Popcorn by Rob Harrell

Over the weekend, I read Popcorn by Rob Harrell. This humorous realistic fiction novel is about Andrew Yaeger, a boy who just wants to make it through Picture Day. Things begin to go wrong when his bully, Gene Phillips, bumps his backpack into Andrew's face and shoulder on the bus and escalate when Gene wants Andrew to help him cheat on their math test. When he learns at lunchtime that G, his grandmother with Alzheimer's, has gone missing, Andrew worries that he won't be able to avoid his worst fear, losing control of his anxiety and having a public panic attack at school. Although he has support from his best friend Jonesy, Nurse Finnegan, and multiple teachers, unfortunate incidents keep adding up as he goes through the afternoon and he knows that he will burst like a kernel of popcorn the longer it takes for G to be found.

I enjoyed reading this book so much and absolutely loved how it was both funny and emotional. As someone who also has anxiety, even though it's not as severe, I could relate to Andrew and his worries because middle school is not easy, especially when you're having a bad day. I also liked that he could rely on not only his best friend to be there for him, but also the school nurse, a few of his teachers, and even some of his classmates. It was nice seeing that he wasn't alone. I thought Gene was despicable and it was so frustrating that he just wouldn't leave Andrew alone, especially when Andrew just wanted to have a good picture day and the world seemed to be conspiring against him. Despite the drama and how Andrew's day wasn't going well, I definitely did laugh out loud a few times because I thought his drawings and comics were hilarious and accurate. I really appreciated the authenticity of the entire story. As for G, I thought it was so scary how she disappeared and even the police couldn't find her right away. I think anyone would be worried about that, anxiety or not. After reading another one of Harrell's books, Wink, a couple years ago, I wasn't surprised by how amazing this book is because he's an awesome author who can mix humor with serious stuff. Popcorn is superb choice for any middle school student, but especially those who can relate to the feeling of losing control.

Wink by Rob Harrell

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Wink by Rob Harrell. This realistic fiction novel is about Ross Maloy, a twelve-year-old boy who is diagnosed with a rare eye cancer during the summer before he starts seventh grade. All he wants is to be normal, but it's challenging when he has medical treatments everyday and someone at his school is making cruel memes about him. He even has to wear a hat to school for protection and smear goop around his eye, which doesn't make fitting in any easier. Although one of his friends, Isaac, stopped hanging out with Ross when he found out the news about Ross's diagnosis, his other friend, Abby, stands by his side faithfully even though she's moving to Minnesota over winter break. After his first few treatments, Ross begins taking guitar lessons with his radiation tech, Frank, and decides that he wants to play in the school talent show in part to impress the girl he has a crush on. For Ross, playing guitar is an outlet for his struggles, along with drawing comics that feature his original character, Batpig. Unfortunately, as his hair begins to fall out and he dreads the day he'll lose his vision, he has a falling out with Abby. With the burdens building up, Ross has to decide if he should let go and embrace what makes him unique.

I really enjoyed this book because it wasn't your typical book about someone who has cancer. While there are parts that are heartbreaking, it was also hilarious and fun, making me laugh and smile. I definitely loved how the book combined both art and music. It was cool how the Batpig comics linked to whatever was going on in Ross's life and they really expressed his emotions well. At first, I thought Frank was very pretentious about music, but as he spent more time with Ross, I got to know his empathic side, which was nice. I especially liked Ross and Abby's friendship because Abby would let Ross know that it's okay to stand out. Even though they get into an argument when they're both dealing with a lot, I had faith that they would make up before the end of the book. Wink is an unforgettable novel and it's an exceptional choice for anyone to read about surviving not only cancer, but middle school.