unputdownable".
How were the characters introduced?
The characters were Matthew Corbin's neighbours, the teller of the story. As he watches from his window he introduces them, but with plot twists and hidden info everywhere.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, DEFINITELY!
I liked this book because it was funny, gripping and carried across a great emotional message really well. A great assortment of characters went with that, and a great mystery and it DEFINITELY needs to be awarded.
Did I like it?
Yes, I loved it in fact, one of my top 10 books in fact, (and believe me I have read a lot of books in my life). (Someone once mistook my bedroom for a library, and I've read about 93% of them). The reason I liked it so much was because of the fact that it was 1) funny, 2) how I could spend hours thinking who did it and I learnt more every read, and 3) how I probably didn't solve it simply because I spent more time reading than thinking. Some people (clever ones) would call it "unputdownable".
How were the characters introduced?
The characters were Matthew Corbin's neighbours, the teller of the story. As he watches from his window he introduces them, but with plot twists and hidden info everywhere.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, DEFINITELY!
June 3, 2017
Matty's fear of germs is taking over his life. He knows that if they win, he will cause someone else to get sick and die. So he washes his hands over and over and compulsively cleans his room and belongings. It's gotten so bad that he can't go to school, and barely even leaves his room. Instead, he watches out the window, recording his neighbors' movements in a notebook, making sure that everyone sticks to their routines. Which puts him in the perfect place to notice things when his next door neighbor's one year old grandson suddenly goes missing. This is an absorbing mystery, surrounded by Matty's struggle with OCD as well as some realistic middle grade friend issues. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
October 23, 2020
3.5 stars. This book was pretty good, in how it put us in Matthew’s head, and gave us his internal monologue as he tried his best to cope with everything happening around him by washing himself and everything in his room, many times per day.
Since his mother lost her baby (Matthew’s younger brother) during his delivery five years earlier, Matthew’s OCD has totally overtaken his life, and Matthew stays in his room all day, cleaning and watching his neighbours. His watchfulness becomes important later when the visiting toddler grandson of their neighbour goes missing. Matthew, and a determined girl across the street (she doesn’t let Matthew dismiss her or let him retreat totally into his head), begin investigating their neighbours for clues into Teddy’s whereabouts.
I found the general dismissal of Matthew’s difficulties by many of the adults in this story difficult to read, especially as it shows the persistent, negative attitude towards mental health issues. I thought Matthew and his difficulties dealing with others were well portrayed. I liked the book right till close to the end, when I thought Matthew’s revelation to his parents came a little too early and easily into his therapy, considering he’s been in deep pain for years. The book loses half a star for that.
Since his mother lost her baby (Matthew’s younger brother) during his delivery five years earlier, Matthew’s OCD has totally overtaken his life, and Matthew stays in his room all day, cleaning and watching his neighbours. His watchfulness becomes important later when the visiting toddler grandson of their neighbour goes missing. Matthew, and a determined girl across the street (she doesn’t let Matthew dismiss her or let him retreat totally into his head), begin investigating their neighbours for clues into Teddy’s whereabouts.
I found the general dismissal of Matthew’s difficulties by many of the adults in this story difficult to read, especially as it shows the persistent, negative attitude towards mental health issues. I thought Matthew and his difficulties dealing with others were well portrayed. I liked the book right till close to the end, when I thought Matthew’s revelation to his parents came a little too early and easily into his therapy, considering he’s been in deep pain for years. The book loses half a star for that.
September 23, 2018
So very very, touching, and very much a "page-turner". This book is difficult to put down, because you want so much to know the answers. I loved this book, and Mathew, the MC.
February 14, 2025
Wonderful book combining a well written mystery with OCD awareness. Excellent!
January 22, 2018
"12:55 p.m. That time was important. I don't know why it stuck in my mind but it did, even without writing down.
At some point after 12:55 p.m. on that bright, scorching day, Teddy Dawson went missing."
I got a thing for good Middle grade books, despite the fact that my professors and probably a few family members would tell me I am too old for them. I don't care. There's something fascinating about books that manage to entertain children, but still hold a message that can reach up to an adult.
The Goldfish Boy is definitely one of those books. While we have a mystery disappearance going on and a main character with OCD, both of those are represented well. Matthew never gets in the way of the police while running his own little investigation, and his problems with cleanliness don't suddenly disappears after his secret gets out. If you choose to write about children with disorders, Lisa Thompson has a lot to teach about it.
Sentence: Really good! So far my challenge readings have been hits.
Book read as part of the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards challenge.
At some point after 12:55 p.m. on that bright, scorching day, Teddy Dawson went missing."
I got a thing for good Middle grade books, despite the fact that my professors and probably a few family members would tell me I am too old for them. I don't care. There's something fascinating about books that manage to entertain children, but still hold a message that can reach up to an adult.
The Goldfish Boy is definitely one of those books. While we have a mystery disappearance going on and a main character with OCD, both of those are represented well. Matthew never gets in the way of the police while running his own little investigation, and his problems with cleanliness don't suddenly disappears after his secret gets out. If you choose to write about children with disorders, Lisa Thompson has a lot to teach about it.
Sentence: Really good! So far my challenge readings have been hits.
Book read as part of the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards challenge.
October 6, 2022
«منتظر نشو که طوفان تموم شه، برو بیرون و از بارون لذت ببر.»
October 23, 2017
Man man man wat een mooi boek
November 18, 2017
Read & reviewed for The Bookbag:
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/i...
