- Graphic Novels
- Ages 12–17
- Romance
Pumpkinheads
A cosy, funny, autumnal YA graphic novel about two best friends on their final pumpkin-patch shift. It is low peril, high charm, and ideal for readers who want romance-adjacent warmth without heavy angst.
- Best for12–17
- FormatGraphic
- Length224 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr45 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Heartwarming
- Warm
- Nostalgic
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Every autumn, Deja and Josiah work together at the best pumpkin patch in the world, and every year Josiah quietly fails to talk to the girl he has been crushing on. Now it is their last night before graduation changes everything, and Deja is determined that this year will be different. Their final shift turns into a wandering, snack-filled, festival-bright adventure through hayrides, fudge, pumpkins, missed chances, and honest conversations. Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks create a graphic novel that is less about dramatic plot than the sweetness and sadness of a perfect moment ending. It is funny, romantic, beautifully paced, and full of the cosy ache of growing up.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 12–17
- Read aloud · 11–16
- Independent · 12–17
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Bedtime
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Autumn read
- Cosy ya graphic novel
- Low peril romance
- Friendship to more
- Feel good
Avoid if
- Wants action
- Wants middle grade only
- Avoids romance
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Moving to secondary school
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A warm, funny YA graphic-novel romance set on a pumpkin patch — a feel-good read for older teens.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific charm is the final shift — Deja and Josiah's last night at their autumn pumpkin patch, Deja determined that this is the year Josiah finally talks to his crush. The YA graphic novel that captures the specific ache of one perfect season ending.
- Friendship and belonging
- Adventure and freedom
- Cosy safety
Why parents love it
The Rainbow Rowell / Faith Erin Hicks autumn YA — cosy, hayrides, fudge, the bittersweet final night before graduation. Low peril, high charm. Useful for a teen who wants romance-adjacent warmth without any heavy angst.
- Shared humour
- Beautiful illustrations
- Quick to read
- Great writing
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
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