TheGoldfishBoy,LisaThompson,Scholastic,2017Fromthepublisher:MatthewCorbinsuffersfromsevereobsessive-compulsivedisorder.Hehasn’tbeentoschoolinweeks.Hishandsarecrackedandbleedingfromcleaning.Herefusestoleavehisbedroom.Topassthetime,heobserveshisneighboursfromhisbedroomwindow,makingmundanenotesabouttheirhabitsastheybustleaboutthecul-de-sac.Whenatoddlerstayingnextdoorgoesmissing,itbecomesapparentthatMatthewwasthelastpersontoseehimalive.Suddenly,Matthewfindshimselfatthecentreofahigh-stakesmystery,andeveryoneofhisneighboursisasuspect.Matthewisthekeytofiguringoutwhathappenedandpotentiallysavingachild’slife,butisheabletodosoifitmeansexposinghisownsecrets,andsteppingoutfromthesafetyofhishome?IwasakidwhenmyOCDbehavioursbegantoshow.Iwasalwaysintenselyanxious–nervousandtightly-woundandpronetotears,butthiswasatimepriortowidespreadunderstandingandacceptanceofmentalillness,particularlyinchildren.Itwaswrittenoffastypicalchildhoodshyness;asbeingover-emotional;asbeingadifficultchild.Itwasn’tuntilIwasanadultthatIidentifiedthat,actually,Iwassufferingfromclinicalanxiety.IttookevenlongerformetofindoutthatIhadOCD,too,andthatIhadsinceIwaslittle.IthoughtofOCDthewaymanypeoplethingofOCD–obsessivetidiness,apreoccupationwithhygiene,countingsteps,flickinglightswitchesonandoff.IttookaYouTubevideobyJohnGreenformetorealisethat,eventhoughIdidn’texhibitthebehavioursI’velistedabove,Ididhaveobsessivebehaviour.It’sjustthatthebehaviouroccurredinsidemyhead.LikeJohnGreen,Ihave“thoughtspirals”.Mybrainhangsontoanidea–obsessively–andwillnotletgo.Usually,theideaisirrational.Almostalways,theideaisintrusiveandannoying.Moreoftenthannot,theideaisscaryandhorrible.“Ifyoudon’tputalltheDVDcasesinastraightline,youcan’twatchthemovie…”“Ifyoudon’tvacuumthelivingroomeveryday,yourfamilywillgetsick…”“Ifyoudon’tcheckonyourdaughtereverytwohoursduringthenight,shemightstopbreathing…”“Ifyoudon’tdothisthing–NOW–everyoneyoulovewilldie…”Thesethoughtsareterrifying.Iknowtheyareirrational.Iknowthat,ifIforgettovacuumoneday,mydaughterpro