★ 2016-12-06
Matthew is the Jimmy Stewart of this Rear Window for middle graders. Behind the safety of his bedroom window, 12-year-old Matthew Corbin watches the world go by. Unable to go to school consistently or play with friends like other children his age because of a crippling fear of germs, Matthew observes life from behind the safety of glass windowpanes. Neighbors come and go about their business. Children play. And one day, a posh black car delivers a young girl and her baby brother to their grandfather, and neither Matthew nor his cul-de-sac in a largely white London suburb will ever be the same. When 15-month-old Teddy disappears, Matthew, with the unexpected help of a quirky, cemetery-obsessed neighbor, vows to solve the mystery of his disappearance. Matthew's struggles with OCD and guilt over the death of his own baby brother are heartbreakingly real, yet somehow, even in Matthew's most difficult moments, the novel never loses its sense of hope. Hope that Teddy will be found. And hope that Matthew will fight his demons and reclaim his life. A secondary cast of characters, including Matthew's parents and Melody Bird, his sassy, self-appointed investigative partner, helps to make this possible. Thompson strikes the perfect balance, seemingly without compromise, between an issue-driven novel and one with broad, commercial appeal. This empathetic debut is a middle-grade whodunit with a very special heart. (Mystery. 8-12)
12/12/2016
British 12-year-old Matthew Corbin blames himself for his baby brother’s death five years ago and, as a direct result, has developed a mental condition so debilitating that he cannot leave his house. He only travels between his bedroom and the upstairs office, where he can watch all the houses and people in his cul-de-sac, and he constantly cleans every surface, including frequent visits to his bathroom to wash himself. It is from these vantage points that he becomes the last person to see a toddler who goes missing. As the police search for the kidnapped boy, Matthew begins his own investigation, with help from neighbor kids Melody and Jake. Debut author Thompson creates believable doubt in the innocence of Matthew’s neighbors, building suspense in this fast-moving Rear Window–type whodunit featuring short chapters and cliffhanger chapter endings. The book stumbles slightly, however, in its handling of Matthew’s obsessive disorder. While his daily struggle and tentative reemergence are skillfully handled, his eventual disclosure to his therapist and parents of what caused his problem leads to a too easily resolved ending. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)
Praise for Lisa Thompson's The Goldfish Boy* "Thompson strikes the perfect balance, seemingly without compromise, between an issue-driven novel and one with broad, commercial appeal. This empathetic debut is a middle-grade whodunit with a very special heart." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review"A multilayered mystery at once suspenseful and heartrending." —Booklist"The novel successfully weaves Matthew's personal struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and the search for the missing toddler into a compelling story with a hearty dose of mystery and adventure." —School Library Journal"This book is filled with intriguing characters and tragic, mysterious pasts. Thompson has created a modern teenage tale interwoven with classic literary themes like loss, guilt, neglect, and loneliness. This is a story for everyone, featuring mystery, drama, and enough realism to inspire students to research and understand the complexities of the mind." —School Library Connection“Heart and humour, along with a strong message about the value of family, friends and facing fears [...] make this assured debut stand out.” — Observer“Both a genuine mystery and an emotionally charged examination of fear and loneliness, this is a terrific read with warmly engaging characters.” —Daily Mail“This carefully judged, poignant story should help those with OCD feel less alone–and help others to understand the impulses behind painful acts of repetition.” —Guardian“A genuinely clever mystery.” —Robin Stevens, author of the Murder Most Unladylike series“A great cast of characters and an intriguing mystery–I loved it!” —Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster
12/01/2016
Gr 4–6—Watching from his bedroom window, Matthew, called Goldfish Boy because he never leaves his room, is the last person to observe a neighborhood toddler before the child's disappearance. With his hands tightly secured inside rubber gloves, Matthew struggles with an intense fear of germs, brought on by the death of his baby brother. There are few characters who interact with Matthew: his frustrated parents, a girl who lives down the street, and his adjoining neighbors, all of whom are suspects in the toddler's disappearance. The novel successfully weaves Matthew's personal struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and the search for the missing toddler into a compelling story with a hearty dose of mystery and adventure. Though the topic is serious, the tone is fairly light and the story well-paced, considering the setting rarely changes from Matthew's home. Readers will root for Matthew. VERDICT Recommended for middle grade collections and for use as a classroom read-aloud, ideal for building empathy.—Pilar Okeson, District of Columbia Public Library
This story is an emotional roller-coaster ride, and narrator Leon Williams treats each twist and turn with depth and passion, holding listeners in rapt attention to the end. He provides a spectacular portrayal of 12-year-old Matthew, who’s so crippled by OCD that he rarely leaves the house. One minute Matthew rhythmically catalogues his cul-de-sac’s happenings from the upstairs window like a radio broadcaster, the next he’s repeating his “safe phrases” in a quick staccato tone laden with anxiety. When a boy goes missing from the neighborhood, Matthew's detailed observations become important evidence. Listeners will go from tearing their hair out to cheering on Matthew and his fellow sleuth, Melody Bird, as the mystery unfolds. Williams takes listeners from one emotion to the next, anxious, horrified, hopeful, heartbroken, and relieved, all in one performance. M.F.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
This story is an emotional roller-coaster ride, and narrator Leon Williams treats each twist and turn with depth and passion, holding listeners in rapt attention to the end. He provides a spectacular portrayal of 12-year-old Matthew, who’s so crippled by OCD that he rarely leaves the house. One minute Matthew rhythmically catalogues his cul-de-sac’s happenings from the upstairs window like a radio broadcaster, the next he’s repeating his “safe phrases” in a quick staccato tone laden with anxiety. When a boy goes missing from the neighborhood, Matthew's detailed observations become important evidence. Listeners will go from tearing their hair out to cheering on Matthew and his fellow sleuth, Melody Bird, as the mystery unfolds. Williams takes listeners from one emotion to the next, anxious, horrified, hopeful, heartbroken, and relieved, all in one performance. M.F.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
