GIANT PUMPKIN SUITE

When a girl’s giant talent seems finished, a giant pumpkin demonstrates life’s just beginning.

Rose Brutigan, a 12-year-old white girl, towers over her twin brother in more ways than one. She’s a focused, numbers-loving cello prodigy who practices tirelessly for the upcoming Bach Cello Suites Competition. Having grown extremely tall during the school year, she’s usually regarded as the older sibling. Short, nonmusical Thomas is literally more down-to-earth. He’s obsessed with growing a huge pumpkin in their elderly neighbor’s yard. Two serious accidents caused by Rose’s recklessness, plus her musical-genius idol’s inexcusable rudeness, force Rose to acknowledge that she may never play, let alone compete, again. Enter the pumpkin. Not only does Rose become engrossed in Thomas’ project, so do others. Their multiethnic, multicultural neighbors bond as they contribute scraps to a prodigious compost pile to nourish a record-breaking pumpkin; soon, everyone anticipates another competition—for giant vegetables at the state fair. Rose’s friends and family are a marvelous group; readers will rejoice as they get to know these delightful folk and learn their many varied interests—and enormous-gourd–growing techniques. The local library and Charlotte’s Web also play pivotal roles. Rose develops in maturity and awareness about herself and others and learns important life lessons. There’s abundant warmth, humor, and heart in this charmer, and readers will root for both characters and pumpkin.

A winning debut.