PopcornReview posted March 15, 2025.
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2024. 270 pages.
Review written February 27, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
2025 Schneider Family Award Winner, Middle Grades
Popcorn is about a kid named Andrew who has OCD and Anxiety - who has a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. And it's so awful it's funny - but the story is told with compassion, so we are feeling it along with Andrew - and both Andrew and the reader come through it all encouraged.
It's School Picture Day. Andrew's wearing his favorite shirt (a new one, which isn't easy for his Mom to afford), and his Mom even thinks to have him pack an extra one. Mom is starting her first day on a new job, and a friend of the family is staying with Andrew's grandmother, who has Alzheimer's.
And as soon as he gets to school, things happen to mess up Andrew's appearance. A ripped shirt. A black eye. The things are only loosely Andrew's fault - I mean, he could have let the bully copy off his paper, but we're definitely feeling for him. Then we think he's safe because the shirt gets mended, but no, Andrew is never safe! The things that happen to mess up his appearance only get worse.
And in the middle of the day, he learns that his grandma has gone missing, and they weren't able to reach his Mom by phone. This is not a good thing to hear for someone who has anxiety. Andrew has a gauge like a popcorn kernel - the heat builds up until he knows he's going to pop.
Andrew's had two panic attacks in the past, but one of his greatest fears is having one at school. And that fear itself for sure doesn't help.
The whole thing adds up to a story told with humor and compassion about a kid watching what he thought was the worst possible thing actually happen - and he gets through it, and friends and teachers help him through.
The story of how that all happens is a fun ride indeed.