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Giant Pumpkin Suite
Who are you, if you can't be what you always expected? A moving coming-of-age tale of prodigy and community, unlikely friendship and growing things.
Twelve-year-old Rose Brutigan has grown seven inches in the last eight months. She's always been different from her twin brother, Thomas, but now she towers over him in too many ways. The gap in their interests continues to widen as well. Musically talented Rose is focused on winning the upcoming Bach Cello Suites Competition, while happy-go-lucky Thomas has taken up the challenge of growing a giant pumpkin in the yard of their elderly neighbor, Mr. Pickering. But when a serious accident changes the course of the summer, Rose is forced to grow and change in ways she never could have imagined. Along the way there's tap dancing and classic musicals, mail-order worms and neighborhood-sourced compost, fresh-squeezed lemonade, the Minnesota State Fair -- and an eclectic cast of local characters that readers will fall in love with.
Twelve-year-old Rose Brutigan has grown seven inches in the last eight months. She's always been different from her twin brother, Thomas, but now she towers over him in too many ways. The gap in their interests continues to widen as well. Musically talented Rose is focused on winning the upcoming Bach Cello Suites Competition, while happy-go-lucky Thomas has taken up the challenge of growing a giant pumpkin in the yard of their elderly neighbor, Mr. Pickering. But when a serious accident changes the course of the summer, Rose is forced to grow and change in ways she never could have imagined. Along the way there's tap dancing and classic musicals, mail-order worms and neighborhood-sourced compost, fresh-squeezed lemonade, the Minnesota State Fair -- and an eclectic cast of local characters that readers will fall in love with.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2017
29 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Heuiser Hill
4 books24 followersMelanie Heuiser Hill is a graduate of Hamline University’s MFA program in writing for children and young adults. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and children. Giant Pumpkin Suite is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
October 29, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars. Such an enjoyable story filled with all kinds of fun: prime numbers, Bach cello suites, agriculture and broadway musicals. Rich with the themes of community and teamwork, Giant Pumpkin Suite has lots of heart.
December 16, 2017
This is a rich story full of appealing and well-drawn characters. It is perfectly tuned to middle-grade readers who still recognize many kinds of intelligence and growth...but are beginning to wrestle with body image, comparison, and achievement.
Smart kids without smart phones, cosmopolitan neighborhood that makes compost, and my personal favorite: "anything worth doing is worth doing poorly."
Looking forward to more from this author.
Smart kids without smart phones, cosmopolitan neighborhood that makes compost, and my personal favorite: "anything worth doing is worth doing poorly."
Looking forward to more from this author.
July 10, 2020
Reading good middle-grade fiction refreshes me when I have spent too long a stretch reading intense books that take on the multitude of woes of our messy world. It is not that there are no problems. However, I can count on more uplifting resolutions. I always welcome the opportunity to supplement my woeful lack of understanding of music, so Rose’s articulation of its magic was a bonus. Rose is a delightful protagonist, serious and focused beyond her years, yet learning to let herself be a 12-year old having fun. Her love of numbers struck a chord, especially applied to names, reminding me of the The Housekeeper and the Professor. I especially appreciated the low-key, matter-of-fact way that the very diverse community is depicted. And the setting is the Twin Cities with even a foray to the State Fair. Refreshing, indeed!
September 24, 2017
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
I must be honest as I start this review. I love the cello. I started playing at 11, went to a music school of choice in high school, and minored in music in college. And I believe that the Bach Cello Suites are some of the most beautiful pieces of music in existence. All of these facts may have made me a bit biased when it came to Giant Pumpkin Suite.
Rose is one special young lady. She is a prodigy of the cello and academics. She is taking college courses and has skipped grades and is in high school at age 12. And at the beginning of the book because of all of these things, she has lost what it is like to be a child. The only child-like thing she does in the first 50 pages or so is read Charlotte’s Web, which is her favorite book. Everything else in her life is structured and serious. But then something happens and everything changes. This is where the pumpkin comes in.
Rose truly transforms in this novel in a way that is believable yet amazing. The girl at the end of the novel seems so far away from the young lady you meet at the beginning, but as a reader, I loved the transformation. Rose is one amazing character who really finds who she is because of all the people in her world who truly do care for her.
Speaking of the other people, I loved the supporting cast in the novel. Hill did a great job making sure every character in the novel had their own personality and story and each played such an important part. I felt like I was part of the neighborhood by the time I was done with the book. And it isn’t only Rose that grows throughout the book. I loved seeing how Thomas, Jane, and other characters really found themselves throughout the book.
I must be honest as I start this review. I love the cello. I started playing at 11, went to a music school of choice in high school, and minored in music in college. And I believe that the Bach Cello Suites are some of the most beautiful pieces of music in existence. All of these facts may have made me a bit biased when it came to Giant Pumpkin Suite.
Rose is one special young lady. She is a prodigy of the cello and academics. She is taking college courses and has skipped grades and is in high school at age 12. And at the beginning of the book because of all of these things, she has lost what it is like to be a child. The only child-like thing she does in the first 50 pages or so is read Charlotte’s Web, which is her favorite book. Everything else in her life is structured and serious. But then something happens and everything changes. This is where the pumpkin comes in.
Rose truly transforms in this novel in a way that is believable yet amazing. The girl at the end of the novel seems so far away from the young lady you meet at the beginning, but as a reader, I loved the transformation. Rose is one amazing character who really finds who she is because of all the people in her world who truly do care for her.
Speaking of the other people, I loved the supporting cast in the novel. Hill did a great job making sure every character in the novel had their own personality and story and each played such an important part. I felt like I was part of the neighborhood by the time I was done with the book. And it isn’t only Rose that grows throughout the book. I loved seeing how Thomas, Jane, and other characters really found themselves throughout the book.
August 1, 2017
Originally posted at Log Cabin Library
The Giant Pumpkin Suite is set in Minnesota where twelve-year-old Rose and her twin brother Thomas have very different plans for their summer vacation. Rose is an exceptional cellist and student, skipping ahead in school. She is very driven, setting her goals onto sticky-notes, "sit more" and "win the Bach Cello Suites Competition," for which she plans to play her cello every free minute she has. If she can manage to win the competition, she is sure to get a fellowship with Maestro Waldenstein, one of her life long dreams. But, playing her cello all the time will also leave very little time for Thomas or her neighbor Jane. Even the best-laid plans can dramatically change when their neighbor, Mr. Pickering is injured after falling down his basement stairs and Thomas takes over growing Mr. Pickering's pumpkin seed. A responsibility that turns out to be too much for Thomas to handle alone, so Rose unwilling steps in to help. At first, everything is going well Rose is doing the research and Thomas is performing the day to day chores to help the pumpkin seed to sprout, but then Rose is involved in a serious accident altering all of her plans for the future. Now growing a prize winning pumpkin for the Minnesota State Fair takes on a new meaning for both of the siblings, but with a little help from their neighbors, they might even be able to win.
At a first glance, Rose comes off as a slightly unlikable character, maybe because of her over confidence in her musical abilities or just because of how she treats her brother and neighbor Jane. After she is injured, Rose spends more time on her brother's project and she begins to grow and change. It's her character growth that I enjoyed most about the story. Although, I also really liked Rose's Cello teacher, Mrs. Holling who recognized that Rose was burning herself out with practicing her cello so much and forced her to play for no more than one hour per day. Giant Pumpkin Suite also includes lots of details about how to grow a prize winning pumpkin, including how to pollinate the flowers, composting and even the mail-ordering of worms. Things initially I didn't think I would be too interested in, but it really started to grow on me, growing a giant pumpkin seemed to take a lot of work and the whole process was pretty fascinating to read about. Rose has such a passion for playing the Cello and I learned quite a bit about Bach. For example, I never knew Bach included math, puzzles, and ciphers into the structure of his music and that the number fourteen held a significance to him. Rose also had a fascination with numbers taking the letters of a persons name and the corresponding number for their place in the alphabet to determine a total numerical value. So, for example, the sum of the letters in Bach's name equaled fourteen, she also used this strategy to classify people as a good or bad person. Giant Pumpkin Suite included many diverse neighbors for Rose and Thomas, with one being Japanese, Latina, and a gay couple who become actively involved in helping with the project as well. Mrs. Kiyo was delightful and I especially enjoyed reading about the Japanese tea the siblings shared with her with all the lovely details about wagashi cookies. I thought this was a wonderful sibling story and although it was sad when Rose was injured and her ability to play the cello was changed, things were still resolved in a happy if not realistic way.
