Popcorn

I really like this book, it managed to feel funny and amusing aswell as relatable and comforting! The story had a deep meaning and message that was carried by a series of bad things happening to the character in his journey to get the perfect school picture. I did enjoy it however it did feel a little basic at times. All in all a really nice book that tackled mature themes in a easy to understand way and made me smile!

Agnes

Lit Legends of Swavesey

This book really represents anxiety well. I wouldn't know about how it represents OCD, as I don't have it, but it gave me a good understanding of what it is and how its like to have it. The descriptions of panic attacks are really accurate and I love how everything seemed to go wrong in his day, because that happens to me! amazing book :)

Anika

Norwich High Bookworms

I did not enjoy this book as I found the story really boring because I thought the story was very uninteresting. I would recommend it to young kids or people who wish to learn the basics of anxiety but not for people who want a fairly interesting story. One good thing about it was that it seemed to show the challenge of Alzheimer correctly.

Hasan

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I loved the book as well as the story line. Every thing about the book is brilliant. So emersive and made me want to keep reading even after it finished.The illustrations were beautifully done. Loved it!

Hollie

St Kaths

At first I wasn't sure - I thought that this might be another 'tick box' exercise, but I was quickly won over by how sensitively the author addressed a range of topics. Not only did he give a really accessible description of what it feels like to have a panic attack, he spoke with sincerity about the realities of living with someone with Alzheimer's Disease. This made me really warm to his character, Andrew. I also appreciated him showing that not all teachers are ogres - there are goodun's out there who care for the student beyond their grades. Thank you!

Mrs Webb

Vista Academy Littleport

Popcorn was an interesting book to say the least. It dealt with adult problems in a way that younger readers like us can understand. Many people don't know what a panic attack feels or just plain old anxiety. Now despite these adult issue being explained. This book was most certainly a read for younger children with the concepts not being explained fully and in their full form. I personally enjoyed the book but also felt a little disappointed with the short read time with it taking me just an hour to read in total. Overall 7/10

sam w

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

In Popcorn, a young boy in Year Seven, Andrew Yaeger goes through a messy day on the most important part of the year, Picture Day. Andrew talks about his grandmother ( dubbed G ), his hot - tempered dad ( who left Andrew and Andrew's mother). He also talks about his three visits to his therapist, Dr Cain. She helps him talk about his struggles and even the author, Rob Harrel, includes some breathing techniques that Andrew learns from the Doctor. His BFF Jonesy, School Nurse Finnegan, Art teacher Mr Kellerman and Principal Mr Espinosa comfort Andrew throughout the day.

Rafa

Chiswick Carnegie

I really enjoyed Pop Corn because I found it interesting to see the world through the eyes of someone with anxiety. It is written from the perspective of a young boy called Andrew, who struggles with anxiety. It is picture day at his school and his mum and grandma want him to look the best he can however he has a very unfortunate day leading him to get a school photo that looked quite different from what he expected. I love how crazy his day ends up being and I found it fascinating to see how his day affects his anxiety. It is a great book and I highly recommend it to all but specifically to people who enjoy seeing the world from a different perspective.

Hattie

Chiswick Carnegie

This book is very interesting and funny. I love how Andrew only just wanted to take a picture but then the day turned upside down. It was honestly hilarious! I couldn't get my nose of the book.

Morgan

St Cath’s Shadowing

Popcorn was a great book about anxiety. It was full of little doodles, which are first I struggled to follow but I ended up actually enjoying. The plot was pretty basic but although I don't really get the actual popcorn one, some of the analogies were really good. I wish I had read this book a couple of years ago. I quite liked the ending but found it weird that the author decided to squish all those events into one day rather than having it over a longer amount of time. This book opened my awareness of anxiety.

