This is a warm
hearted exploration of friendship, set in the world’s best pumpkin patch.
So, having
grown up with American television, I assumed I was on top of all of their
traditions. But obviously not.
I had no idea that a Pumpkin Patch was a thing – an autumn harvest festival that continues for about two months culminating in
Halloween.
The pumpkin patch itself features as a character as much as Josiah
and Deja, a pair of teenagers who work there.
This sweet graphic
novel takes place over the final night of the festival. This will be the last
time that Josiah and Deja will run the succotash stall ever, as they will be
off to college the following year.
Josiah has a crush on the girl who runs
another stall – has had for the previous three years he has worked the patch,
and has not yet had the courage to approach her. That night will be his last
chance.
Lucky for him,
his coworker Deja is as outgoing as he is shy. Mischievous and generous, Deja has
dated heaps of the guys and girls who work the patch. She encourages Josiah to
abandon their stall to go and find the girl of his dreams, whilst she
accompanies him – and samples all of the junk food on offer.
Where is the girl?
At the
corn kettle? The fudge stall? They cruise through all the attractions the patch
has to offer – such as a giant corn maze and hay rides, and deal with anything
from angry goats to missing toddlers.
This novel is
as much a celebration of friendship and loyalty as it is of this mid-west tradition
that most teenagers have grown out of - but love anyway.
And now I’m off
to find a recipe for succotash.
Title: Pumpkin
Heads
Author: Rainbow
Rowell
Illustrator:
Faith Erin Hicks
Publisher: Macmillan
Children’s Books, $19.99
Publication
Date: 1 September 2019
Format:
Paperback
ISBN: 9781626721623
For ages:
Type: Young
Adult Fiction
