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Find out moreLonglisted 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
Twelve-year-old Matthew is trapped in his bedroom by crippling OCD, spending most of his time staring out of his window as the inhabitants of Chestnut Close go about their business. Until the day he is the last person to see his next door neighbour's toddler, Teddy, before he goes missing. Matthew must turn detective and unravel the mystery of Teddy's disappearance - with the help of a brilliant cast of supporting characters.
Page-turning, heartbreaking, but ultimately life-affirming, this story is perfect for fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and Wonder. It is a book that will make you laugh and cry.
In addition to our LoveReading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can click here to read the full reviews.
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. Full review
"A genuinely clever mystery" Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike
"A great cast of characters and an intriguing mystery - Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling With A Hamster
| ISBN: | 9781407170992 |
| Publication date: | 5th January 2017 |
| Author: | Lisa Thompson |
| Publisher: | Scholastic |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 400 pages |
| Year Groups: | Key Stage 3 |
| Topics: | Family / Home Stories |
Lisa Thompson is a children’s novelist and the author of the best-selling The Goldfish Boy and The Light Jar. The Goldfish Boy was a Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal, the Branford Boase Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. She lives in Suffolk with her family
More About Lisa Thompson
