The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night (The Pumpkin Princess)

Gr 4-7--A young girl cleverly escapes her orphanage to find a loving stepfather in the Pumpkin King and discover a world she could have never imagined. Bibliophiles will feel and smell the disgusting mud she cakes on her pajamas while trying to escape the orphanage. The girl is eventually saved by the Pumpkin King, who tells her, "You shall come back with me, and I shall adopt you as my own child, where you will be the Pumpkin Princess." He names her Eve and takes her to his home, Hallowell. Eve's new home is filled with sinister yet charming characters, such as Ellie, the skeleton seamstress, and her equally bony husband, Franklin. There's also Vlad the vampire who craves human food, even though it makes him terribly sick. And, when Eve makes friends with a witch named Lyla, she is delighted to have a close friend for the first time in her life. But just as there are kind characters in Hallowell, Eve also discovers not so friendly fare: Evil vampire Baroness La'Ment is intent on getting Eve banished from the undead world. Humor, adventure, and pluck make this an enjoyable read. Relationships and suspense are solid throughout the narrative, and Vlad, Lyla, and Eve's friendship will especially resonate with young readers. VERDICT This delightfully chilling romp with a brave and clever orphan is a Halloween tale with heart, that would be a splendid read-aloud at Halloween.--Julie Shatterly

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

While making her latest escape from the orphanage in which she's lived ever since her biological parents' deaths, a white-cued tween encounters the mythical Pumpkin King, "the monster under your bed, the trick in the darkness, and the treat of it all." When she shows no fear, the Pumpkin King--a terrifying figure with a jack-o'-lantern for a head--adopts her, names her Eve (for All Hallow's Eve), and takes her home to the hidden Hallowell Valley, a refuge for all manner of spirits and monsters, where she is to be crowned the Pumpkin Princess. As the only human in town, Eve is an oddity, and not everyone is happy to welcome her. But she soon befriends fellow kids, which is fortuitous, because when dark forces threaten her new home and family, Eve will need her friends' help to save the day. Banbury weaves a cozy tale in this thoroughly delightful debut reminiscent of The Graveyard Book and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The growing bond between Eve and the Pumpkin King is tender and inspiring as the grumpy gourd-headed guardian does his best to rear his unsure yet headstrong daughter. Ages 8-12. Agent: Lauren Galit, LKG Agency. (Sept.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

A timeless tale of found family, full of Halloween charm. 

"There aren't enough proper Halloween stories, but Steven Banbury fixes that right up with The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night. This is an adventure that is both spooky and sweet, and will absolutely make you wish that Halloween was every day."—Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Dust and Grim

"Whimsical, charming, and heartwarming, The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night reads like a love letter to Halloween. The atmosphere is perfectly spooky, with a brave heroine you can't help but root for, the triumph of friendship, and a sprinkling of classic middle grade humor. An absolute must-read for fall!"—Alexandria Rogers, author of The Witch, The Sword, and the Cursed Knights

"A fantastical delight! The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night is imaginative and full of fun, like a perfect Halloween night filled with treats—and definitely a few surprising tricks!"—Julie Abe, author of the Eva Evergreen and Tessa Miyata series

"If Tim Burton wrote middle-grade fantasy, this would be the book! Halloween-themed fun that can be read any time of the year."—Katie Pionk, McLean & Eakin Booksellers (Petoskey, MI)

"If you read only one middle-grade book this year, it has to be The PumpkinPrincess and the Forever Night. This sweet and spooky story asks: Once you find a family, what will you do to protect them?"—Sally Sue Lavigne, The Storybook Shoppe (Bluffton, SC)

"A fantastic debut that will delight readers with its cozy atmosphere and found family aspects. It's perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman!"—Lily Taliaferro, Eagle Harbor Book Co. (Bainbridge Island, WA)