Book Review: Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Pumpkinheads
written by Rainbow Rowell with art by Faith Erin Hicks (YA PB (Graphic Novel) Rowell)

This is an absolutely charming little "graphic" novel by Omaha author Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park, Attachments, Fangirl), with art by fan favorite Faith Erin Hicks (Friends With Boys, The Nameless City, Comics Will Break Your Heart). Though set in a nameless city, it is based on Rowell’s experiences in pumpkin patches in the Omaha area where she lives.

Josiah and Deja are two high school seniors who are seasonal workers at DeKnock’s World Famous Pumpkin Patch & Autumn Jamboree, a temporary theme park open only in September and October. He (Josie) and she (Deja) dress in plaid shirts and overalls — the uniform of “Patch” workers, and look forward all year to working with each other (they don’t attend the same school). But today is the last day of this year’s “patch”, and being seniors, they both anticipate moving on to college and perhaps losing touch with the other. Deja has a plan, though — she’s going to help her rather shy and introverted friend finally strike up a conversation with the “Fudge Girl” (from the Patch’s fudge shoppe), whom he’s had a crush on for all the years they’ve worked together.

Thus begins an adventure as the two friends explore all the nooks and crannies of the Autumnal theme park, eating caramel apples, Frito pies, kettle corn, apple cider slushies and “pumpkin bombs” as they race from one park attraction to another in search of Josie’s dream girl. Along the way, they share their thoughts and feelings, and discover things about themselves they hadn’t been aware of.

Josie and Deja sound (and look) like real people — with all their imperfections and flaws, but with all their emotional highs and lows as well. By the end of the story, I felt like I really knew and cared about these two individuals. And the local flavor of the pumpkin patch theme park really felt like the world we live in here in Eastern Nebraska. And with it being October right now, this is appropriately seasonal this month! Highly recommended!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the other works by both authors, especially the novels of Rainbow Rowell and Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks.]

[ official Rainbow Rowell web site ] | [ official Faith Erin Hicks web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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