We might have just entered spring, but autumn-lovers anywhere will find that any time of the year is the best time to read this graphic novel. Full of friendship, adventure, and sugary snacks, Pumpkinheads fulfills all of our reading needs. So grab a lemonade, apple cider, or a hot chocolate: any time of the year is the best time to read Rainbow Rowell's and Faith Erin Hicks's Pumpkinheads.Rainbow Rowell is a critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling contemporary author of novels Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Attachments, Landline, Carry On, and Marvel's Runaways comics. If you're interested in more of my reviews of Rainbow Rowell's work, you can find them all here. Rowell, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska, teamed up with Canadian writer and artist Faith Erin Hicks to create the graphic novel, Pumpkinheads. Hicks started in writing and drawing comics in 2008, and has published numerous graphic novels, including Friends with Boys. She won an Eisner Award in 2014 for The Adventures of Superhero Girl. The collaboration between these two is stunning and powerful, bringing forth a graphic novel that is vibrant, timeless and full of heart.
Deja and Josie both arrive for their last shift at the world's best pumpkin patch. These seasonal best friends have worked at the pumpkin patch all through high school, and today is their last shift, where they'll say goodbye -- maybe forever. But while Josie is willing to reminiscence and stay nostalgic the whole night, Deja has a better idea. Rather, she has a plan: she's going to make sure Josie talks to his long-time crush so that he might see his worth. And, of course, they're going to try all the things at the patch they haven't had a chance to yet -- especially the snacks. And by the end of the night, when they have to say goodbye, at least they'll always remember how fun their last night at the patch was.
Deja and Josie are best friends, which is evident from the way they talk to the way they walk. Deja's the girl who everyone wants to be friends with: she's hilarious and can turn the corner with a number of quippy remarks on hand. But she's also caring and sweet. She's determined that Josie spend this last night having fun and finding his courage. Even if they don't talk again after this last night, she wants to make this last night one that either of them will regret. Josie is shy and sweet. His doubts on the page are ones that everyone feels intimately: what if they won't like me? what if she says no? is there any chance we can still remain friends? These characters are insanely relatable and full of complexities. Even though readers only get them for one night, their motivations, feelings, and insecurities are clear and evolving from the first page to the last.
Faith Erin Hicks brings these characters to life with her art. From the slightest blush to the widest grin, Josie and Deja's adventure to the patch is lovingly and colorfully rendered to the page. The dialogue text and the images are balanced perfectly. The panel order is obvious, making for a seamless read as readers bounce from one panel to the next. This helps the story flow naturally, and there are never any lags. The pacing itself reflects the story: the last night, the last few hours these characters may ever share together. But most importantly, the art itself is vibrant and lush. Hicks clearly had fun including images of the patch's guests and their costumes: a little boy dressed as Harry Potter with his mom in a Gryffindor scarf was definitely my favorite nod to outside fandoms. Every detail to Josie and Deja helped readers understand their characters: Deja's big smile pointed at her ever-friendly nature; Josie's perpetually pink face hinted at his shyness. Hicks captured the moments, as well as the feelings, and is one of the reasons this story felt so heartwarming and relatable.
The plot brings the concept of "YOLO" to a whole new level. This graphic novel takes place during one night: only the last few hours of Halloween. And yet, the night is full of adventure as Deja and Josie are on their mission where they get sidetracked by exes, thieves, and the work they're supposed to be doing. The pacing is quick, and easy to follow which is a big plus with a graphic novel this emotional. And believe me, it is emotional: full of nostalgia, fear, excitement, sheer happiness, sometimes rage, and even jealousy, all of which are nailed to a T. This plot, all in all, is exciting in fun. Most of all, it is refreshing. The characters, the dialogue, the art and the colors are all refreshing and fun. This graphic novel makes you want to cheer out loud with each flip of the page.
Because readers can see what these characters look like and how the patch is laid out, they feel more connected to these characters and the story. It allows us to hear the characters's voices in our heads as we read, to smile when they smiled, gasp when they were shocked. It is hard to read this book without smiling (I would argue that it's impossible). I don't think this story would have worked in any other way had it not been a graphic novel. The dialogue and the characters depended on the art and the graphic novel layout to bring their story to life. Realizing this makes readers understand how intimate the connection must be between Rowell and Hicks as they bring these characters to life. The story depended on the collaboration, and they exceeded all expectations.
This novel made me want to give infinite hugs to my best friend, and to immediately find a pumpkin patch to visit with them (which I think were definitely two of the goals for this novel). And maybe the most important thing Rowell and Hicks wanted us to learn is that any season (winter, spring, summer AND fall) is a season for friendship.
*This review can also be found on my Goodreads page*
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