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?
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
