This format is designed to be read on color devices and cannot be read on black-and-white e-readers. In Pumpkinheads, beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell and Eisner Award–winning artist Faith Erin Hicks have teamed up to create this tender and hilarious story about two irresistible teens discovering what it means to leave behind a place—and a person—with no regrets.Deja … place—and a person—with no regrets.
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?
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This has all the charm of a Rainbow Rowell romance made even better by the absolutely stunning illustrations of Faith Erin Hicks’ picture-perfect pumpkin patch. A completely adorable autumn read!
Rainbow Rowell is one of my favorite authors, and this YA graphic novel romance (yes!) is delightful. I got it for my daughter for her 13th birthday and she read it in 3 hours on the couch the day after the state fair because her world was still spinning so much she couldn’t walk around. Then I stole it and read at breakfast the next day, and younger sister read it right after me. No one could put it down. And this is SUCH a fall book. The charming artwork will really get you in the mood for Halloween. If you love this time of year, don’t miss it!
Sometimes a super cute graphic novel that has my favorite season is just what the doctor ordered.
I finished a really hard, and almost depressing book and this was the pick-me-up I needed.
Loved the story, the illustrations and the setting. Perfect read for Fall.
As the 4.0 rating suggests, I really enjoyed this book. I love the way it’s drawn, somewhere between cartoonish and mature- definitely stands out from superhero comics but doesn’t feel foreign to the genre. I like that this story is perfect for YA readers, but could overlap with adult reading fans as well.
It’s a sweet story (watch me give away my age here) that reminds me of Saved By the Bell- the summer episodes. Anyone whoever when to summer camp, summer school, or had some other seasonal job or camp experience can relate to this story even though it’s set in the Fall and at Halloween. The seasonal and holiday elements were extra- fun bits to indulge those who enjoy the season.
**SPOILER**
I may be the only person who feels this way, but the main reason I didn’t give this story a 5-star rating was the predictable ending. I thought it would have been so much cooler if this had been the story of long-lasting friendship, but it was just another “cute guy doesn’t realize his awesome best female-friend is really the one for him” story. Everything else about the ending was great, but I guess I just didn’t see the point of Deja going out of her way to help Josiah get the girl only to want to be the girl gotten; plus, she already had so many other people interested in her.
**End SPOILER**
I like how quirky and honest the characters are, as well as the diversity depicted. Never been to Nebraska but I hope it’s like this book portrays it. Overall, the thing that really sold me on this story, is just how funny it is. It’s not a LOL funny but a more realistic type of funny- ya know when something is funny because it’s true (even though it’s fiction).
Highly recommended to graphic novel fans, romantic comedy fans, and YA fans.
Ok. Well this was adorable. Honestly, I’m not 100% happy with the ending, but I absolutely enjoyed the journey and the art is GORGEOUS! The dialogue is funny and witty and charming, and the aesthetic is exactly what I was looking for. The ending is three stars, but the rest of the book is 4.5 minimum!
Just what I wanted and needed.
Enjoyable story that gets one in the mood for fall. It’s about frindship, fun, experiencing life, taking joy in the everyday moments and love. Nothing complicated, fun main characters, nice graphics. The story itsself did nothing for me and I don’t feel the need to read more in this world, but cute under for under an hour read.
Deja and Josiah have been working together at the pumpkin patch for years, reuniting every September, but this will be their last Halloween together as they are both going to college the next year. Josiah has one regret, to never have talked to the girl who works at the fudge shop. Deja is determined to make him do that one last thing before they have to leave the patch. But, neither of them would have believed it would turn out into an all-night adventure that will take them all around the patch, including a lot of stops for snacks.
For their last Halloween before they have to say goodbye, they will go out with a bang.
Let me start by telling you that autumn is my FAVOURITE season, I love everything about it, but what I love the most is Halloween. So a book taking place in a pumpkin patch on Halloween night? Give it to me! Unfortunately as I promised myself I would not buy any physical books before 2020, I only had the ebook, which was so well made, I was truly impressed.
The graphic part of the book was so impressive, all the details in each scene, and all those autumn colors, it was just the best. If I could only rate that it would have gotten 5 stars. However, I thought that the story was a bit redundant, the ‘adventure’ takes way too much of the story. I would have much preferred to see them really appreciate their last night at the patch. But I loved the amazing representation of a bisexual character, which is so rare in YA. Overall, the story was super cute, with all those autumn vibes and the end was sweet.
This book was recommended as part of the graphic novel book club that is offered by my library as our virtual book club. I am glad they did because i wouldn’t have read it otherwise. I thought this book was well written, easy to read.
3.5/5 Stars
This was my first Rainbow Rowell novel, and I’m definitely a fan of her writing. Pumpkinheads is a graphic novel about Josiah and Deja, two friends who work together every year at the same pumpkin patch. This is their last year working at the pumpkin patch before going off to college, and they want to make their last shift the best shift ever. Deja is on a mission to eat all of the snacks and treats available at the patch and Josiah wants to finally talk to the girl he’s been crushing on every fall. As you can imagine, things don’t completely go according to plan, but Josiah and Deja still manage to make it a night neither of them will ever forget.
For a 210-page graphic novel, this was a great story. I flew through it (as you do with most graphic novels) in about 45 minutes and was disappointed when I was finished. I wasn’t disappointed because the book wasn’t good (it was great), but because it was already over! The ending left a lot to be desired but felt open enough that maybe we’ll see Josiah and Deja on future holidays. What I loved the most were the characters. We didn’t know much about Josiah and Deja outside of the pumpkin patch, but that was okay because they didn’t know much about each other outside of the pumpkin patch either. Josiah is a goody-two-shoes who cares more about retaining his employee of the month, or season, status than having fun. Deja is a firecracker who lives in the moment and doesn’t let anyone rain on her parade. The two make a great duo and get into some serious shenanigans. They also discover a lot about each other and their relationship before the night is over.
Rowell’s writing is incredibly easy to read and has the flow of a conversation between two close friends. Josiah and Deja feel like real teenagers. They act, talk, and think like I remember acting, talking, and thinking when I was in high school. This makes it easy to relate to them and imagine yourself in the story. I don’t reach for fluffy contemporary stuff like this often, but I will definitely be reaching for more of Rainbow Rowell’s books in the future.
I loooved this book! I read it in two hours and immediately wanted to read it again. The illustrations are beautiful and Rainbow Rowell is a fantastic author!
The story is classic Rainbow Rowell and absolutely adorable, but the artwork is beautiful that it’s next level. It’s a perfect book for the fall, but please keep any and all snacks nearby because you will immediately crave all the food after this.
This was just so cute and lovely and poignant and funny, and I absolutely adored the artwork!