Favorite lines when Mrs. Kiyo is describing a bowl that was broken and repaired with gold, "The gold reminds us that beauty is found in the story of the object, its history,” said Mrs. Kiyo. “The bowl is more beautiful, more valuable, for all that has happened to it.”
*I received an E-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The Giant Pumpkin Suite is set in Minnesota where twelve-year-old Rose and her twin brother Thomas have very different plans for their summer vacation. Rose is an exceptional cellist and student, skipping ahead in school. She is very driven, setting her goals onto sticky-notes, "sit more" and "win the Bach Cello Suites Competition," for which she plans to play her cello every free minute she has. If she can manage to win the competition, she is sure to get a fellowship with Maestro Waldenstein, one of her life long dreams. But, playing her cello all the time will also leave very little time for Thomas or her neighbor Jane. Even the best-laid plans can dramatically change when their neighbor, Mr. Pickering is injured after falling down his basement stairs and Thomas takes over growing Mr. Pickering's pumpkin seed. A responsibility that turns out to be too much for Thomas to handle alone, so Rose unwilling steps in to help. At first, everything is going well Rose is doing the research and Thomas is performing the day to day chores to help the pumpkin seed to sprout, but then Rose is involved in a serious accident altering all of her plans for the future. Now growing a prize winning pumpkin for the Minnesota State Fair takes on a new meaning for both of the siblings, but with a little help from their neighbors, they might even be able to win.
At a first glance, Rose comes off as a slightly unlikable character, maybe because of her over confidence in her musical abilities or just because of how she treats her brother and neighbor Jane. After she is injured, Rose spends more time on her brother's project and she begins to grow and change. It's her character growth that I enjoyed most about the story. Although, I also really liked Rose's Cello teacher, Mrs. Holling who recognized that Rose was burning herself out with practicing her cello so much and forced her to play for no more than one hour per day. Giant Pumpkin Suite also includes lots of details about how to grow a prize winning pumpkin, including how to pollinate the flowers, composting and even the mail-ordering of worms. Things initially I didn't think I would be too interested in, but it really started to grow on me, growing a giant pumpkin seemed to take a lot of work and the whole process was pretty fascinating to read about. Rose has such a passion for playing the Cello and I learned quite a bit about Bach. For example, I never knew Bach included math, puzzles, and ciphers into the structure of his music and that the number fourteen held a significance to him. Rose also had a fascination with numbers taking the letters of a persons name and the corresponding number for their place in the alphabet to determine a total numerical value. So, for example, the sum of the letters in Bach's name equaled fourteen, she also used this strategy to classify people as a good or bad person. Giant Pumpkin Suite included many diverse neighbors for Rose and Thomas, with one being Japanese, Latina, and a gay couple who become actively involved in helping with the project as well. Mrs. Kiyo was delightful and I especially enjoyed reading about the Japanese tea the siblings shared with her with all the lovely details about wagashi cookies. I thought this was a wonderful sibling story and although it was sad when Rose was injured and her ability to play the cello was changed, things were still resolved in a happy if not realistic way.
Favorite lines when Mrs. Kiyo is describing a bowl that was broken and repaired with gold, "The gold reminds us that beauty is found in the story of the object, its history,” said Mrs. Kiyo. “The bowl is more beautiful, more valuable, for all that has happened to it.”
*I received an E-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 2, 2017
First sentence: Rose's bow zinged off the cello strings. Thomas hit the button on his stopwatch and grinned.
Premise/plot: Rose and Thomas are fraternal twins, though you'd never be able to guess. She's very tall for her age; he is very short. She can't seem to stop growing; he can't seem to start. She's several grades ahead of him as well. What do you need to know about Rose? She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES playing the cello, loves and adores Bach especially. She also is EXTREMELY fond of Charlotte's Web. In fact, she reads it at least once a month, and has for years. She hates her height and her curly hair. We know a little less about Thomas, but what we do know is easy to love. He's kind, compassionate, curious, eager to help, excited about life, optimistic.
The book opens in May, I believe, Rose and Thomas come to the aid of their friend and neighbor, Mr. Pickering. He's fallen down the basement stairs. Fortunately, Thomas finds him soon after, and Rose calls 911. Mr. Pickering asks them to take care of a precious seed and get it planted for him. This seed is for a GIGANTIC pumpkin.
The good news: Pickering's life is never in danger. The bad news: The summer doesn't quite go as planned. It ends up being the best-worst summer ever.
Thomas is beyond excited about the pumpkin project. Rose is a little more hesitant to commit ALL her free time to a plant. Even if her music teacher asks her to practice less, practice outside, and to play Bach for the plant. There is a big Bach competition coming up and Rose is nervous and feeling the pressure.
The competition never happens--not for Rose. What will Rose gain by losing?
My thoughts: I really loved this one. I loved the focus on family. Rose's family is close. Rose and Thomas are being raised by their mom and grandma. I loved how supportive they are of one another. I also loved the focus on friendship. Mr. Pickering and Mrs. Kiyo are two elderly neighbors that also love having Rose and Thomas in their lives.
There is a family in the neighborhood as well--the Jacobis. Rose doesn't "like" any of the kids. Jesse and James are identical twins. Jane is a girl near her own age. Rose calls her CALAMITY Jane, but the nickname is a bit unearned. Jane and Rose both want to have the library's copy of Charlotte's Web checked out ALL THE TIME. So much so that the librarian has a system: one week Rose, one week Jane, one week on the shelf to have available for another patron. Speaking of the librarian, she LOVES musicals. As in SINGS at the library on the job. This librarian is like a second mother to Jane. But over the course of this best-worst summer, Rose is invited into the group.
The book has a community theme to it. And friendship. It encourages dreams, but also asks what are you willing to do badly out of sheer love for it?!
It is a long book. But it was a good long book. So I personally, as an adult, didn't mind that!
Premise/plot: Rose and Thomas are fraternal twins, though you'd never be able to guess. She's very tall for her age; he is very short. She can't seem to stop growing; he can't seem to start. She's several grades ahead of him as well. What do you need to know about Rose? She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES playing the cello, loves and adores Bach especially. She also is EXTREMELY fond of Charlotte's Web. In fact, she reads it at least once a month, and has for years. She hates her height and her curly hair. We know a little less about Thomas, but what we do know is easy to love. He's kind, compassionate, curious, eager to help, excited about life, optimistic.
The book opens in May, I believe, Rose and Thomas come to the aid of their friend and neighbor, Mr. Pickering. He's fallen down the basement stairs. Fortunately, Thomas finds him soon after, and Rose calls 911. Mr. Pickering asks them to take care of a precious seed and get it planted for him. This seed is for a GIGANTIC pumpkin.
The good news: Pickering's life is never in danger. The bad news: The summer doesn't quite go as planned. It ends up being the best-worst summer ever.
Thomas is beyond excited about the pumpkin project. Rose is a little more hesitant to commit ALL her free time to a plant. Even if her music teacher asks her to practice less, practice outside, and to play Bach for the plant. There is a big Bach competition coming up and Rose is nervous and feeling the pressure.
