52 pages • 1 hour read
Lisa ThompsonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew often gives into his compulsion to clean himself and the surfaces around him. How does Matthew’s obsessive cleaning habits affect his loved ones?
The story is told entirely from the perspective of Matthew, a 12-year-old boy who has OCD. How does this choice affect our understanding of the character? How does this choice strengthen the book’s themes?
Discuss Matthew’s relationship to Melody Bird. How do they both share traumatic events and maladaptive coping mechanisms? How does their relationship grow and improve throughout the novel?
In the years following the death of his baby brother, Matthew experiences survivor’s guilt that is so intense he develops severe OCD. Why does Matthew feel personally responsible for this death, and how does it affect his life and his perception of himself?
The Goldfish Boy is a mystery novel. What aspects of the mystery genre are present here? Are they effectively employed? Why or why not?
Old Nina is a quiet shut-in who lives across the street from Matthew. How does Old Nina mirror or reflect Matthew’s own life and personality, and specifically his fears?
Matthew often feels ashamed of his mental illness and how it impacts his behavior. What does Matthew feel ashamed about in particular, and how does he deal with that shame?
Matthew’s parents are deeply concerned about his mental health when he begins showing signs of OCD. How does Matthew’s OCD both harm and (ultimately) help his relationship with his parents?
Matthew’s habit of watching the world from his bedroom window for fear of contacting germs enables him to become an effective and careful investigator when Teddy Dawson goes missing. How does Matthew’s introverted tendencies benefit him in the context of the Teddy Dawson case? How does the investigation help Matthew gradually open up to the world around him again?