I have been seeing Pumpkin Heads - a gorgeous graphic novel by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks - all over bookstagram this month, and last week I finally caved and bought it.
Here's the synopsis from Goodreads:
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. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) 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?
Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) 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?
I adored the artwork - it is all so cute and bright, and as well as creating an excellent seasonal atmosphere, the characters' feelings really jump off the page. The pacing of the plot was great - for me there was just the right amount of adventuring around the patch, without it feeling repetitive or boring.
I actually think this could be adorable if adapted to the screen as a Hallmark-style romcom - I'd love to see the story play out on the big screen.
I gave this one 4/5 perfect pumpkins (with a little side of kettle corn!)
xo Bron
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Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks is out now from Pan Macmillan.
Source: I bought this one
Category: contemporary seasonal YA graphic novel
Themes: Love, friendship, growing up, new beginnings
