Written by Lisa Thompson
12-year-old Matthew Corbin, nicknamed Goldfish Boy because he never leaves his room, suffers from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. He has missed weeks of school because he cannot bring himself to leave his home. He cleans his bedroom so often his hands are cracked and bleeding. To pass the time, he observes the neighbors on his cul-de-sac and writes down everything he sees. When his neighbor Mr. Charles’ little grandson disappears, Matthew realizes he is the last person to see him in the yard. This puts Matthew at the center of this mystery and his observations make every one of his neighbors suspect. With the help of two other kids, Melody and Jake, he tries to solve what happened in this quick paced, hard to put down novel.
I really loved this book. Matthew’s struggles with OCD are heart wrenching and you can feel his stress. His reasons for his compulsions are slowly revealed to you as well as his loving parents, who do not understand his behaviors. All the characters are so descriptive that you feel like you live in their neighborhood. The thought that kept coming into my head as I was reading, “This book reminds me of the movie ‘Rear Window.’” I have read other reviewers say the same thing. The Goldfish Boy is a super who-done-it mystery you just cannot stop reading! It also has so much heart that you become endeared to Matthew and his pain. My only criticism is that the ending came up a little too quickly. I think Lisa Thompson’s debut novel is amazing. I highly recommend this book!
Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades Grades 3-6
The Goldfish Boy
Written by Lisa Thompson
Scholastic Press
313 pages
Release Date: February 28, 2017
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
