Think “Curious incident of the dog in the night-time” for younger readers. This is such a winner for readers in upper primary & lower secondary. It’s a mystery, but is about much more than merely solving a crime.
Matthew is housebound, crippled by severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and fearful of germs.
From his bedroom window, he watches the comings and goings of his neighbours, keeping a detailed diary of all their activities. When a toddler next door goes missing, Matthew finds himself compelled to investigate, and in doing so, has to face, and overcome, his fears.
Matthew is a believable and appealing narrator. His battle against his OCD is convincing and the reader empathizes with him and his parents, who are trying to understand and help him. All the characters in this book are well developed. Melody, the girl who hangs out in graveyards, and Jake, who at first glance appears to be a bully, but really isn’t, are real kids, with real issues.
I consumer this book in one sitting and highly recommend it for readers who love a mystery, told by a complex, but likeable, narrator.