This middle-grade novel is incredibly well-written and engaging, exploring tough topics in an honest and meaningful way while also being genuinely comedic. It's a hard balance to walk, but this book gets it right. This doesn't feel like a stereotypical Problem Novel, but is a compelling, funny, relatable look at a kid dealing with some difficult life circumstances.

The whole story covers just one day. Things go from bad to worse, and the main character's anxiety skyrockets as a comedy of errors keeps unfolding. There are occasional interludes with flashbacks, but the core plot covers everything that goes wrong on Picture Day at school, and Andrew also finds out that his grandmother, who has Alzheimer's, has run away from home. The book is fast-paced and compelling as Andrew's troubles build and build, but the book never feels overwhelmingly stressful, since there's so much humor as well. The book has great illustrations that add to the humor, and Andrew's POV voice is terrific. The supporting characters are also very well-developed, including the teachers at his school.

My only critique is that I would have liked Andrew's OCD to get named and explained in the story, not just in the marketing and author's note. The story conveys lots of information about dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, but the story never really explains what OCD is or how it's treated.

This book is unique and wonderful, and I'm so glad that I got to read it. I highly recommend it to people who enjoy great middle-grade fiction, especially if they appreciate novels about mental health.

Rob Harrell's Wink is one of my favorite trauma-centered books. This time, instead of sharing his middle-school experiences with a rare ocular cancer, Harrell shares his middle-school experiences with OCD and anxiety, mostly within the structure of protagonist Andrew Yeager's single school day. The school day happens to be Picture Day and, from his first encounter with his bully, Andrew's day goes from bad to worse in what would be described as a comedy of errors if you go for gallows humor. It's not fully explained why this particular Picture Day is so important to Andrew's mom, but Andrew wants to honor his mom's wishes.

I have quite a few readers in my middle school classes who gravitate to the trauma books, so this one will surely be another hit. Andrew is a likeable kid readers will root for, but learn from as well as he tries some of the strategies he's learned to cope with his anxiety. His grandmother's Alzheimers adds to his worries, and Harrell helpfully includes a list of resources for kids dealing with any of these topics at the end of his book.

I'll happily add this book to the shelves of my school, especially if it might help a student who can identify with Andrew in any way. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book covers hard topics like anxiety, bullying, OCD, Alzheimer's, and school relationships. It uses humor and drawings to lighten difficult discussions. It is a book dedicated to the anxious, the worried, the stressed and the generally freaked out. This is a helpful example for children who can't verbalize anxiety in their bodies and mind. The ability to communicate about your mental health is important and I love the examples show.

This book is a delightful look into the world of Andrew, a young man who deals with OCD and anxiety. Andrew is trying to have a nice picture day but things keep spiraling out of control. A run in with the school bully, his missing grandma, and a messed up science experiment all bring him closer and closer to explosion. Andrew uses strategies that his therapist has taught him and relies on his support network but the disasters keep coming.

I loved the visual way that Rob Harrell shows the feelings of anxiety and OCD. The little illustrations sprinkled throughout the text make it approachable for struggling readers. Using a popcorn metaphor Andrew expresses the building pressure. He can be a chill kernel or he can be close to Poppin'. Andrew feels immense pressure to keep things in order and taps to keep the bad things away get stronger and stronger. Love the acceptance from his peers and the normalizing of a mental health condition.

In Rob Harrell’s POPCORN, it’s picture day at Andrew’s school and it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong does. This would be a challenge for anyone, but for Andrew, who has anxiety and OCD, the day is almost unbearable. A bully targets him, his beloved grandma who suffers from Alzheimer’s goes missing, and he clashes with his BFF—all before having his picture taken! With each incident, the stress and tension growing inside of Andrew continue to build. With support from caring peers and adults, Andrew regains his composure and makes it to the photographer for a memorable school picture.

The author’s use of popcorn as an analogy to show readers how Andrew’s anxiety manifests itself provides an accessible tool for readers who may not exactly understand what Andrew is trying to manage. While Andrew’s day is truly horrible, the events are all ones that absolutely could occur in a regular middle school day. The cast of supporting characters, especially those who help Andrew weather the storm, are well-developed and relatable. Humor and whimsical illustrations help to keep the serious subject matter engaging. There’s lots to laugh at, learn from, and love in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of the book.

I love Harrell's way of injecting true humor into really serious situations without it feeling stilted. He has that gift here again, turning a truly awful day (for a middle schooler) into many funny events. But he also uses a simple analogy to give a good look at what it's like to deal with anxiety on a regular basis. This book didn't wrap me up within it the way Wink did, but it's still a good, unique story.

Reviewed for Netgalley, Author, and Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The cover is interesting and accurately depicts the story and the feeling of anxiety. The graphics in the novel are well-drawn, complement the accompanying text, and make good visual aids for young readers. The humor throughout the novel is excellent, giving it a lighthearted and comedic feel that will draw in and keep young readers reading till the end. Andrew and Jonesy's friendship was fantastic, and I adored it. The characters are well-developed and realistic, and we get a glimpse of each of their characteristics, allowing us to sympathize with and connect with them. The plot was engaging, amusing, and well-developed overall. The settings were imaginative, realistic, and well-written. The book offers fantastic learning opportunities for readers of all ages about the various forms and coping methods of anxiety, the impacts and feelings of anxiety, and how Alzheimer's affects both the person who has it and their loved ones. The book also does an excellent job of emphasizing the necessity of open communication through voice, body language, and written communication. I liked how the author gave additional materials about anxiety, OCD, and Alzheimer's at the end of the novel so that readers could learn more about them if they wanted. The writing was enjoyable, witty, and descriptive, although it might use some minor editing. As someone who suffers from social anxiety and minor OCD, I found the book to be sympathetic, realistic, and full of opportunities to learn about these conditions. Popcorn by Rob Harrell is an excellent novel with humor, learning, friendship, and support systems. I would recommend this book to anybody aged 13 and above who is or knows someone who is battling with anxiety, OCD, or Alzheimer's, as well as readers looking for a humorous and illustrated fiction book that deals with difficult themes in a lighthearted manner.

What a day Andrew has! It’s picture day and so much happens to him. Andrew has anxiety and panic attacks occasionally and this day certainly triggers that. On top of so much happening to him he finds out his grandmother, G, who has Alzheimer’s has disappeared from his house. The support Andrew has from so many people is so wonderful. Love the little drawings.

A great book with humor and heart about ocd and anxiety! Full of lovable drawings and all a span of one action packed picture day!