The goldfish boy
Summary:
Twelve-year old Matthew suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and so prefers to stay in his bedroom where he can try to control everything and where everything is safe. However, when a young child from the neighbourhood goes missing, and Matthew is the last to see him, Matthew must embark on a mission to find out what happened to the missing child.
Edited by: Dublin City University
Comment:
The narrative deals sensitively with the reasons and underlying anxiety causing Matthew’s OCD. The book’s exploration of a young boy’s vulnerability, loneliness, and his methods of coping with loss and difficult issues in life, mark it as a significant book in terms of dismantling some of the prevailing stereotypes around young male mental health. The book’s conclusion focuses on how to move on with life in spite of its difficulties, losses, and imperfections.