BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSSeventh grader Andrew Yaeger is already juggling a lot on Picture Day: his grandmother G, who has Alzheimer's, has moved into his room and keeps the whole apartment on edge, and his mom is starting a high-stakes new job that the family desperately needs. Andrew deals with anxiety, OCD-like tapping rituals, and a deep fear of having a panic attack at school, but he figures he can hold things together for one day. Then his morning starts going sideways fast, from a run-in with the school bully Gene Phillips, to a basketball smashing his face in gym class, to news that G has wandered away from home while he's stuck at school with no way to help.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Popcorn
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Popcorn. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a bully jab a boy with a pencil point during a math test?
✓ Answer
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
Gene sits one seat over and one back from Andrew in math class. When Andrew refuses to lean back so Gene can copy his answers, Gene jabs him with a pencil point and aggressively clears his throat. Andrew's strong sense of fairness won't let him give in, even though he knows it will make Gene furious.
- First half
In what book does a girl hang a straw wrapper from her nostril and go cross-eyed?
✓ Answer
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
During social studies class, Jonesy sees that Andrew is completely wound up after his confrontation with Gene and the principal's visit. She hangs a crumpled straw paper from her nostril and makes her signature half-cross-eyed face, which finally gets him to laugh.
- First half
In what book does a grandmother accuse her grandson of stealing her pillows, which she stuffed under the sink?
✓ Answer
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
G yells at Andrew for a whole day, calling him a thief, insisting he stole her pillows. They eventually find the pillows crammed under the sink with all the cleaning chemicals and sponges. G's Alzheimer's means she can't understand or apologize, which is heartbreaking for Andrew.
- Second half
In what book does a therapist teach a boy to visualize his best friend's pool to calm down?
✓ Answer
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
Dr. Cain teaches Andrew a visualization technique where he pictures his happiest place. He chooses sitting at the edge of Jonesy's pool in summer, smelling the freshly cut grass and hearing burgers sizzle on the grill. She calls it "Go to the Pool."
- Second half
In what book does a science experiment geyser dark purple foam into a boy's face?
✓ Answer
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
Because Gene added extra crystals to Andrew's test tube, the chemical reaction blasts a cannon of dark purple foam straight into Andrew's face when he looks down into it. The sound is a cartoonish FWOOOOMP.
- Near the end
In what book does a boy lie with his cheek on concrete steps outside school during a panic attack?
✓ Answer
Popcorn by Rob Harrell
Mr. Kellerman guides Andrew outside to some cement stairs to get fresh air. Andrew tips over onto his side with his face on the concrete, tiny pebbles poking his cheek. Despite being a germaphobe, he is too far gone to care about the dirt.
