Sometimes life turns up the heat ...

Harrell's illustrated novel shines with a humorous, authentic depiction of a middle school
student with anxiety and OCD. 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.

* School Library Journal, starred review *
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 . . . Readers will also appreciate the accurate depictions of talk therapy and of the tics that accompany Andrew's OCD. Heartwarming, insightful, and surprisingly funny. * Kirkus Reviews *
Blends humour with meaningful themes, making it a useful text for discussing mental health and support systems with UKS2 and KS3 readers. Highly recommended. * School Reading List *
Harrell's illustrated novel shines with a humorous, authentic depiction of a middle school student with anxiety and OCD [...] A must-purchase. * School Library Journal *
Heartwarming, insightful, and surprisingly funny. * Kirkus Reviews *
This poignant, funny and authentic story is written with all the warmth, insight and accessibility that we have come to expect from him. -- Pam Norfolk * Lancashire Evening Post *
I could tell reading the blurb of Popcorn that this would be an important read and it truly is - a very special story exploring anxiety and OCD but showing sensitively how to let go of control and accept help. [...] Funny, accessible and sensitive, Popcorn is such an entertaining, authentic story with great illustrations too. * Check Em' Out Books *
Relatable and funny * Press & Journal *
'Using humour to make serious issues accessible and palatable, the book is peppered with spot art and comic panels, which depict the reality of extreme anxiety with honesty and wit. This is a funny, warm-hearted yet informative snapshot of life with a cognitive difference and how letting go of control can be a first step to accepting help. * BookTrust *
Though there are lots of books for younger readers that feature children coping with social, emotional and mental health challenges, this book feels unusually honest and open. * Books For Keeps *

Rob Harrell is the author/illustrator of Wink and the Batpig series, created the Life of Zarf series, the graphic novel Monster on the Hill, and also writes and draws the long-running daily comic strip Adam@Home, which appears in more than 140 papers worldwide. He created and drew the internationally syndicated comic strip Big Top until 2007. He lives with his pup in Indiana.