Lisa Thompson (1) (1973–)

There's something to be said for mysteries involving a neurodivergent sleuth -- and this one manages to involve 3 kids who are struggling with various things to work together and show their strengths. I particularly liked that compassion towards the bully changes friendship dynamics, and I appreciate the depiction of a caring psychiatric professional. Good red herrings, unexpected neighbor support. I do wish the jerk of a PE teacher had got his comeuppance, but I have a suspicion that show more parenthood may change him, too. Solid and engaging. show less

If you read The Trouble with Goats and Sheep (or at the very least my review of it) then you won't be surprised to learn that I thoroughly enjoyed The Goldfish Boy by Colleen Oakley. The bare bones of this book is remarkably similar in that it's centered on a cul-de-sac in England where there are secrets behind every door and there's a mystery involving the disappearance of a small child. Yes, they're remarkably similar except...the main character is a young boy named Matthew who suffers show more from a debilitating case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD which has resulted in him being unable/unwilling to leave his house. He is hyper-observant of everyone's movements and takes detailed notes which is how we get to know all of his neighbors. The majority of the novel takes place in his bedroom where the reader is trapped right along with him. Besides the discussion of OCD, Oakley tackles the internalized shame and fear of living with a mental illness. This is written in the style of Rear Window where the reader is seeing through the eyes of someone who is on the outside but also very much on the inside. (I'm deliberately being vague because to be anything else would give away the mystery.) This book made me wonder how common OCD might be in children and how this could be misdiagnosed as agoraphobia or vice versa. (Wait til you see how Matthew's parents view his behavior.) I felt that the author was extremely sensitive in her handling of this debilitating illness and wrote about it with just enough detail for us to feel as if we were getting a glimpse inside of Matthew without beating us over the head with it. Of note: I didn't much care for any of the adults in this book. Far and away, they were all pretty much useless cretins. The book though was riveting and I immediately passed it on to my co-worker who then passed it on to her teenage daughter. That marks it a winner in my books. 10/10 show less

A classic mystery with kids in a run-down hotel and a story about finding friends and support when you feel like you and your family don't fit in.

Werewolves aren't really my thing, so I was relieved when the hints of supernatural creatures turned into a riveting mystery about a famous writer. :) The villain in this story doesn't change according to the phases of the moon. He's too busy trying to cheat people for profit, 24/7.

The hero of the story, Todd, is overburdened with responsibility, show more because his Dad isn't taking the medication he needs (hints of manic-depression?). As a result, the kids--especially Todd, but also his little sister, Laurie--on an emotional rollercoaster. I didn't like how rude Todd was to his little sister. I also could see how easily that could happen, considering that the Mom and Aunt Lexie were both away and Dad wasn't able to get out of bed because of his illness. I wish Todd had been allowed to grow into supporting Laurie a bit more by the end of the story.

Little sister Laurie is delightfully persistent and upbeat, even when the older kids are feeling a bit spooked by it all. The fossil collection is an excellent touch. Free-spirited Scout--the daughter of the hotel--is a wonderful antidote to the boy guests' uptightness. Her goggles against supernatural vapors are yet another fun touch!

Thrilling adventure mystery that could also be a helpful conversation-starter about its many themes: asking for help, supporting your friends, collecting fossils . . . show less

This book is a refreshingly accessible look into the world of a preteen who suffers from OCD. Matthew can no longer attend school because his OCD has gotten so overwhelming, forcing him to wash and sanitize endlessly. He spends his days in his upstairs bedroom, recording the goings on of the small community that shares his English cul de sac neighborhood. He records notes about the activities of his neighbors and former friends to pass the time. As the story opens, his elderly next door show more neighbor has been asked to watch his grandchildren Casey and Teddy. Teddy is only 15 months old and needs supervision––something elderly Mr Charles isn’t good at. When Teddy goes missing, Matthew, aided by his neighbor Melody who he initially communicates with by computer, decide to try to find him. The descriptions of Matthew’s OCD and his therapy are bang-on, and the ending of the story offers the promise of recovery. The mystery is well-plotted and carries the story on with just the right amount of suspense. This book would be excellent for grades 5-8. Amazingly, this is a debut novel. show less