“Now, as I was saying, my focus on giant pumpkins started when I was six.”

Five years later, eleven-year-old Mildred maintains her focus, which, as she sees it, is not so unusual. Other girls her age are focused on clothes or boys: “It just so happens that my thoughts are consumed with something out of the ordinary.” Yes, that’s right, she wants to grow a giant pumpkin.

You see, Mildred lives in Circleville, Ohio where every October ushers in Fall but also the annual pumpkin festival. Mildred’s late mother had wanted to grow a giant pumpkin and enter the giant pumpkin contest, but she never got around to actually growing one before she died. Mildred resolves to fill part of the hole left by her mother’s absence by planting and cultivating pumpkins.

Unfortunately, growing pumpkins is one thing; growing a prize winning giant pumpkin is another. Mildred has spent that past few years trying and failing as a prize winning pumpkin grower due to one unforseen obstacle after another. Fortunately, Mildred’s one determined (obsessed, focused, you name it) girl, and she continues to throw her heart and soul into the task.

All of the time Mildred spends in devotion to her prize pumpkin growing goal makes her Aunt Arlene nervous; Aunt Arlene fears it will cause Mildred’s heart to break yet again. But Mildred’s father recognizes that each person’s grieving process is unique and needs to be left free to run its course, and he supports Mildred in her pumpkin growing efforts. Aunt Arlene does not give up easily, and she tries to distract Mildred with boys and clothes.

Finally, Aunt Arlene insists Mildred take a vacation away from her beloved pumpkins. Mildred must trust her father and friend to take care of them for her for a few days. Although she does feel anxious leaving her precious pumpkins behind, she learns about trusting others, letting go, accepting help, and supporting friends and family.

Me and the Pumpkin Queen goes into great detail about the process of growing giant pumpkins, but along the way it also reveals a great deal about loss, about one girl’s process for going about living after loss, and about the slow process of healing.

A few other recent books that lack giant pumpkins but that also tackle the subjects of father/daughter relationships and grief after loss include Mary Amato’s The Naked Mole Rat Letters, Amy Hest’s Remembering Mrs. Rossi, and Jenny Lombard’s Drita, My Homegirl.

Marlane Kennedy has written a lovely, funny story about a young girl who wants to grow a giant pumpkin in honor of her deceased mother. The story centers around the Circleville Pumpkin show here in central Ohio. This book is great for anyone looking for a fresh new voice for girls ages 7-10. ( )

The best parts of this book were the ones about growing giant pumpkins. It's easy to see the author did her homework on the topic. The story was alright, but a few things bothered me: Mildred didn't always sound 11 years old—saying things like "to no avail," when it wasn't part of her character to be precocious. A few parts weren't really necessary and slowed the story down, like stepping the reader through every single thing Mildred does when she gets home from school one day. And finally, there were a few things that didn't feel resolved, like a mention of how the dad and his co-worker should go on a date but it's never mentioned again. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this unless you're really into pumpkins. ( )

Mildred, 11 years old, mother has died of cancer, close friend Jacob, determined to grow giant pumpkin, Aunt Arlene buys clothes, father is veterinarian, notes about how to grow giant pumpkin, 1401 pounds, Pumpkin Show in Circleville, Ohio ( )

To honor her Mom, eleven year old Mildred is determined to win the Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Show and fulfill a dream left undone by her mother's untimely death. However, with each passing season something goes inherently wrong and her dreams are dashed again and again. Aunt Arlene is more than a bit concerned about Mildred's apparent obsession with pumpkins and tries, in her overtly pushy way, to persuade her niece to pursue more feminine interests, such as make up and fancy clothing. Thankfully, Mildred's dad doesn't agree with Auntie Arlene and continues to support his daughter and her individual dreams. Knowing and understanding his only daughter in ways that only a father can, he is able to challenge Mildred to take her future into her own hands and follow her heart with unbridled passion. Thus allowing herself to grow into the incredible young woman her mother always knew she would one day become.

Kennedy's attention to detail proves this to be a well researched novel that introduces readers to the relatively unknown competitions that require much more than good seeds and luck to produce a thousand pound champion. Well crafted and heartwarming, the characters could easily be members of your own family or next door neighbors. The narrative reads like a family tale told over a huge dinner, with lots of laughs, a few tears and the busy body aunt that always means well but just can't quite find the right way to express herself without appearing... well, pushy. This is a coming of age tale that will be enjoyed by all, despite their age. A magical journey that is more about Mildred's inner growth than that of her pumpkins. Chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection, Marlane Kennedy's solo debut, Me and the Pumpkin Queen is a first place read.

Happy Reading!
RJ xx
3Rs-Real Reader Reviews ( )