Aidan

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Andrew is a boy who has anxiety and needs to take a school photo when life decided to give him a hard time. I like it and give it 8/10

Tejas

The SGS Book Bandits

In Popcorn it is about a boy called Andrew who has really bad anxiety. It is his photo day at school but he is worried that his photo might not be perfect because he has to survive a full day at school with his luck he'll be lucky to get out alive. It contains illustrations of his anxiety levels on his popcorn meter. I would recommend this book for the younger population because it might not be as interesting or griping for adults. Overall i would rate this book a 7.99/10 because at the start I was struggling to get into it but as time passed I got more and more interesting.

Ayaan N

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

What a lovely book. It explains anxiety in a way that is understandable even to those who do not suffer from it. I was moved by the depth of this book and I had a few laughs along the way. All in all, most enjoyable.

Mrs Muller

Folkestone Academy Readers

Amazing idea and I found it hard to stop reading because I felt like the main character relates to me just that they show it more. I also liked how it had many links to how people with OCD or neurodiversity might struggle in the real world. Overall, I saw it as an extraordinary book that is easy to follow and really engrosses the reader.

Henry

St Kaths

This book is about anxiety and relating it to popping a popcorn kernel. This book is a little young for me so I would recommend this for 8 year olds. This is a 3 out of 5.

cody w

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Poor Andrew - what a disastrous day! It was really useful to learn how it feels to be anxious and how we can help our friends who are struggling with this. Despite all the terrible things that happen, this is still a very entertaining story. Top marks to the author!

Bibliophile

Angmering Book Lovers 4 Life

I found this book quite enjoyable and it had an interesting plot, however it was quite an easy read. It was interesting because it was about anxiety, and it showed some real coping methods, but also showed the harsh reality that people can't always get the help they need to cope with problems, and even worse - when they start getting the help, it has to be cut short. It was not the best book I've ever read, but not the worst, so I rate this book 6/10.

Edward M

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I really enjoyed this book because when I started reading I really didn’t want to put it down. It is about a boy (Andrew) who is just trying to get a good school photo for his mum who is starting at a new job. They live with their grandma who suffers from Alzheimer’s while Andrew suffers from anxiety. But his picture day turns out to be really quite the day . . .

Erica

Folkestone Academy Readers

Good consistent plot, in a simple way spreads awareness of anxiety and how people who experience it may feel. They also explain the way people feel during a panic attack and gives some examples of grounding techniques. While also addressing the fact many things can build up into a panic attack and to not fear if it does happen as there are many people to support you.

Julia

Reepham Reads

Greta

Helkats & Hardbacks

How can one day at school go so wrong for just one person? While Andrew's friends can laugh off or accept what occurs (see Kendrick's canteen ketchup incident) he finds it difficult and the anxiety levels rack up till the corn of his brain is literally popping. My opinion of Andrew changed throughout the book as the sources of his anxiety come to light and the worry that he will turn out like his absent father Dan, a fastidious yet angry person. The support Andrew receives from his friends and school staff is phenomenal and he finds a kindred spirit in Mr Kellerman the art teacher. Loved the apt illustrations too. This book should be in school wellbeing and learning support settings as well as the Library.

Mrs P

Cake a Book Club

A deep meaning behind a colourful cover, this book is so perfectly written that it shines a little light inside you. It is such a sweet book with a deep meaning which is almost like the perfect blend: not too sweet, not too sour.

Charlotte

St Kaths

An amazing piece of writing considering the metaphorical idea of popcorn to the harsh reality faced by many due to anxiety - causing more struggles in their personal lives. By writing this exemplary book alongside the use of imagery, it encapsulates the core purpose of accepting anxiety and working around it to make your life better. However I feel like the book could have been longer to explore a more expanded idea - where it would develop into a future rather than a short glimpse of time.

Kaleb

Folkestone Academy Readers

I really like this book and i can totally relate to all of the things that happen to the boy in this book highly recommended

saharsh

Carmel Shadowers

Sophie

The Next Chapter

Sophie

The Next Chapter

I really liked this book! I found it really humorous and heartfelt, and it gave a really important insight into what anxiety can do to a person, and how Alzheimer's can affect your life. The cartoons inside the book helped me imagine what the characters looked like. I look forward to seeing which book wins the Carnegies!

