POPCORN by Rob Harrell is inspired by Harrell's own struggles with anxiety. It should definitely be part of every middle school collection. It will help countless kids better understand their own feelings and emotions, as well as those of others.
Andrew is having one of the worst days ever. He has always struggled with overwhelming feelings of panic and what is no doubt OCD. His mother is busy trying to make ends meet and trying her best to help Andrew, but it seems that help usually falls short.
It's picture day at school. Andrew is proud of the brand-new shirt his mother got him. Brand-new isn't usually something she can afford. Things begin to go wrong almost immediately. On the bus, in homeroom, in math, in language arts, in science, in art, and in gym class. It's one tragic event after another. His best friend Jonesy even seems to abandon him when he needs her the most. To top things off, Andrew's grandmother has wandered off who knows where.
Thanks to his art teacher and the school nurse Andrew ends up dealing with his anxiety and learns some coping skills that he hopes will help in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment