About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is navigating the bittersweet transitions of senior year or facing the end of a long term friendship. It is an ideal choice for kids who feel a sense of 'anticipatory grief' about leaving high school and need to see those feelings validated in a cozy, low-stakes environment. The story follows best friends Deja and Josiah during their final shift at a massive pumpkin patch as they embark on a 'quest' to sample every food and see every attraction before they say goodbye. While the plot centers on a mission to help Josiah talk to a long-time crush, the heart of the book is the deep, platonic bond between the two leads and their shared history. It is a gentle, joyful, and visually stunning graphic novel that celebrates seasonal traditions while modeling healthy, supportive friendship. Parents will appreciate the absence of heavy trauma or high-stakes danger, making it a comforting 'breath of fresh air' read for the 12-18 age group.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None.
Ideal Reader
A high schooler who loves 'cozy' aesthetics and is feeling sentimental about graduation or moving away from friends. Also great for reluctant readers who enjoy highly expressive, color-coded artwork.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold. It is a gentle, character-driven story that focuses on friendship and closure. None.
Age Experience
Younger teens (12-14) will enjoy the 'mission' aspect and the fun of the pumpkin patch setting. Older teens (17-18) will resonate more deeply with the specific 'last night' anxiety and the bittersweet nature of life transitions.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA titles that rely on high drama or tragedy, Pumpkinheads thrives on 'low stakes' and high atmosphere. It captures the specific, fleeting magic of a seasonal job and the transition into adulthood with unparalleled warmth.
Read plot summary
Deja and Josiah have spent every autumn for four years working at a sprawling, Disneyland-style pumpkin patch in Omaha. Now seniors, it is their final Halloween shift. Instead of staying at their post, Deja convinces Josiah to ditch work to cross off their 'patch bucket list' and finally introduce Josiah to the girl he has admired from afar for years. As they navigate corn mazes and cider stands, they grapple with the reality of their impending separation.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Deja and Josiah have a 'seasonal friendship.' Do you think those kinds of friendships are as valuable as year-round ones? Why or why not?
2
Josiah is focused on what he's losing (his last night at the patch), while Deja is focused on what they can do. How do their different perspectives change their final shift?
3
The pumpkin patch is described as 'the best place in the world.' If you had to create a 'bucket list' for your favorite place, what three things would be on it?
4
By the end of the night, Josiah realizes something about his feelings for Deja. How did their 'quest' help him see his friend in a new light?
5
How does the artwork change as the night goes on? Look at the colors Faith Erin Hicks uses: how do they make you feel about the setting?
