The Goldfish Boy: A Journey Through Mystery, Friendship, & More

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In recent months, shortly after the beginning of a new semester at school, the Peking University Sixth Hospital Children’s Department (also known as Peking University Institute of Mental Health) has been flooded with young patients. According to reports from Sanlian Life Weekly, more than 300 children suffering from mental depression visit the hospital daily. This issue has become of great concern to society. There are a number of ways to address mental health problems, such as exploring interests like sports, music, art, or connecting with nature. The world of reading can play a major role as a significant positive influence on teenagers’ mental health.

Let’s dive into the benefits of reading. We will investigate the impact of good reading habits on an individual’s mental well-being. We will also hopefully inspire satisfactory reading habits.

Based on this topic, I would like to recommend three books to our young readers: October, October, by Katya Balen; The Goldfish Boy, by Lisa Thompson; and Going Solo, by Roald Dahl.

Stay tuned for my three-part series on mental health book recommendations from one young person to another.

A pair of gloves, a mystery, many phobias, and a miracle. This is The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson. It is a captivating and poignant novel based on the struggles of a teenager dealing with mental health issues. The Goldfish Boy won the Carnegie Medal, the Branford Boase Award, and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.

The protagonist, Matthew Corbin, is confined to his home due to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and agoraphobia. This leaves him hanging around in his strictly sanitized bedroom all day long. He likes to enjoy himself by looking out the window onto the streets of the neighborhood. Occasionally, he records insignificant events in his note-taking pad, such as the actions of his neighbors: “9:42am – Penny and Gordon leave to do their weekly supermarket shopping.” Matthew is an observant and thoughtful young boy. In fact, in the eyes of others, he is what you might call an “odd egg.”

Matthew also has severe mysophobia. If Truth be told, he is so anxious when it comes to dirt or a speck of dust that issues like this have made him drop out of school. Even in the house, he allows nobody to enter his room. His readily-made meals are all sent in through a gap in his door. This results in poor social relations for Matthew. It is hard for his parents to communicate with him through a locked door, especially with Matthew’s unwavering determination. Sometimes, he reaches such extremities of boredom that he starts talking to the “Wallpaper Lion,” which is the pattern of a lion on his bedroom wall. He sanitizes every inch of his bedroom every several hours throughout the day, keeping everything in tip-top condition.

Matthew is incredibly nervous about getting germs on his body – especially his hands. As a result, he constantly rushes to the bathroom and starts rubbing his hands wildly with soap. However, these unique qualities make this young boy suitable for the job of a detective.  

The appearance of a pair of young children altogether wipe out Matthew’s peace and quiet. A few days after the arrival of the kids, an explosive piece of news reaches every house in the neighborhood, spreading like a virus. Teddy, the younger boy of the two, has gone missing. Most importantly, Matthew saw him moments before he vanished, sitting on his own, prodding at a rose…

Lisa Thompson does a remarkable job of expressing the inner chaos and anxiety that Matthew experiences. He confronts his fears when, as the neighborhood’s only hope of finding Teddy, he decides to investigate the matter. Themes of love, friendship, and empathy are addressed through layers of the bewildering plot. When Matthew Corbin takes the first step out of his front door in a long, long time, he is completely set free. The disappearance of his neighbor’s grandchild gives him the chance to step up to be himself. Through the process, he makes a trustworthy friend and earns understanding from his parents and peers. In the end, he makes a brave confession.

The character of Matthew Corbin teaches us to confront our issues, no matter how scary they may be. This book offers a sensitive and realistic portrait of mental health issues in young people today, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding for those with mental health challenges. As a caring community, we can all express our empathetic hearts to everyone around us.   

Check back next Monday as we look at Going Solo by Roald Dahl.

Images: Pexels, Amazon

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