Miguel M.C

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Stunning book with an amazing story line all BASED IN ONE DAY a true masterpiece of the best ocd main character book ever well done

Neave

Carmel Shadowers

I loved this book! It covered very emotional and serious themes while also being funny in it's own way. It is about a boy who only wants a perfect school picture for his mum but his day ends up going horribly wrong.

Amelia

SHHS shadows

Popcorn by Rob Harrell is a really interesting book that talks about anxiety and how to overcome it. As Andrew goes through his day, readers watch him move up the popping scale (getting more anxious) until he’s about to burst. Popcorn helps the reader understand what it is like to have anxiety and how friends can always make you feel better. If you like books with funny and real elements this is the perfect book to read. I really enjoyed this book because of the catastrophes and humour.

Annabelle

The Fitzharrys Shadows

An enticing book about anxiety and the stresses faced by school and personal environments. With the incredible metaphor of popcorn, the book acts as a reminder of individuals who struggle with anxiety. As a shorter book, it allows younger readers to understand themselves, as well as understand the experiences for others who struggled. Otherwise, it's been a highly successful book as far.

Kaleb

Folkestone Academy Readers

Popcorn is a book about a middle school boy in America facing challenges including anxiety, a grandma with Alzheimer's and a bully. It describes his emotions, thoughts and tells us how he is really feeling about the problems he faces. Rob Harrel starts the book by introducing us to Andrew Yaeger; a boy struggling with anxiety, Susan; Andrew’s hard working mother intent on not losing her brand new job, and his grandma called G who has had Alzheimer's for a year and a half. These characters face various problems throughout the book like financial difficulties. G often forgets who Andrew and his mum are and Andrew has to sleep in the kitchen because G sleeps in his room. The day the book describes is school photo day and Andrew is trying to keep as neat as possible for his mum. Unfortunately, after a bully rips the collar off his shirt, he gets hit in the face with a basketball and a science experiment explodes in his face, Andrew doesn’t think the day can get any worse. That’s when he gets a call saying that G has gone missing. The book focuses on Andrew’s difficulties with anxiety and how he accepts help from the adults around him. This is a theme that many children will relate to today. I really enjoyed this book because it tackles important themes in a relatable way. It made me laugh and cry at different times. I also liked the layout of the book where some pages would be handwritten extracts from his diary. I would recommend this book to anyone 10 or over who likes to be challenged by what they read but in an enjoyable way.

Greta

Helkats & Hardbacks

I really enjoyed this book, 'Popcorn'. It is a funny, relatable story and really good if you have known someone in the same or similar state to the boy in the book. It is about a boy who has anxiety attacks, ADHD and autism. He has 'picture day' one day, his mum has a very important interview and his grandma, who is the most precious thing to him, is at home with care. The day takes a horrible turn.

Samuel

Brentwood Carnegies

This is an interesting book about a kid who has really high anxiety. I find this really interesting as it shows that even if they look fine they may be in pain or stressed on the inside. it also has a bit of humour and when there is humour it always ends up making it worse for Andrew (this kid with anxiety) as it stresses him out. His grandma goes missing, a science experiment explodes in his face, there's a ketchup rocket and a bully. How could this day be worse? A panic attack.

henry

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I really enjoyed the book. The comparison to a popcorn kernel was quite fitting because it allows the reader to really understand how close Andrew is to having a panic attack and also how is he feeling. The illustrations helped because they added to our understanding of how anxiety feels in quite a comical way.

Zeven

Rainbeau Readers

Popcorn was an excellent book because at first Andrew was terrified to get a panic attack at school but at the end of the book he got one and then he learned to cope with it. And he learned his favourite teacher had panic attacks too, but he learned to control it and accept it as a part of his life.

