POPCORN

Em Grosland narrates this story of a school-picture day gone wrong. Andrew is a worrier, and today he has more than enough to worry about. Besides his best friend's new friends, his mom's new job, and his grandmother's worsening Alzheimer's, he has to spend his day dodging bullies, basketballs, ketchup rockets, and getting his photograph taken. Grosland expertly blends Andrew's wry sense of humor with his forthright explanations of his struggles with anxiety and obsessive behaviors. As the pressure builds inside Andrew, Grosland subtly increases their pitch and speed to mimic the sensations being described. The audio production effectively uses sound effects, lively music, and Grosland's exaggerated tones to stand in for the illustrated panels included in the print edition. N.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]