• Giant Pumpkin Suite

Giant Pumpkin Suite

Publication Date
August 10, 2021
Genre / Grade Band
Fiction /  4th − 5th
Giant Pumpkin Suite

Description
Twelve-year-old Rose Brutigan has always been different from her twin brother, Thomas, but now she towers over him in too many ways. But when a serious accident changes the course of the summer, Rose is forced to grow and change in ways she never could have imagined.
Publication date
August 10, 2021
Classification
Fiction
Page Count
-
ISBN-13
9781536219074
Lexile Measure
700
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV015020 - Juvenile Fiction | Health & Daily Living | Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
JUV031040 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Music
JUV032170 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Camping & Outdoor Activities
Library of Congress categories
-

Publishers Weekly

In a warmhearted debut novel, Hill shows what happens when a serious-minded girl is forced to reevaluate her priorities and reach out to others. Twelve-year-old Rose Brutigan might not feel comfortable about her appearance (she's grown seven inches since fall and towers over her twin brother, Thomas), but she's confident about her ability to be a disciplined student both at school and when playing cello. As Rose prepares for an upcoming cello competition, Thomas and a neighbor, Mr. Pickering, need her help with another project: growing a giant pumpkin from a special and valuable seed. In spite of herself, Rose becomes increasingly absorbed by the gardening project and finds new neighborhood friends along the way, including reticent Mrs. Kiyo and noisy "Calamity" Jane, a girl Rose's age. When a terrible accident renders Rose's left hand useless and her precious cello broken, it takes the support of her newfound friends to carry her through hard times and open her up to new interests. Offering distinctive characters, a relatable plot, and some useful gardening tips, Hill's story promotes connectivity in neighborhoods and communities. Ages 9-12. Agent: Carrie Hannigan, HSG Agency. (Sept.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6--Though Rose and Thomas are twins, Rose is much taller and two grades ahead of her brother in school. While he easily makes friends and socializes with classmates, she is a devoted student and cello player. This begins to change as Thomas embarks on a project to grow a giant pumpkin from a seed he found in the basement of their neighbor's house. The project unites an eclectic and diverse (in age and background) group of neighbors who work together to grow a pumpkin that is big enough to enter into the state fair. The book is a bittersweet tribute to the experience of growing up in a close-knit neighborhood; characters are written with care and depth. Mrs. Holling, Rose's cello teacher, is particularly nuanced. In one scene between Rose and Mrs. Holling, the older woman holds Rose's hands as she asks her not to practice so much so she can have time to be a kid (including digging in the dirt to help her brother take care of his pumpkin.) Students will identify with Rose's over-scheduled calendar and perfectionist tendencies, and would be lucky to have an understanding mentor like Mrs. Holling. At times the book feels like it may veer into saccharine territory, but the author's bold writing usually prevents this from happening. Hill describes an accident that abruptly halts Rose's cello-playing, proving she doesn't shy away from addressing complex sadness and grief. Hill strives to portray an inclusive community, though a few of the secondary characters are somewhat stereotyped. (For example, a neighbor who is Mexican speaks in a mixture of Spanish and English phrases that don't quite ring true.) However, Hill's skilled character development prevents this from being a larger problem in the book. VERDICT Fans of Sharon Creech's Moo and other books about intergenerational friendship will enjoy this book.--Celia Dillon, The Brearley School, New York

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Melanie Heuiser Hill
Melanie Heuiser Hill is the author of the middle-grade novel Giant Pumpkin Suite. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and children.

Jaime (Jimyung) Kim has illustrated many books for young readers, including Isle of You by David Rochelle, La La La: A Story of Hope by Kate DiCamillo, and And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner. Jaime Kim lives in North Carolina.