YA: growing up in poverty in Chicago and the highlight of summer was going to popcorn shop

[Jennifer]

Trying to find the title of a book I read when I was in middle school in the 90's. The book was about a child growing up in poverty in Chicago, around the time of cabrini green. The thing I remember the most about the book is how he described how excited they would be to stand in line for garrett's popcorn shop.

[Rainbowheart]

Was the boy a teenager or a younger child?

Were the characters African American?

[Jennifer]

Yes, they were African American and he would have been between 8-12? Not a teen but not a toddler. I think he has older siblings also, an older brother maybe

[Jennifer]

They talked about how the line to the popcorn shop would be a city block long sometimes

[Rainbowheart]

Junebug?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

It might be There are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America, which is nonfiction. Two black brothers growing up in the projects in Chicago (the Henry Horner Homes), not far from Cabrini Green. The book's focus is the two pre-teen brothers. There are other siblings too. The mother takes them to Garrett's Popcorn Shop for a treat.