Me and the Pumpkin Queen

Me and the Pumpkin Queen is a 2007 children's book by Marlane Kennedy and published by Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. The book's subject is inspired by Kennedy's youthful familiarity with the Circleville Pumpkin Show.[1] The book has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection.[2] Santa Monica Public Library also lists the book as recommended reading for kids.[3]

Plot

The plot centers around an eleven-year-old girl named Mildred whose mother, a former "pumpkin queen", died in Mildred's sixth year of life. Inspired by an image of her mother "wearing her Pumpkin Queen crown,"[4] Mildred tries to grow giant pumpkins in order to win a contest at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.[5]

Reception

The book has received an overwhelmingly positive reception from reviewers. J. A. Kaszuba Locke describes the book as "a chummy read, projecting heartwarming tenderness and a youngster's determination."[6] Robin Smith describes the book as a "marvelously heartwarming story [that] deserves a big blue ribbon!"[7] Naomi Kirsten asserts that the book is "Big on heart and pumpkins!"[8] Kathryn Kosiorek notes that "The author combines the art and science of horticulture with a gentle family story, a feel for a child in mourning, and just the right amount of humor and tension to keep the plot moving along."[9] Ilene Cooper refers to "Kennedy's straightforward narrative" as "lovely."[10] Finally, Kennedy has received praise for her inclusion of "unexpectedly fascinating pumpkin-horticulture facts" in the book.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marlane Kennedy
  2. ↑ "Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen"
  3. ↑ SMPLKids
  4. ↑ Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen
  5. ↑ Christine M. Heppermann, "Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen," Horn Book Magazine 83.4 (Jul/Aug2007): 397.
  6. ↑ "Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen" by J. A. Kaszuba Locke
  7. ↑ "MIDDLE GRADE: How Mildred's garden grows" by ROBIN SMITH
  8. ↑ "Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen" by Naomi Kirsten for Discovery Girls Magazine
  9. ↑ Kathryn Kosiorek, "Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen," School Library Journal 53.8 (Aug2007): 82.
  10. ↑ Ilene Cooper, "Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen," Booklist 103.21 (7/1/2007): 62.
  11. ↑ "Review of Me and the Pumpkin Queen, Kirkus Reviews 75.11 (6/1/2007): 556.

External links


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