Pumpkinheads

Awards or Honors:

• Goodreads Choice Award for Graphic Novels & Comics: 2019
• VLA Graphic Novel Diversity Award for Youth Honor: 2019
• Whippoorwill Award: 2019
• OLA Best Bets: 2019
• YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2020
• YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2020

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Pumpkinheads

Author: Rainbow Rowell; Illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

Publisher: First Second

Copyright date: 2019

ISBN: 978-120312853

Reading interest level: Ages 14 and up (Publishers Weekly)

Genre: Realistic Fiction; Romance; Graphic Novel

Format: Graphic Novel

Author Description: 

Rainbow Rowell wrote her first novel, Attachments (2011), while working at an ad agency. Before that she was a columnist for the Omaha World-Herald (Rainbow Rowell, 2021). Her first two young adult novels were Eleanor & Park (2013), and Fangirl (2013). They were both critical and commercial successes and established Rowell as a star in young adult literature. Pumpkinheads is her first graphic novel. She also writes for a Marvel comics series called Runaways (Rowell, n.d.).

Faith Erin Hicks has numerous credits to her name. Along with being an illustrator, Hicks has written some of the Avatar: The Last Airbender middle grade series, and also teamed up to write with video game producer Neil Druckman, to write The Last of Us: American Dreams (2013) graphic novel. Her most recent publication was as an illustrator for the graphic novel, Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong (2021), by Prudence Shen (Amazon, n.d.). "Hicks has won two Eisner Awards. In 2014, she won for Best Publication for Kids for the Adventures of Superhero Girl...[and] in 2019 [she won] for Best Publication for Kids (ages9-12) for The Nameless City: The Divided Earth (Faith Erin Hicks, 2021).

Speed-Round Table Talk:

It is Deja and Josiah's last day at the Pumpkin Patch before they head off to college. Josiah has had a crush on the fudge shop girl but has never spoken to her. Deja decides that Josiah will not leave the patch before letting fudge girl know how he feels. Together they head on what turns out to be a thrilling, and hilarious adventure, and experience all that the patch has to offer before their last good-bye. 

Reason for Inclusion:

I included this title because of the interracial friendship, and the reputation of the author and illustrator in the young adult field. The book also won the Goodreads choice award for graphic novels, and is a YALSA great graphic novel pick for 2020.

Plot Summary:

High school seniors Josiah or Josie and Deja, have worked the Pumpkin Patch Succotash Hut together for the past three years. Deja is a cute, plus-sized, black girl, and Josie is a handsome, blonde, white guy. It is their final night in the hut, and Deja is determined to have Josie talk to the girl from the Fudge Shoppe that he has been pining over. The search for the fudge girl leads them all over the patch. Deja takes advantage by experiencing all of the things the patch has to offer, such as pie, caramel apples, s'mores, kettle corn, and the famed pumpkin bomb (chocolate covered pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream on a stick). Along the way we realize how lively the patch is, how outgoing and popular Deja is, and how shy Josie has been. The patch is busy on their last night, and the pair will have to navigate through various encounters and surprises if they are to find fudge girl in time.

Critical Evaluation: 

Pumpkinheads is a cheerful story, and the color palette and scenery really brings out that autumn feel. Deja and Josie are a great pair, and really supportive of each other. Josie has been too shy to speak to the girl he really likes, and Deja, being the outgoing one of the two, is determined for Josie to not have the regret of never speaking to her. Rowell's decision to include an interracial friendship in Nebraska, provides greater representation, and the rest of the characters in the novel add to the diversity. Throughout the book, we also learn that Deja is bisexual, and it is clear that everyone completely respects it.

The story is a romance that is not too difficult to figure out where it will end up, but the journey is fast paced, and the characters have great banter. The illustrations support the writing with big eyed, expressive faces, and bustling scenery to show the diversity of activity in the patch.

However, the story is focused on the events in those few hours only. It limits the development of the characters to only what they experience during those pages. The reader receives no background into the characters, so development is limited. It stays in the moment, but the outcome at the conclusion will probably satisfy most readers.

Creative Use for a Library Program:

This is a seasonal book, that takes place in the fall, in a pumpkin patch. That means we must do a pumpkin carving event. The library will try and procure donated mini pumpkins, but will purchase if necessary. Tips and templates will be provided, and on to the carving. Hopefully we'll be able to make some pumpkin pie also, and have some vanilla ice cream and chocolate fudge with it. Did someone say pumpkin bomb?

Potential Challenge Issues:

I do not anticipate any challenges with Pumpkinheads, as it does not have any sexual content, other than one kiss. It also does not have any profanity, or violence. There is a character who is both African American, and bisexual, but I would defend that by stating that the library seeks to have an inclusive collection that supports many different views.