Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month January 2017 A gripping debut middle-grade story skilfully told by debut novelist Lisa Thompson. Trapped indoors by his obsessive fears of germs and much else Matthew watches his neighbours’ lives and details their every move. That’s why he’s the person who knows when toddler Teddy was last seen in his grandfather’s garden. When Teddy goes missing is it Matthew who holds the answer that everyone is seeking? Alongside the detective drama in the background, Lisa Thompson is also insightful about Matthew’s crippling anxieties and how they resolve. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for January 2017
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
The Crayons’ Book of Numbers by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
The Crayons’ Book of Colours by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
Jim by Hilaire Belloc and Mini Grey
His Royal Whiskers by Sam Gayton
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A lot of people can relate to Matthew. They may be scared, not like some people's fear of spiders, like scared of the outdoors. They may feel like they are confined to their room, and that it is too dangerous to go to school or socialize. Many people feel like that, and I know many people are grateful for this book, which shows OCD is not just cleaning, it's SO much more. Although it's not every day a child on your street goes missing, it is every day you have the chance to be brave. And Matthew showed that no matter your feelings, gender, race, height, age, anything, you can be brave.
Recently, we read Goldfish Boy as our class novel, and everyone in my class (including our teacher) loved it. I have many reasons why this book is one of my favorites, the main one being that it tells the truth. It tells the truth about how children experience mental illnesses and problems and how hard it can be. However, it also shows that if you stay strong, you can get through anything, such as Matthew losing the wallpaper lion. It shows that you can face your fears, no matter how hard they may seem as you think about them. And finally, it shows that mental illnesses don't control you. Matthew found the courage to step out of his isolation and find somebody's child. If he can be that brave, so can anybody.... Read Full Review
