Popcorn

August 1, 2024
A middle schooler tries to survive his worst day ever. Seventh grader Andrew Yaeger has a lot on his mind. Money is tight, his beloved grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer's, and the biggest bully in school is after him. To make matters worse, it's picture day, and Andrew's mom desperately wants one good photo of him. But after taking a basketball to the face in gym class, getting knocked into a trophy case by his bully, and getting sprayed with grape juice thanks to a friend's explosive sneeze, Andrew's anxiety starts to simmer. When he gets a call from his mom saying that his grandma has gone missing, his anxiety escalates from simmering to boiling--and he starts to wonder whether he can withstand the pressure. One bright spot is the presence of Aisha "Jonesy" Jones, his lifelong best friend--although their friendship is shifting as she spends more time with her basketball friends. Harrell's conversational tone, snappy pacing, and realistic dialogue make each chapter eminently readable. The accompanying black-and-white doodles, notes, and comics lend humor to some serious situations. Harrell does a fantastic job of explaining the symptoms accompanying anxiety and panic attacks in simple terms, with Andrew feeling "like I'm in hot oil and I might pop" or "there's a blue whale...crushing my chest." Readers will also appreciate the accurate depictions of talk therapy and of the tics that accompany Andrew's OCD. Andrew is white; Jonesy is Black. Heartwarming, insightful, and surprisingly funny. (author's note, resources)(Fiction. 10-14)

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Starred review from August 16, 2024

Gr 4-7-Harrell's illustrated novel shines with a humorous, authentic depiction of a middle school student with anxiety and OCD. Andrew, a seventh grade boy who lives in an apartment with his mom and grandmother, is trying to get through school picture day without the kernel of anxiety inside him popping into a panic attack. He is coping with a lot, including the separation of his parents, his grandmother's Alzheimer's, and his mom's struggle with financial stability. Harrell skillfully depicts a young person's experience with therapy and finding support for anxiety and panic attacks through friends, family, and trusted teachers. Small black-and-white illustrations are included throughout, as well as sketch-style comics called "The Anxiety Files." The text and art provide relatable and creative descriptions of how anxiety feels in the body, as well as real coping skills. The illustrations build on the humorous tone of Andrew's internal monologue and add balance to the challenging situations he faces. An author's note shares Harrell's own experiences with anxiety and back matter includes further resources about anxiety, OCD, and Alzheimer's. VERDICT A must-purchase-this is sure to be popular with Harrell's fans as well as with readers of middle school-themed illustrated novels and comics.-Taylor Skorski

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2024
Grades 4-7 In a wry, first-person narrative, seventh-grader Andrew, who lives with anxiety, relates the story of one disastrous school picture day. In addition to being a generally tense, stressed individual, he describes certain tics and rituals he conducts, such as tapping or shutting doors just right. While everything gets off to a promising start--new outfit, fresh haircut, and a perfectly packed bookbag--things go downhill pretty fast, especially when he hears that his beloved grandma, who has Alzheimer's, has wandered away from home. Andrew experiences a lot of the troubles of a typical middle-school kid, but his anxiety makes navigating everyday challenges just a bit more difficult. Informed by his own childhood experiences with anxiety, Harrell approaches the topics of anxiety and OCD through a lens of humor and compassion in Andrew's distinctive, entertaining voice, which is complemented by his doodled ""Anxiety Files""--mini-comics and illustrations relating to his anxiety. Readers who connected with Raina Telgemeier's Guts will appreciate this thoughtful story about managing anxiety delivered in an inviting, Wimpy Kid-like format.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2024
Seventh grader Andrew just wants a nice school photo. But the day doesn't go as planned: a bully rips his shirt; a basketball hits him in the face; and much worse, he learns his grandmother, who has Alzheimer's, is missing. It all escalates until Andrew, who struggles with anxiety and OCD, has a panic attack. Andrew's first-person narration, along with interspersed comic-style sketches, make for a story that's serious but accessible to a middle-school audience. An author's note and resources about anxiety, OCD, and Alzheimer's are appended.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)