The competition never happens--not for Rose. What will Rose gain by losing?
My thoughts: I really loved this one. I loved the focus on family. Rose's family is close. Rose and Thomas are being raised by their mom and grandma. I loved how supportive they are of one another. I also loved the focus on friendship. Mr. Pickering and Mrs. Kiyo are two elderly neighbors that also love having Rose and Thomas in their lives.
There is a family in the neighborhood as well--the Jacobis. Rose doesn't "like" any of the kids. Jesse and James are identical twins. Jane is a girl near her own age. Rose calls her CALAMITY Jane, but the nickname is a bit unearned. Jane and Rose both want to have the library's copy of Charlotte's Web checked out ALL THE TIME. So much so that the librarian has a system: one week Rose, one week Jane, one week on the shelf to have available for another patron. Speaking of the librarian, she LOVES musicals. As in SINGS at the library on the job. This librarian is like a second mother to Jane. But over the course of this best-worst summer, Rose is invited into the group.
The book has a community theme to it. And friendship. It encourages dreams, but also asks what are you willing to do badly out of sheer love for it?!
It is a long book. But it was a good long book. So I personally, as an adult, didn't mind that!
October 23, 2025
4.5 stars
Rose is a 12-year-old prodigy studying for a Bach Cello Competition, hoping to win a scholarship with a famous cello teacher. Her twin brother Thomas is helping their neighbor to grow a giant pumpkin in the backyard. As Rose becomes hyper-focused on the music competition, her teacher encourages her to pursue other interests like helping out with the gardening for the pumpkin. Rose and Thomas are very different, but they come together to research how to grow giant pumpkins. They might even have a pumpkin large enough to win a blue ribbon at the State Fair. Rose suffers a setback in her music goals, and the pumpkin becomes more important than ever.
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster of grief and fear and hope and joy! Because I'm a musician, I really enjoyed the way that Rose talks about her connection to music, especially Bach's Cello Suites. The music sings inside her soul, and she can rely on the music to calm her nerves and give her a sense of security. Rose has amazing character development; she has such a complex personality!
This book also tapped into some very deep fears for me. As a musician, one of the worst fears you have is getting injured so that you would be unable to play your instrument any more. Most career musicians I know are very careful of their hands, and unwilling to take risks in potentially injurious situations. There were certain scenes that had me crying and upset because of those fears being explored through the story! But it was also good to see the healing and growth of the characters in spite of difficult circumstances.
I loved the whole cast of supporting characters as the whole neighborhood comes together to help grow the giant pumpkin. There are people helping to provide compost, helping to build a rig to move the pumpkin, and coming together to encourage each other in this community project.
There is a very sweet Japanese lady who shows the twins how to do a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I loved that scene!
Rose's best friend is a girl who is obsessed with dance, and she literally dances around everywhere she goes. So cute!
There is also a homosexual couple who have adopted a baby, but they only appear in a couple of scenes.
Overall, I really loved this book and enjoyed this exploration of music and how musicians find their inner spark of creativity in many different places!
To see the sensitive content in this book including medical content, check it out on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/giant-...
Rose is a 12-year-old prodigy studying for a Bach Cello Competition, hoping to win a scholarship with a famous cello teacher. Her twin brother Thomas is helping their neighbor to grow a giant pumpkin in the backyard. As Rose becomes hyper-focused on the music competition, her teacher encourages her to pursue other interests like helping out with the gardening for the pumpkin. Rose and Thomas are very different, but they come together to research how to grow giant pumpkins. They might even have a pumpkin large enough to win a blue ribbon at the State Fair. Rose suffers a setback in her music goals, and the pumpkin becomes more important than ever.
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster of grief and fear and hope and joy! Because I'm a musician, I really enjoyed the way that Rose talks about her connection to music, especially Bach's Cello Suites. The music sings inside her soul, and she can rely on the music to calm her nerves and give her a sense of security. Rose has amazing character development; she has such a complex personality!
This book also tapped into some very deep fears for me. As a musician, one of the worst fears you have is getting injured so that you would be unable to play your instrument any more. Most career musicians I know are very careful of their hands, and unwilling to take risks in potentially injurious situations. There were certain scenes that had me crying and upset because of those fears being explored through the story! But it was also good to see the healing and growth of the characters in spite of difficult circumstances.
I loved the whole cast of supporting characters as the whole neighborhood comes together to help grow the giant pumpkin. There are people helping to provide compost, helping to build a rig to move the pumpkin, and coming together to encourage each other in this community project.
There is a very sweet Japanese lady who shows the twins how to do a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I loved that scene!
Rose's best friend is a girl who is obsessed with dance, and she literally dances around everywhere she goes. So cute!
There is also a homosexual couple who have adopted a baby, but they only appear in a couple of scenes.
Overall, I really loved this book and enjoyed this exploration of music and how musicians find their inner spark of creativity in many different places!
To see the sensitive content in this book including medical content, check it out on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/giant-...
December 13, 2022
For some time I've been tracking down middle grade stories that feature music, and particularly string instruments, and this one was just fantastic!
Usually middle grade stories start with a main character who clearly has a story goal in mind. While 12-year-old Rose Brutigan does want to win a cello suite contest so she can continue taking cello lessons with the Maestro Waldenstein, it's not just because her mom can't afford to keep paying for lessons. It's because her teacher is moving away!
It isn't really her "story want." It's been thrust upon her, although she does love Bach and the Cello Suites and preparing for the competition. Although when she meets Maestro Waldenstein, she's not at all sure she likes him -- or wants cello lessons from him!
It's when her twin, Thomas, gets her involved in something more than cello practicing that everything goes wrong. He needs help building a composting bin to make compost for the giant pumpkin they're growing in Mr. Pickering's yard (their next-door neighbor). Rose offers to cut the boards using a table saw. You can see where this is headed…and ouch, it's not good. I won't say exactly what happens to her, because it forms the rest of the story.
I loved Rose's diverse neighborhood with all the caring neighbors, including Mr. Pickering (who starts the pumpkin growing mania that seizes their town), Senor Ocampo, Mrs. Kiyo, Kirk the mailman (and former cellist), Jane and her tap teacher, Miss Sarah, and even Rose's doctor.
It was an uplifting story of making the most of what you've got when everything you've planned for goes to heck in a handbasket. And as a momma of a high-level violin player who sprained his left wrist and it's taking for-ev-er to heal, we can totally relate to the message this book sends.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Usually middle grade stories start with a main character who clearly has a story goal in mind. While 12-year-old Rose Brutigan does want to win a cello suite contest so she can continue taking cello lessons with the Maestro Waldenstein, it's not just because her mom can't afford to keep paying for lessons. It's because her teacher is moving away!
It isn't really her "story want." It's been thrust upon her, although she does love Bach and the Cello Suites and preparing for the competition. Although when she meets Maestro Waldenstein, she's not at all sure she likes him -- or wants cello lessons from him!
It's when her twin, Thomas, gets her involved in something more than cello practicing that everything goes wrong. He needs help building a composting bin to make compost for the giant pumpkin they're growing in Mr. Pickering's yard (their next-door neighbor). Rose offers to cut the boards using a table saw. You can see where this is headed…and ouch, it's not good. I won't say exactly what happens to her, because it forms the rest of the story.
I loved Rose's diverse neighborhood with all the caring neighbors, including Mr. Pickering (who starts the pumpkin growing mania that seizes their town), Senor Ocampo, Mrs. Kiyo, Kirk the mailman (and former cellist), Jane and her tap teacher, Miss Sarah, and even Rose's doctor.