Maulik Linesh

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

The story follows Andrew Yaeger, a seventh-grader who is just trying to survive the gauntlet of School Photo Day. For Andrew, this isn't just about a bad haircut; he’s dealing with severe anxiety and OCD. He visualizes his worry as a popcorn kernel in his stomach. Throughout the day, as things go wrong—a bully, a science experiment disaster, and the terrifying news that his grandmother (who has Alzheimer's) has gone missing—the heat under that kernel keeps rising. Andrew’s biggest fear is "popping": having a full-blown panic attack in front of everyone.

Patrick J

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Andrew is a boy who lives with his grandma and his mum, his mum is struggling to earn money with her job. Andrew is boy with severe anxiety and OCD in his life, his best friend Jonesy is very good at basketball and athletic. For Andrew, it's his photo-day and he cares a lot about it as his mum really wants to see how it turns out. He gets hit by a basketball and gets a bad eye and he has to deal with gene the school bully. Gene punches him in the stomach and in chemistry, Gene puts a chemical in his test tube and it explodes over him, his shirt is ruined and his grandma has gone missing. In art, Andrew has a panic attack and punches his favourite teacher. In the end, he calms down and his grandma is found. I really liked this book because its really funny to me. I recommend this book to year 7s

mahiru

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I really enjoyed reading "Popcorn" because I thought it was a very accessible way of describing anxiety to younger students. I think Y7 and above would enjoy this book which describes anxiety as feeling like popcorn kernels cooking. I also found this book genuinely funny in places - often YA fiction which includes humour can be unfunny. One thing to note is that anxiety is experienced differently by different people.

Mrs Copley

Kellett Carnegie Shadowing 2026

POPCORN is a book about Andrew Yaeger, a seventh grade boy, who struggles with anxiety. It is picture day and the book follows his journey through a day in which almost everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. This book highlights problems that someone with anxiety and OCD has and what they might do to manage that. One of these is an analogy of a piece of popcorn "chillin' out in the bag" on a scale to an overwhelming pressure and popping. One thing that I would improve about this book is building on the ending as I feel that it was too rushed and some problems that Andrew was worrying about, though they were solved, weren't fully explained. Overall: 4 out of 5

Felix C

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Honestly, I have quite enjoyed the book. Especially when all the bad things happen. The author seems to highlight that Andrew has anxiety but makes humour out of it as well. He definitely has tried to prove that having anxiety is hard and the problems it causes. Focussing on the session with Dr Clio, we learn that it may not be only the big things but also the small things that cause a problem. Anyway this is the summary of the story: Andrew is a kid getting ready for picture day and trying to take the best one he can for his mom. However, it seems like life is going against him with all the problems, like the basketball incident, a science experiment gone wrong and his bully. The rage he experienced we knew was like a kernel on a scale. For him, a panic attack is when you pop and mainly he is in the middle between uncooked and popcorn. We were able to understand that he was germaphobic when Danny sneezes on Andrew, when a person breathes on him and when he wants to clean desks and arm rests because who knew who could be sitting there. The end of the story is when Andrew is in complete shambles and his photo ends up looking horrendous. I recommend this book to whoever wants to learn more about stressed and anxious people, but not in a really scientific way. If you want humour and wanting to understand problems people have, I would go for this book. I rate this 8/10

Ihsan K

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

POP CORN is a great book to read for you to understand how people with anxiety see the world, and how they feel in certain places. It’s a book about a boy who has anxiety and has to overcome many challenges e.g he has a grandma who is known for wandering around and one day she was just gone, but they later find her safe and sound. When you get further into the book you can see how much his anxiety has grown and how worried he can get. I would recommend this book to Year 7, and maybe Year 8.

Darcy

Brentwood Carnegies

This book was really good . As someone who has experienced what a panic attack feels like I personally think that the author really captured the emotions and feelings .

Sahaana

Denbigh Carnegie Book Club