Matthew has OCD. Not that he knows that's what it is. He just likes things clean, he really hates germs, or going outside, and he feels safest upstairs in his room and the front bedroom, where he can control the dirt, and where he can watch everything that's going on outside, making notes on his neighbours' activities. When a little boy, Teddy, from next door goes missing one day, it turns out that Matthew was the last person to see him, and with all of his neighbours as suspects Matthew struggles against his crippling anxieties in order to try and uncover the truth of what happened to Teddy.
This was an extremely readable book. Matthew is very likeable as a character, and as a reader you desperately want him to get help, so that he can recover from the dreadful fears and anxieties that are crippling his life. Without knowing the truth of what led to his problems (another mystery to be solved within the story) you understand Matthew's problems, and feel so very sorry for him in the increasingly difficult situations that he finds himself. His illness is brilliantly handled, as well as his parents' responses to it. They have no idea what has triggered it, or quite how long it's been going on, and his mum and dad respond in different ways, with neither of them really knowing how to help Matthew and both of them managing to make things worse, without meaning to. It's easy to see how an anxiety unshared can escalate until it dominates a child's life, and Matthew's obsessions, with cleanliness and with the number 13, are understandable, believable, and deftly handled.
Because of Matthew's isolation at home, the book deals with loneliness, and also friendship, since he slowly starts to build a relationship with a girl living in the close, Melody, who becomes embroiled in both Matthew's investigation into Teddy's disappearance as well as Matthew's OCD. There's another boy in the close too, Jake, who initially appears to be the bully of the story but who we slowly learn more about, discovering that he was once Matthew's best friend and that he, too, is living with his own problems and difficulties. Each character is cleverly handled, and the problems and issues around friendship and loneliness are written about intelligently and in an understandable way. Matthew's OCD is sensitively handled, descriptive so that we understand his issues, and emotional as we see him dealing with those issues, meeting a therapist and finally confronting the darkest fears within his heart.
So, with a book dealing with OCD, mental health, physical health problems, loneliness, bullying and the disappearance of a toddler you'd think it would be dark and dreadfully depressing? Somehow it manages not to be! The book works very well since all the various characters we meet and suspect along the way are well drawn and interesting. The mystery has layers upon layers, and as in an Agatha Christie, we flit from thinking that almost anyone could have done it! I didn't guess the ending, and I really liked the reveal of how Matthew and his friends figure everything out. Although there are unsettling moments, there are lighter moments too. Matthew remains likeable throughout, and because we are hoping for the best for him, the book itself remains hopeful too.
Books often give us a gateway into understanding someone else's life, and I think this book is particularly important, as a children's book, since it shows the quirks and oddities that make up a variety of different characters, and how their behaviour does not necessarily define who they truly are. Very readable, and definitely recommended. Further reading suggestion: With a similar title, but a different (yet also moving) subject matter, you might also like to try Fish Boy by Chloe Daykin.
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/i...
Matthew has OCD. Not that he knows that's what it is. He just likes things clean, he really hates germs, or going outside, and he feels safest upstairs in his room and the front bedroom, where he can control the dirt, and where he can watch everything that's going on outside, making notes on his neighbours' activities. When a little boy, Teddy, from next door goes missing one day, it turns out that Matthew was the last person to see him, and with all of his neighbours as suspects Matthew struggles against his crippling anxieties in order to try and uncover the truth of what happened to Teddy.
This was an extremely readable book. Matthew is very likeable as a character, and as a reader you desperately want him to get help, so that he can recover from the dreadful fears and anxieties that are crippling his life. Without knowing the truth of what led to his problems (another mystery to be solved within the story) you understand Matthew's problems, and feel so very sorry for him in the increasingly difficult situations that he finds himself. His illness is brilliantly handled, as well as his parents' responses to it. They have no idea what has triggered it, or quite how long it's been going on, and his mum and dad respond in different ways, with neither of them really knowing how to help Matthew and both of them managing to make things worse, without meaning to. It's easy to see how an anxiety unshared can escalate until it dominates a child's life, and Matthew's obsessions, with cleanliness and with the number 13, are understandable, believable, and deftly handled.
Because of Matthew's isolation at home, the book deals with loneliness, and also friendship, since he slowly starts to build a relationship with a girl living in the close, Melody, who becomes embroiled in both Matthew's investigation into Teddy's disappearance as well as Matthew's OCD. There's another boy in the close too, Jake, who initially appears to be the bully of the story but who we slowly learn more about, discovering that he was once Matthew's best friend and that he, too, is living with his own problems and difficulties. Each character is cleverly handled, and the problems and issues around friendship and loneliness are written about intelligently and in an understandable way. Matthew's OCD is sensitively handled, descriptive so that we understand his issues, and emotional as we see him dealing with those issues, meeting a therapist and finally confronting the darkest fears within his heart.
So, with a book dealing with OCD, mental health, physical health problems, loneliness, bullying and the disappearance of a toddler you'd think it would be dark and dreadfully depressing? Somehow it manages not to be! The book works very well since all the various characters we meet and suspect along the way are well drawn and interesting. The mystery has layers upon layers, and as in an Agatha Christie, we flit from thinking that almost anyone could have done it! I didn't guess the ending, and I really liked the reveal of how Matthew and his friends figure everything out. Although there are unsettling moments, there are lighter moments too. Matthew remains likeable throughout, and because we are hoping for the best for him, the book itself remains hopeful too.
Books often give us a gateway into understanding someone else's life, and I think this book is particularly important, as a children's book, since it shows the quirks and oddities that make up a variety of different characters, and how their behaviour does not necessarily define who they truly are. Very readable, and definitely recommended. Further reading suggestion: With a similar title, but a different (yet also moving) subject matter, you might also like to try Fish Boy by Chloe Daykin.
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