It was an uplifting story of making the most of what you've got when everything you've planned for goes to heck in a handbasket. And as a momma of a high-level violin player who sprained his left wrist and it's taking for-ev-er to heal, we can totally relate to the message this book sends.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
October 31, 2017
I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this middle grade novel from NetGalley in exchange for this review. I really enjoyed reading this book. The novel shares the story of a family’s summer of healing and growth. Twelve-year-old Rose is very tall for her age, very mature, and a very talented cellist. Her twin brother, Thomas, is often mistaken for her younger brother. While Rose is busy preparing for an important musical competition, she and her brother help their neighbor, Mr. Pickering, with a giant pumpkin growing project in his back yard. When a freak accident occurs, everyone’s plans are altered, and the pumpkin project becomes even more important than ever.
I love how the pumpkin growing project brings together the folks in this Minneapolis/St. Paul neighborhood and allows everyone opportunities for the growth and healing that they need. This neighborhood has a rich diversity of culture and personality, and I think middle grade kids should read books that encourage tolerance and acceptance of all kinds of people and families. I also like that this novel introduces young people to music and classic movies that they might not ordinarily experience. I found myself finding Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Suites for Cello on Spotify, so I could listen to them. I’m always pleased to find different music to enjoy. Also, the librarian encourages Rose and her friends to watch movie musicals such as The Music Man, Hello Dolly, and My Fair Lady. Again, young people might be inspired to check these out.
The book has great messages for middle grade students. The recurring theme of healing and repair is applied not only to Rose and her circumstances, but also to her friends and neighbors, who are dealing with their own issues. At over four hundred pages, the book may seem a bit long, especially to kids. But, the story is very engaging, and I found it to be a fairly quick read.
I love how the pumpkin growing project brings together the folks in this Minneapolis/St. Paul neighborhood and allows everyone opportunities for the growth and healing that they need. This neighborhood has a rich diversity of culture and personality, and I think middle grade kids should read books that encourage tolerance and acceptance of all kinds of people and families. I also like that this novel introduces young people to music and classic movies that they might not ordinarily experience. I found myself finding Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Suites for Cello on Spotify, so I could listen to them. I’m always pleased to find different music to enjoy. Also, the librarian encourages Rose and her friends to watch movie musicals such as The Music Man, Hello Dolly, and My Fair Lady. Again, young people might be inspired to check these out.
The book has great messages for middle grade students. The recurring theme of healing and repair is applied not only to Rose and her circumstances, but also to her friends and neighbors, who are dealing with their own issues. At over four hundred pages, the book may seem a bit long, especially to kids. But, the story is very engaging, and I found it to be a fairly quick read.
October 6, 2017
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
Giant Pumpkin Suitemay not be a book for everyone, but I for one really liked it.
For students who are a little bit wary of reading, I will point out the 400+ page-count and acknowledge that there isn't much "adventure" in the traditional sense of the word. With its focus on Rose's self-perception issues and a neighborhood-wide quest to grow a pumpkin (complete with discussions of planting techniques and compost recipes), Giant Pumpkin Suite is not going to appeal to every reader.
But for those who do choose to enjoy the book, it really is a very nice read. My least favorite parts were probably those that focused on Rose's obsession with being prim and proper and grown-up (and the inevitable portrayal of her as an academically advanced yet emotionally stunted child, a stereotype that I find mildly offensive). It's not as bad as in many other books, though, and there's so much else to balance it out. Her twin brother Thomas isn't depicted as being mentally slow, but rather as just a very normal, typical twelve-year-old boy. Their quest to grow the pumpkin is interesting enough on its own, but it's the eclectic cast of characters from the neighborhood who join together to help them do it who really carry the day. My favorite neighbor was probably the Japanese woman across the street who donated leaves from her yard for the mulch and who provided a beautiful glimpse into the culture of her home country and also provided emotional support for Rose while she was going through some rough times.
It's a slow book, but it's an interesting one and a very diverse one. I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks it might be interesting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Giant Pumpkin Suitemay not be a book for everyone, but I for one really liked it.
For students who are a little bit wary of reading, I will point out the 400+ page-count and acknowledge that there isn't much "adventure" in the traditional sense of the word. With its focus on Rose's self-perception issues and a neighborhood-wide quest to grow a pumpkin (complete with discussions of planting techniques and compost recipes), Giant Pumpkin Suite is not going to appeal to every reader.
But for those who do choose to enjoy the book, it really is a very nice read. My least favorite parts were probably those that focused on Rose's obsession with being prim and proper and grown-up (and the inevitable portrayal of her as an academically advanced yet emotionally stunted child, a stereotype that I find mildly offensive). It's not as bad as in many other books, though, and there's so much else to balance it out. Her twin brother Thomas isn't depicted as being mentally slow, but rather as just a very normal, typical twelve-year-old boy. Their quest to grow the pumpkin is interesting enough on its own, but it's the eclectic cast of characters from the neighborhood who join together to help them do it who really carry the day. My favorite neighbor was probably the Japanese woman across the street who donated leaves from her yard for the mulch and who provided a beautiful glimpse into the culture of her home country and also provided emotional support for Rose while she was going through some rough times.
It's a slow book, but it's an interesting one and a very diverse one. I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks it might be interesting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2017
I read this with my 13 year old and she said she would give it 5 stars, so I am going to agree with her. This was a really good book and we both enjoyed it so much. The characters were all so interesting and diverse. The storyline was well written and everything came together well and kept us interested the whole time. I hope to see more books by this author in the future.
January 12, 2019
This was such a sweet middle-grade book about community, friendship, trying something new, and the value of family. I found all of the characters lovable and wanted to move myself to Library Lane to be part of the pumpkin project! I cannot wait to recommend this book to my younger patrons at the library, and to families looking for a fun book to read together. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
September 20, 2018
I loved this book! It was beautifully written with an amazing cast of characters. I loved the sense of community the story evoked, and loved watching the main character, Rose, change and grow over the course of the novel. Very well done, looking forward to more from this author!
September 27, 2019
What a wonderful story full of diversity and inclusion and how a community can come together to help each other heal. If only all neighborhoods could be like this! Well written and a delightful story.
May 16, 2020
This felt slow. The story involves twelve year old fraternal twins with almost nothing in common. There is gardening, a pumpkin, a cello, an accident, friendship, and family in this story. The main character, Rose, was too uptight and high strung. She made a bit of progress by the end of the story, but it wasn't enough to make much of a difference to her character.
February 18, 2022
This book is about Rose, a dedicated cellist and mathematician who is very hard on herself and she just loves her cello. It broke my heart when she couldn’t play her cello and then her whole community pitched in to plant a giant pumpkin and the whole story is just so heartwarming and I loved it.
March 26, 2018
Equally wonderful for kids with musical fingers and kids with green thumbs. Also perfect for hands who have yet to find their talent.
October 18, 2019
I liked it, it was extremely relatable
April 15, 2018
Melanie Heuiser Hill's first book, "Giant Pumpkin Suite," is a winner! Aimed at the middle school crowd, the book deserves all of the critical attention and acclaim it is receiving. I was lucky enough to win a copy of the book but would have purchased it anyway, as it is the work of friend and fellow Chapter and Verse Book Club member, Melanie.
Twelve year old twins, Rose and Thomas, are very different from one another - not what one would expect of fraternal twins. Rose is tall, a math and musical genius, and very disciplined. Thomas, on the other hand, is intuitive, short, and much more carefree. As Rose prepares her cello audition to study under the great maestro, Harris Waldenstein, a series of "accidents" lead both she and Thomas, as well as the entire neighborhood, to grow a giant pumpkin in Mr. Pickering's backyard!
