Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intriguing mystery inspires empathy for kids with OCD.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Twelve-year-old Matthew got the nickname THE GOLDFISH BOY because he spends all his time in his bedroom, too afraid to go outside. His obsessive compulsive disorder makes him afraid that he'll bring in germs from the outside world that will make his loved ones sick and possibly die. From his upstairs windows he watches all the comings and goings on his little cul de sac and takes careful notes of what he sees. Because of this, he was the last person to see his neighbor's grandson Teddy (a 15-month-old toddler) before the child mysteriously disappeared. There are a lot of possible suspects in the neighborhood, and as Matthew tries to crack the case, he learns that very few people, including himself, are what they seem.
Is It Any Good?
Author Lisa Thompson's first novel is an absorbing, intriguing mystery with a compelling hero who's easy to relate to and root for and a plot with lots of surprising twists and turns. All the characters in The Goldfish Boy are well developed, and big kids and tweens will feel a lot of empathy for 12-year-old Matthew as they learn a bit about OCD and what it's like to live with it.
Parents might want to be ready to answer questions and provide reassurance for questions and fears that might come up due to the strong themes of newborn loss and a toddler who disappears under mysterious circumstances. The story provides good examples of learning to cope, and there's a safe resolution to the mystery. It's a great introduction to the "whodunit" genre and provides good examples about seeing things through, keeping at difficult tasks, critical thinking, and jumping to conclusions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Goldfish Boy shows what it's like to have OCD. Did you know anything about it before you read the book? What did you learn about it?
Have you ever had to do something you were afraid to do? What happened? Were you able to find the courage to do it?
Did you understand what Old Nina meant when she said, "Don't ever wait for a storm to pass. You've got to go out there and dance in the rain"? What does Matthew think she meant?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Press
- Publication date : February 28, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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