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?
Kindle Edition, 224 pages
Published August 27th 2019 by First Second
Source: Library
Four stars: An adorable graphic novel brimming with all things fall, as well as a cute story about friendship.
Josiah and Deja have worked together every autumn at the Pumpkin Patch since the beginning of high school. Now it is Halloween night of their senior year, the last hurrah and last shift at the pumpkin patch. It might be Josiah’s final chance to talk to the girl who works in the Fudge Shop, whom he has been crushing on for four years. At Deja’s insistence, the pair ends up on a wild goose chase through the Pumpkin Patch in the hope that Josiah will finally ask out the Fudge Girl. What follows is a magical evening filled with delicious snacks, mazes, hayrides and a realization. Will the last night at the Pumpkin Patch bring love?
What I Liked:
- Pumpkinheads is an adorable read packed full of fall goodness and a heartwarming friendship. This is absolutely the book to read when you want something light and charming. Plus, you can’t go wrong with the brightly colored illustrations. I loved this book.
- The story follows Josiah and Deja two fall friends. The two only hang out during the fall season while working at the pumpkin patch. For the last four years, they have been best friends through the autumn season. Now it is the last night they will work together. I loved that this was a book about friendship and the realization that what you thought you were looking for may have been in front of you the whole time.
- I loved that Josiah and Deja were complete opposites. Josiah is tall and lanky. He is a rule follower and a perfectionist, so much so that he has won the employee of the month award time after time. He is also shy, instead of acting on his crush, he has done nothing except watch the supposed girl of his dreams from a distance for four years. Deja is a cute, plump, short African American girl who goes after what she wants. She has been through many boyfriends and a girlfriend while working at the Pumpkin Patch. She isn’t one to sit idly by and let life slip by her. She seizes the moment, and that means she is going to drag Josiah with her. Loved these two!
- I couldn’t get enough of the Pumpkin Patch. The book is packed full of colorful illustrations that transport the reader to this glorious fall pumpkin patch. It has everything you could want from bonfires to make S’mores, hayrides, corn mazes, Pumpkin Pie bombs (I must try one of these) and more. I wish my town had a pumpkin patch like this one.
- The end of the book is delightful. I won’t spoil it for you, but I thought it was perfect. It left me with a big goofy grin on my face.
And The Not So Much:
- The whole thing with the mad, run away goat seemed a little cartoonish but who cares.
- I wish there was a tiny bit more exploration of the friendship between Deja and Josiah.
- This is one that you cannot read on a black and white device. It must be read on a color ereader or a physical copy. The bright, colorful illustrations make the book.
Pumpkinheads is the perfect pick me up read for anytime of the year. Of course, it would be best in fall during the peak of pumpkin patch season, but if you want to read it in winter or summer or spring, go for it. I loved the adorable friendship featured in the book as well as the amazing illustrations. This was a delightful little read. Don’t miss it.
I borrowed a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