Each of the characters, even the "bad guys," have charm. I loved them all. The story is filled with their warmth and humor and goodness. These well-developed, multi-dimensional characters earn our empathy and love. They make us feel something! I chuckled out loud and cried on several occasions. I really appreciated the diversity of the characters in terms of age, ethnicity, looks, etc. It was so refreshing to see good children and adults so intimately intertwined in each other's lives! The development of their community throughout the book was so hopeful - showing us what the world could so easily be.
I enjoyed the Minnesota setting - unique and personally appreciated - though I wish more local color had been included.
There are so many positive messages here:
- that our breaks can all be fixed - and can, as a result of that "fixing," make us better people
- though persistence and hard work pay off, we also need to have fun
- community and helping your neighbor are vital to our well-being
Highly recommended for readers ten and up - as an adult I enjoyed "Giant Pumpkin Suite" tremendously!
Twelve year old twins, Rose and Thomas, are very different from one another - not what one would expect of fraternal twins. Rose is tall, a math and musical genius, and very disciplined. Thomas, on the other hand, is intuitive, short, and much more carefree. As Rose prepares her cello audition to study under the great maestro, Harris Waldenstein, a series of "accidents" lead both she and Thomas, as well as the entire neighborhood, to grow a giant pumpkin in Mr. Pickering's backyard!
Each of the characters, even the "bad guys," have charm. I loved them all. The story is filled with their warmth and humor and goodness. These well-developed, multi-dimensional characters earn our empathy and love. They make us feel something! I chuckled out loud and cried on several occasions. I really appreciated the diversity of the characters in terms of age, ethnicity, looks, etc. It was so refreshing to see good children and adults so intimately intertwined in each other's lives! The development of their community throughout the book was so hopeful - showing us what the world could so easily be.
I enjoyed the Minnesota setting - unique and personally appreciated - though I wish more local color had been included.
There are so many positive messages here:
- that our breaks can all be fixed - and can, as a result of that "fixing," make us better people
- though persistence and hard work pay off, we also need to have fun
- community and helping your neighbor are vital to our well-being
Highly recommended for readers ten and up - as an adult I enjoyed "Giant Pumpkin Suite" tremendously!
September 7, 2017
Siblings who approach summer vacation with different plans reflecting their varied personalities makes for a feel good story perfect for young kids. Great well-developed characters will pull at the heart strings.
Rose is an incredibly driven child; more like an adult trapped inside a few feet of cuteness trying to make her mark upon the world. A cellist who the word exceptional doesn’t seem to describe her ability enough and who takes OCD to a new level for someone so young. Her narrow minded focus is causing her other relationships to fall by the wayside even with her twin brother.
Rose wasn’t the easiest character to like with her borderline narcissistic attitude towards her musical talent and how she treats those who care about her like her brother and neighbor. Though she begins to round off those hard edges and it’s this evolving growth in her personality that helps win you over.
Her twin has found a cause to focus on as he jumps in to help his neighbor with growing pumpkins. This says much about the character of a young boy who would put an adult neighbor’s welfare above typical summer pursuits. But as Thomas finds the challenge a bit much on his own, his sister manages to find time to fill the gap.
The pressure on her to perfect her talent while helping her brother builds until a trick of fate changes everything for them both.
The other characters like those involved with Rose’s cello playing and the neighbors may not take as much space in the story but the parts they fill are important and meaningful. No one feels like filler or just there to pad the page count. I enjoyed the diversity especially as it seemed to accurately reflect the modern setting the story is set in.
If you’ve ever been curious on how to grow a pumpkin reading this will definitely give you the foundation as the author obviously did some well detailed research to provide a realistic story. It ended up making my daughters and I try our hand and although we managed a few before the heat in Texas destroyed our plants it was fun taking something out of a book and putting it into practice. We learned some things along the way so next year maybe we can have our own prize winning pumpkin.
You’ll also get a crash course in classical music which was another real world lesson we were able to jump into as I showed my daughters YouTube videos of cellists playing Bach’s compositions and we googled information about him and others.
There is also a look at some of the richness of the Japanese culture and thankfully our city is hosting a tea and overview soon so I can’t wait to take my girls so they can get an in person perspective of what the author used.
The only negatives I see is that the beginning is so focused on music that if you aren’t interested it’ll probably be hard to hold your attention and it’s a little on the long side so it might be hard to hold the attention of the younger audience unless they break it up into small bits. I read this to my daughters a few chapters every night which made it easier to keep them interested.
I appreciated that even if we didn’t get a happy perfect ending, it was a realistic one that provided a great life lesson.
Rose is an incredibly driven child; more like an adult trapped inside a few feet of cuteness trying to make her mark upon the world. A cellist who the word exceptional doesn’t seem to describe her ability enough and who takes OCD to a new level for someone so young. Her narrow minded focus is causing her other relationships to fall by the wayside even with her twin brother.
Rose wasn’t the easiest character to like with her borderline narcissistic attitude towards her musical talent and how she treats those who care about her like her brother and neighbor. Though she begins to round off those hard edges and it’s this evolving growth in her personality that helps win you over.
Her twin has found a cause to focus on as he jumps in to help his neighbor with growing pumpkins. This says much about the character of a young boy who would put an adult neighbor’s welfare above typical summer pursuits. But as Thomas finds the challenge a bit much on his own, his sister manages to find time to fill the gap.
The pressure on her to perfect her talent while helping her brother builds until a trick of fate changes everything for them both.
The other characters like those involved with Rose’s cello playing and the neighbors may not take as much space in the story but the parts they fill are important and meaningful. No one feels like filler or just there to pad the page count. I enjoyed the diversity especially as it seemed to accurately reflect the modern setting the story is set in.
If you’ve ever been curious on how to grow a pumpkin reading this will definitely give you the foundation as the author obviously did some well detailed research to provide a realistic story. It ended up making my daughters and I try our hand and although we managed a few before the heat in Texas destroyed our plants it was fun taking something out of a book and putting it into practice. We learned some things along the way so next year maybe we can have our own prize winning pumpkin.
You’ll also get a crash course in classical music which was another real world lesson we were able to jump into as I showed my daughters YouTube videos of cellists playing Bach’s compositions and we googled information about him and others.
There is also a look at some of the richness of the Japanese culture and thankfully our city is hosting a tea and overview soon so I can’t wait to take my girls so they can get an in person perspective of what the author used.
The only negatives I see is that the beginning is so focused on music that if you aren’t interested it’ll probably be hard to hold your attention and it’s a little on the long side so it might be hard to hold the attention of the younger audience unless they break it up into small bits. I read this to my daughters a few chapters every night which made it easier to keep them interested.
I appreciated that even if we didn’t get a happy perfect ending, it was a realistic one that provided a great life lesson.
September 28, 2017
In this story for middle grade readers, twelve-year-old Rose Brautigan is a driven cello player and something of a prodigy. Her goal is to win the Bach Cello Suites Competition. She has a fraternal twin, Thomas, but he is much more relaxed and fun-loving than Rose, who thinks she must do everything perfectly.
Thomas spends a lot of time helping his older neighbor, Otis Pickering, and as the story begins, Mr. Pickering has fallen down his basement stairs. Thomas finds him, and calls the ambulance as well as alerting all the neighbors. (This Minnesota neighborhood as depicted by the author is a veritable United Nations, with people from all countries and colors and even a token gay couple. Furthermore, everyone acts like one big happy family. It seems a bit contrived.)
At the time he fell, Mr. Pickering was trying to water a giant pumpkin seed, and Thomas agrees to take over the job of caring for it while Mr. Pickering is incapacitated with his broken bones. Thomas manages to get a reluctant Rose to help, and pretty soon the whole neighborhood is contributing to the effort in one way or another.
As the summer passes, the pumpkin grows larger, eventually reaching a staggering 1,365 pounds, and they enter it into the Minnesota State Fair. [In the Acknowledgments section, the author writes about the amazing size of these real-life giant pumpkins. As of 2016, one specimen of the Cucurbita maxima species grew to over 2,500 pounds.]
