by Rainbow Rowell
New York, New York : First Second Books, 2019.209 pages. Young Adult.
Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they've worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world.They say good-bye every Halloween, and they're reunited every September 1. But this Halloween is different -- Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye. Josiah's ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn't ready to let him. She's got a plan: What if -- instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut -- they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he's been mooning over for three years. What if their last shift was an adventure?
This book is a charming, beautifully-illustrated read that will get you in that fun and cozy fall mood just in time for pumpkin season. Pumpkinheads is full of lightheartedness with just the right amount of adventure, and I found the relationships between the characters to be quite relatable. This book bleeds autumnal atmosphere and would pair well with a sweet treat.
NS
1 comment:
Deja and Josiah have been working at The Pumpkin Patch for their entire high school career. Deja is the friendly one who loves all the snacks and treats that The Pumpkin Patch serves up. Josiah is the star employee who always does the best job he can possibly do. They’ve been best friends since they were both assigned to the Succotash Hut when they first started working The Patch. On their last day of work Deja is determined to get Josiah to speak to his ultimate crush Fudge Girl, I mean, Marci. What ensues is a whirlwind of tracking down Marci at the various huts and shoppes and pits of The Patch. Not only do Deja and Josiah get to relive all their best memories about working at such a great place, but they learn a lot about themselves and each other on the way.
Rowell and Hicks are a great combination in this fun graphic novel. There are well developed characters with deep motivations and a lively setting that almost becomes a character in the storyline. The writing is fast paced, exciting, and full of romantic tension. One thing that I really loved about this book is that little pieces of Deja’s and Josiah’s characters were revealed through the action of the story. This made each character like an onion and each reveal was pulling away a layer about their past lives. This really made the story engaging and endearing. The characters are quirky and lovable. For fans of Rowell’s other books like Fan Girl and Eleanor and Park, this edition to her collected works is a sweet love story with an out-of-control goat thrown into the mix.
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