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Hattie & Dirk's Great Garden Surprise

When farm-based siblings Hattie and Dirk Bramble see a friend in need they find inspiration for their own ag enterprise. The two set out to grow and sell their own pumpkins with just one aim: Give friends like Robbie the chance to carve a jack-o-lantern come fall. At first their goal seems realistic. But nay-sayers and a surprising force of nature threaten to ruin their crop and trample their hopes. Can the duo overcome doubt and destruction to save their pumpkins and help a friend?

Reviews
In Wargel’s fun and inspiring short novel for middle grade readers, a sister and brother discover the joys and challenges—and unexpected surprises—of gardening. The story’s 12-year-old narrator, Hattie Mae Bramble, lives on a farm with her hardworking parents, her sullen older brother, Finn, and her pesty yet sweet younger brother, Dirk. Hattie and Dirk are excited to celebrate Halloween—but when their family hosts a pumpkin carving party, it erupts into a raucous melee where everyone is flinging gourd guts. This joyous memory lingers in Hattie’s mind, as well as the fact that her classmate, Robbie, could not afford the overpriced pumpkins sold by cranky Mr. Pinchly. This inspires Hattie and Dirk to plant their own patch and sell them at a price everyone can afford.

On their gourd-growing journey, Hattie and Dirk encounter several setbacks, most notably the appetites of some curious runaway livestock. But the determined duo doesn’t give up, and they soon discover that what their mother has always said about “volunteer” plants is true: “They came up by accident—the result of a random squished tomato or some spilled cucumber seed. Sometimes we just let them grow and, oddly, they were some of our strongest plants.” Hattie and Dirk also learn that raising plants may not always be enjoyable, but it can reap great rewards. This vital lesson will help young readers see the value in their own struggles.

One of this story’s biggest strengths is Wargel’s descriptive yet accessible prose, which places readers directly in these cool and breezy Midwestern fall scenes from the 1970s. Then there’s Hattie Mae’s winning tenacity: even when she faces skepticism or things look grim, she strives to make the best of the situation. She’s still a playful kid at heart, though, which will remind young readers that while hard work is important, they should always make time to have fun.

Takeaway: Charming story of siblings discovering the joys and challenges of gardening.

Great for fans of: Sara Pennypacker’s Here in the Real World, Joanne Levy’s Double Trouble.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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