But a serious accident has also taken place, threatening to change Rose’s life forever.
Discussion: This book broaches on being over-the-top diverse, and features perhaps too many "issues" with which the characters struggle.
Some of the characters, especially the “bad” ones, are a bit too villainous, just as some of the “good” characters seemed unrealistically kind, talented, and helpful. (Or maybe I’m just jaded.). In any event, Rose, the self-absorbed main character, was the most unappealing of the “good” set, which made it hard to be as sympathetic to her as one might otherwise have been.
In addition, I couldn’t help wondering throughout the whole story why Rose and Thomas thought the potential State Fair prize money for the pumpkin would be theirs, rather than Mr. Pickering’s.
Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about this book, and readers will learn a great deal about cellos, Bach, pumpkins, and even Japanese tea ceremonies and art of Kintsugi.
Evaluation: This novel offers a lot to think about, and there is nice tension and pacing regarding several of the plotlines, such as the fraught-with-peril care and growth of the pumpkin.
Rating: 3.5/5
Thomas spends a lot of time helping his older neighbor, Otis Pickering, and as the story begins, Mr. Pickering has fallen down his basement stairs. Thomas finds him, and calls the ambulance as well as alerting all the neighbors. (This Minnesota neighborhood as depicted by the author is a veritable United Nations, with people from all countries and colors and even a token gay couple. Furthermore, everyone acts like one big happy family. It seems a bit contrived.)
At the time he fell, Mr. Pickering was trying to water a giant pumpkin seed, and Thomas agrees to take over the job of caring for it while Mr. Pickering is incapacitated with his broken bones. Thomas manages to get a reluctant Rose to help, and pretty soon the whole neighborhood is contributing to the effort in one way or another.
As the summer passes, the pumpkin grows larger, eventually reaching a staggering 1,365 pounds, and they enter it into the Minnesota State Fair. [In the Acknowledgments section, the author writes about the amazing size of these real-life giant pumpkins. As of 2016, one specimen of the Cucurbita maxima species grew to over 2,500 pounds.]
But a serious accident has also taken place, threatening to change Rose’s life forever.
Discussion: This book broaches on being over-the-top diverse, and features perhaps too many "issues" with which the characters struggle.
Some of the characters, especially the “bad” ones, are a bit too villainous, just as some of the “good” characters seemed unrealistically kind, talented, and helpful. (Or maybe I’m just jaded.). In any event, Rose, the self-absorbed main character, was the most unappealing of the “good” set, which made it hard to be as sympathetic to her as one might otherwise have been.
In addition, I couldn’t help wondering throughout the whole story why Rose and Thomas thought the potential State Fair prize money for the pumpkin would be theirs, rather than Mr. Pickering’s.
Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about this book, and readers will learn a great deal about cellos, Bach, pumpkins, and even Japanese tea ceremonies and art of Kintsugi.
Evaluation: This novel offers a lot to think about, and there is nice tension and pacing regarding several of the plotlines, such as the fraught-with-peril care and growth of the pumpkin.
Rating: 3.5/5
August 14, 2017
As twins go, Rose and Thomas could not be any different. Thomas is short, happy-go-lucky, fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of kid. Rose, on the other hand, is tall, intense, highly intelligent, and focused. Her passion is the cello and she practices obsessively hoping to win Bach Cello Suites Contest to study with her idol, Maestro Waldenstein. These opposite twins are 12 and are about to experience a summer which will change their lives forever.
Their next-door neighbor, Mr. Pickering, receives a curiousity from his brother-in-law. A pumpkin seed which has the potential to grow into enormity. Thomas is intrigued and decides to help Mr. Pickering with the seed's nurturing and growth. Rose is only focused on her music. That is, until THE accident.
Rose's dream is halted, if not dead. She must regain the use of her hand with therapy and determination. And, while her healing is undergoing its timely due, she begins to help Thomas. It is also a time of reflection and renewal...connecting with friends, neighbors, and family which Rose have let fall by the wayside. Literally, it seems as if it takes a community to nurture the pumpkin patch. Rose now sees much more than a vegetable, it brings to her a form of commeraderie, neighborliness, and fun!
Giant Pumpkin Suite is a sweet story about fulfilling one's dreams, even if those dreams don't take the path you anticipated. Rose and Thomas encounter both serendipitous and orchestrated changes which lead to a fulfillment they never dreamed possible. They connect with a cast of characters, both young and old, who boost them up when things are looking bleak. Everyone has a story...and it is up to them to gather the knowledge gleaned from those life experiences to help them get to where they ought to be going.
Although the 'accident' that spurs all this self-reflection is obviously about to happen, with it foreboding doom (and we're yelling at Rose 'don't do it!"), it is the surprising and gentle way it is dealt with that has the reader relishing the story. Dreams, as we initially hope they would come true, do not always meet our expectations... it is how we handle the outcome that defines our maturity and sense of self.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Candlewick Press, Jamie Tan, and Melanie Heuiser Hill for this ARC. I give this book 4 1/2 stars.
Their next-door neighbor, Mr. Pickering, receives a curiousity from his brother-in-law. A pumpkin seed which has the potential to grow into enormity. Thomas is intrigued and decides to help Mr. Pickering with the seed's nurturing and growth. Rose is only focused on her music. That is, until THE accident.
Rose's dream is halted, if not dead. She must regain the use of her hand with therapy and determination. And, while her healing is undergoing its timely due, she begins to help Thomas. It is also a time of reflection and renewal...connecting with friends, neighbors, and family which Rose have let fall by the wayside. Literally, it seems as if it takes a community to nurture the pumpkin patch. Rose now sees much more than a vegetable, it brings to her a form of commeraderie, neighborliness, and fun!
Giant Pumpkin Suite is a sweet story about fulfilling one's dreams, even if those dreams don't take the path you anticipated. Rose and Thomas encounter both serendipitous and orchestrated changes which lead to a fulfillment they never dreamed possible. They connect with a cast of characters, both young and old, who boost them up when things are looking bleak. Everyone has a story...and it is up to them to gather the knowledge gleaned from those life experiences to help them get to where they ought to be going.
Although the 'accident' that spurs all this self-reflection is obviously about to happen, with it foreboding doom (and we're yelling at Rose 'don't do it!"), it is the surprising and gentle way it is dealt with that has the reader relishing the story. Dreams, as we initially hope they would come true, do not always meet our expectations... it is how we handle the outcome that defines our maturity and sense of self.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Candlewick Press, Jamie Tan, and Melanie Heuiser Hill for this ARC. I give this book 4 1/2 stars.
October 11, 2017
Thanks to Candlewick for the advanced copy! There haven’t been many books I’ve read recently whose end brought tears. This is one. I took a long time reading it. It’s long. I’ve had other commitments that kept my time for reading brief. But it certainly isn’t because of the story, which is wonderful. There is a girl, Rose, smart and talented in math and in playing the Bach Suites on the cello. She’s only twelve, but already tall enough that everyone thinks she’s an adult. Why not? She’s tall and acts like an adult too. She’s responsible, does everything a “right” way, practices and practices as she must for a coming important competition. She’s a bit snooty, makes quite a bit of fun of Jane, a neighbor girl who’s constantly asking Rose to start tap dancing class with her. She has to share a special library copy of Charlotte’s Web with Jane, an affront according to Rose. And when walking to the library with Gram, she also has to be confronted with Jane’s older twin brothers, Jesse and James (another story) who hoot and tease and just bother! And then there’s Rose’s own twin, Thomas, much shorter and at least not as smart at academics, although he shows quite a lot of talent in other ways.
