Popcorn...A Book

Can you imagine your worst day ever? 

Now multiply it by 10. 

Would you believe me if I told you that it would still not match up to Andrew’s worst day ever? 

Think of every awful thing that could befall an average middle school kid right on class picture day. Pictured it? 

Well, all of those you are imagining and more happen to Andrew. From having juice sneezed on his brand new ‘picture day shirt’, to being hit on the nose by a stray basketball, to a nose bleed, to being a victim of a rogue ketchup bottle experiment, to relentlessly being the target of the class bully, and more. And just when you think it can’t get worse, his grandmother with Alzheimer’s goes missing—and his mom is unreachable.

A nightmare, right?

Now imagine all of this happening to someone already struggling with anxiety and OCD.

Popcorn by Rob Harrell

Rob Harrell’s book is laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s also incredibly moving. Told through a first-person narrative that feels raw and real, the story blends chaos with compassion. Interspersed throughout are hilarious spot illustrations and “Anxiety Files” that vividly depict what Andrew is feeling, how his anxiety and OCD present themselves, and practical tips on how to cope.

The narration of Andrew’s therapy sessions into the storyline, the kind and supportive characters, and the honest depictions of his mental health challenges remind readers that although managing anxiety isn’t easy, help is always within reach.

To put it simply, this book is about a boy who struggles with anxiety. However, to describe it as such would do a great disservice to Harrell’s writing. He has the knack of taking a serious situation, throwing it into a vat of humour, sprinkling in some real-life advice together with ridiculous yet strangely relatable moments, that combine to make his stories feel authentic and extremely heartfelt. 

Truly a window and mirror read. As with his book Wink, author Rob Harrell can knit in humour, yet underline the seriousness of the situation and draw out sympathy. The combination works as Wink is rarely on the library shelf. 

Highly recommended for middle-grade readers, parents, educators, and anyone looking for honest, hopeful, and hilarious storytelling.