It’s complicated, really complicated. What Melanie Heuiser Hill is so good at is complications. There is the accident with Rose’s hand, and the pumpkin seed for growing giant pumpkins sent by a friend of the neighbor, Mr. Pickering. There is that seed growing, and the slow growth of knowing the other neighbors helping, the problem with the library book and Rose needing to simply have fun “doing things badly.” The development of the characters along with Rose is admirable, and oh, so enjoyable. In some books, it feels as if I hurry along to find what the main character is doing or saying. In this one, I want to know more about each character, for each is interesting and not always predictable. And that’s the best thing. Melanie Heuiser Hill surprises and pleases all the way to the last page, when I teared up probably because I had to say goodbye, but also because I loved my time spent with this book! Oh, and there’s more than Bach; there’s Tom Petty and “Free Fallin’”. Want more? Read the book!
It’s complicated, really complicated. What Melanie Heuiser Hill is so good at is complications. There is the accident with Rose’s hand, and the pumpkin seed for growing giant pumpkins sent by a friend of the neighbor, Mr. Pickering. There is that seed growing, and the slow growth of knowing the other neighbors helping, the problem with the library book and Rose needing to simply have fun “doing things badly.” The development of the characters along with Rose is admirable, and oh, so enjoyable. In some books, it feels as if I hurry along to find what the main character is doing or saying. In this one, I want to know more about each character, for each is interesting and not always predictable. And that’s the best thing. Melanie Heuiser Hill surprises and pleases all the way to the last page, when I teared up probably because I had to say goodbye, but also because I loved my time spent with this book! Oh, and there’s more than Bach; there’s Tom Petty and “Free Fallin’”. Want more? Read the book!
December 27, 2017
Hill, Melanie Heuiser The Giant Pumpkin Suite, 434 pages. Candlewick Press, 2017. $17. Language: G (1 swear, 0 ‘F’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
Rose Brutigan was set to win the Bach Cello Suites competition. Soon enough, her grandfather-like next door neighbor has a nasty accident, leaving Rose and her twin brother Thomas to take care of his ‘giant pumpkin plant’. Soon enough Thomas is enthralled in the plant, devoting every waking hour to it; but Rose has the Bach Cello Suites to think about. It is her life’s dream to play with world class cellist, Harris Waldenstein. But as the pumpkin grows in size, Rose grows to learn that there are more important things than her cello. Rose starts to learn just how beautiful she and her community are!
The Great Pumpkin Suite is an amazing book! Author Melanie Heuiser Hill did a fantastic job of capturing a struggling middle-schooler’s mind; every character had something about them that the reader could relate to. The plot is very defined, and it doesn’t ever go off topic, even with all of the twists and turns. Ms. Hill did a great job at describing modern-time communities, without all the stereotyping that some authors love. She added a great sense of learning how to tell right from wrong, and that sometimes that good and bad can overlap each other. The Great Pumpkin Suite has a wonderful sense of humor, adding just a touch of seriousness to make it more realistic. The book also includes interesting facts that put an interesting twist on the story; like one about Amazons (warrior women) cutting off one of their breasts to be better at archery. I recommend this book to any middle schooler who loves to read!
MS - ADVISABLE. CRL, Student Reviewer, 7th grade
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
Rose Brutigan was set to win the Bach Cello Suites competition. Soon enough, her grandfather-like next door neighbor has a nasty accident, leaving Rose and her twin brother Thomas to take care of his ‘giant pumpkin plant’. Soon enough Thomas is enthralled in the plant, devoting every waking hour to it; but Rose has the Bach Cello Suites to think about. It is her life’s dream to play with world class cellist, Harris Waldenstein. But as the pumpkin grows in size, Rose grows to learn that there are more important things than her cello. Rose starts to learn just how beautiful she and her community are!
The Great Pumpkin Suite is an amazing book! Author Melanie Heuiser Hill did a fantastic job of capturing a struggling middle-schooler’s mind; every character had something about them that the reader could relate to. The plot is very defined, and it doesn’t ever go off topic, even with all of the twists and turns. Ms. Hill did a great job at describing modern-time communities, without all the stereotyping that some authors love. She added a great sense of learning how to tell right from wrong, and that sometimes that good and bad can overlap each other. The Great Pumpkin Suite has a wonderful sense of humor, adding just a touch of seriousness to make it more realistic. The book also includes interesting facts that put an interesting twist on the story; like one about Amazons (warrior women) cutting off one of their breasts to be better at archery. I recommend this book to any middle schooler who loves to read!
MS - ADVISABLE. CRL, Student Reviewer, 7th grade
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
September 20, 2017
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Twelve year old, cello prodigy, Rose Brutigan has one goal: to win the Bach Cello Suites Competition. Her dedication to practice, maturity beyond her years, and need for perfection doesn't leave much time for her to be a kid (something her twin broken, Thomas, has little difficulty doing). As she prepares for the competition, Rose struggles with insecurities -- wondering if she will ever be good enough to study with the great Maestro. When tragedy suddenly strikes, all of Rose's plans begin to crumble around her. Gone is the summer of practicing and perfecting, leaving Rose with ample time on her hand. And what is she to do? Help her brother and neighbor grow and giant pumpkin of course.
At its heart, this books is a story of the importance of relationships and friendships. From friends to neighbors to teachers to family, this book covers it all. Particularly heartwarming are the intergenerational relationships that Rose forms with the people in her neighborhood. Each character formed and integral part of the vibrant neighborhood that comes together to grow a pumpkin. Rose gains a newfound understanding for friendship and learns a different lesson from each person she interacts with.
One of the strongest aspects of Hill's writing was her characterization. Each character felt like in individual, necessary to the story and more importantly, necessary for rose to heal. I loved getting to know each neighbor throughout the book and was especially fond of Mrs. Kiyo. Though this story was predictable at times, it was still a heartwarming read. On a journey of self-discovery, Rose is relatable for any young girl that has ever felt feel like they don't fit in their own skin.
Twelve year old, cello prodigy, Rose Brutigan has one goal: to win the Bach Cello Suites Competition. Her dedication to practice, maturity beyond her years, and need for perfection doesn't leave much time for her to be a kid (something her twin broken, Thomas, has little difficulty doing). As she prepares for the competition, Rose struggles with insecurities -- wondering if she will ever be good enough to study with the great Maestro. When tragedy suddenly strikes, all of Rose's plans begin to crumble around her. Gone is the summer of practicing and perfecting, leaving Rose with ample time on her hand. And what is she to do? Help her brother and neighbor grow and giant pumpkin of course.
At its heart, this books is a story of the importance of relationships and friendships. From friends to neighbors to teachers to family, this book covers it all. Particularly heartwarming are the intergenerational relationships that Rose forms with the people in her neighborhood. Each character formed and integral part of the vibrant neighborhood that comes together to grow a pumpkin. Rose gains a newfound understanding for friendship and learns a different lesson from each person she interacts with.
One of the strongest aspects of Hill's writing was her characterization. Each character felt like in individual, necessary to the story and more importantly, necessary for rose to heal. I loved getting to know each neighbor throughout the book and was especially fond of Mrs. Kiyo. Though this story was predictable at times, it was still a heartwarming read. On a journey of self-discovery, Rose is relatable for any young girl that has ever felt feel like they don't fit in their own skin.
September 28, 2017
Rose and Thomas are 12 year old twins, but they are as different as they can be. Rose is almost six feet tall, extremely gifted both academically and musically, (four grades ahead of Thomas) while Thomas is 4’7” and a very average student who struggles with math and reading. However, even as different as they are, they are still close.
One spring day, their lives suddenly change. Their neighbor and dear family friend, Mr. Pickering, injures himself severely when he falls down his basement stairs. However as he enters surgery and prepares for a long hospital stay, his only concern is a very special seed that is beginning to grow in his basement. Reluctantly, because it takes time away from her cello practice time (she’s preparing for a scholarship audition), Rose agrees to help Thomas nurse the seed along. And even after Mr. Pickering comes home, the kids continue to help. In fact, the entire neighborhood joins the adventure of growing the special seed, which is a giant pumpkin.
I really liked the relationships among all of the characters and the teamwork and camaraderie they developed as they all contributed to growing the giant pumpkin. Both the adults and children in the close knit neighborhood were caring and kind to one another. I especially liked Rose’s cello teacher, her mom and her Grandma who encouraged Rose, who was very much a perfectionist, take time for fun!
This book is a little longer than most middle grade books (over 400 pages), but the great story will keep you reading!
One spring day, their lives suddenly change. Their neighbor and dear family friend, Mr. Pickering, injures himself severely when he falls down his basement stairs. However as he enters surgery and prepares for a long hospital stay, his only concern is a very special seed that is beginning to grow in his basement. Reluctantly, because it takes time away from her cello practice time (she’s preparing for a scholarship audition), Rose agrees to help Thomas nurse the seed along. And even after Mr. Pickering comes home, the kids continue to help. In fact, the entire neighborhood joins the adventure of growing the special seed, which is a giant pumpkin.
I really liked the relationships among all of the characters and the teamwork and camaraderie they developed as they all contributed to growing the giant pumpkin. Both the adults and children in the close knit neighborhood were caring and kind to one another. I especially liked Rose’s cello teacher, her mom and her Grandma who encouraged Rose, who was very much a perfectionist, take time for fun!
This book is a little longer than most middle grade books (over 400 pages), but the great story will keep you reading!
January 24, 2021
This book ticked a lot of boxes for me.
I have played viola for 40 years, violin for just a little less. The cello suites are canon for violists so I know them well. Learning to play an instrument can be as all consuming as the author portrayed here. Finding a teacher you connect with, auditioning, and competitions can be as nerve-wracking as described. She did incredibly well depicting the process.
I teach Suzuki violin/viola and have several students around the age of the main character. A couple of them (ages 10 and 11) have read this book. One of them even has fraternal twin sisters. I think they really identified with Rose, her love of music and the awkwardness of the age.
I have worked in a PT clinic and have assisted with rehabilitating hand patients. The wax bath was always their favorite part. The healing process really is as slow and pain-staking as she imagined it to be. Most people never regain full use. As a musician myself, I shudder to think....
And I grew up in a small town called Harvest which was, as you would expect, mostly agricultural. I even remember camping out in the pumpkin patch one year to wait for the Great Pumpkin (spoiler, he didn't come but someone's Dad showed up with a white sheet and a flashlight).
All in all I think Melanie Hill did a great job with her first novel. I have recommended this book to everyone in my studio. And if you like Yo-yo Ma's recordings of the Bach Cello Suites, I commend to you Anner Byslma. He is amazing.
I have played viola for 40 years, violin for just a little less. The cello suites are canon for violists so I know them well. Learning to play an instrument can be as all consuming as the author portrayed here. Finding a teacher you connect with, auditioning, and competitions can be as nerve-wracking as described. She did incredibly well depicting the process.
I teach Suzuki violin/viola and have several students around the age of the main character. A couple of them (ages 10 and 11) have read this book. One of them even has fraternal twin sisters. I think they really identified with Rose, her love of music and the awkwardness of the age.
I have worked in a PT clinic and have assisted with rehabilitating hand patients. The wax bath was always their favorite part. The healing process really is as slow and pain-staking as she imagined it to be. Most people never regain full use. As a musician myself, I shudder to think....
And I grew up in a small town called Harvest which was, as you would expect, mostly agricultural. I even remember camping out in the pumpkin patch one year to wait for the Great Pumpkin (spoiler, he didn't come but someone's Dad showed up with a white sheet and a flashlight).
All in all I think Melanie Hill did a great job with her first novel. I have recommended this book to everyone in my studio. And if you like Yo-yo Ma's recordings of the Bach Cello Suites, I commend to you Anner Byslma. He is amazing.
October 14, 2017
I have never been more grateful for a book written that accurately depicts the practice and hard work it takes for music. Especially after reading another awful book that didn't understand what violinists need to do to practice, this was a lovely concert rendered in prose. I keep hearing the Shostakovich Ballet Suite 1 when reading and rereading. Our lead may not be a violinist, but she accurately depicts child musician life.
Rose is twelve years old, tall, hardworking, and intelligent; in short, she's everything I wish I had been at her age. She's already prepared for college and wants to work with a maestro cellist. Then her neighbor breaks his leg, and asks for her and her brother Thomas's help in growing a giant pumpkin. Rose at first is reluctant, because she wants to focus on winning the maestro's fellowship. Then she suffers an accident that could affect her playing forever, and decides to put her full effort into helping Bessie the pumpkin grow and compete in the state fair.
This is a delightful book, about how little mistakes can bloom into large catastrophes, on not letting cruel words from others determine your actions, and how neighbors can come together to help with a victory. Rose is already a good person, if a bit worried about being the best, and she learns to forgive herself for her mistakes, as well as other people. We know Rose, her grandmother and her brother will be okay, as will her friends.
Rose is twelve years old, tall, hardworking, and intelligent; in short, she's everything I wish I had been at her age. She's already prepared for college and wants to work with a maestro cellist. Then her neighbor breaks his leg, and asks for her and her brother Thomas's help in growing a giant pumpkin. Rose at first is reluctant, because she wants to focus on winning the maestro's fellowship. Then she suffers an accident that could affect her playing forever, and decides to put her full effort into helping Bessie the pumpkin grow and compete in the state fair.
This is a delightful book, about how little mistakes can bloom into large catastrophes, on not letting cruel words from others determine your actions, and how neighbors can come together to help with a victory. Rose is already a good person, if a bit worried about being the best, and she learns to forgive herself for her mistakes, as well as other people. We know Rose, her grandmother and her brother will be okay, as will her friends.
December 1, 2017
I love a book that not only entertains me with a compelling story, but also teaches me something new. The middle-grade novel Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill is just such a book. Classical music, numerology, show tunes, agronomy, Amazonian warriors—my brain swelled with the fascinating facts sprinkled throughout the book. But my brain power could never match that of Rose, the 12-year old protagonist who is a math genius and cello prodigy.
This girl is tall in body and big in brains, but she’s socially unskilled and isolated. Rose obsesses over mastering Bach in preparation for a major competition. It took me a few pages to warm up to Rose, but that did not matter because her twin brother Thomas and the cast of colorful neighbors pulled me into the story immediately. Before long, Rose had captured my heart as well. Behind the music and math wizard is a girl who clings to Charlotte’s Web, her literary security blanket. When tragedy strikes and Rose must fill her time with tending a giant pumpkin instead of practicing her cello, she discovers that human relationships are more important than musical perfection.
This book is funny, clever, exciting, and heart-warming.
This girl is tall in body and big in brains, but she’s socially unskilled and isolated. Rose obsesses over mastering Bach in preparation for a major competition. It took me a few pages to warm up to Rose, but that did not matter because her twin brother Thomas and the cast of colorful neighbors pulled me into the story immediately. Before long, Rose had captured my heart as well. Behind the music and math wizard is a girl who clings to Charlotte’s Web, her literary security blanket. When tragedy strikes and Rose must fill her time with tending a giant pumpkin instead of practicing her cello, she discovers that human relationships are more important than musical perfection.
This book is funny, clever, exciting, and heart-warming.
August 22, 2017
Thank you Net Galley for ARC to review.
As a gifted musician, Rose is singularly focused on her music. Rose and her twin Thomas are very different but have an amazing, strong, twin connection. Thomas is happy-go-lucky and an average student while Rose has skipped a couple of grades, now attending high school and even college math classes. After an accident that seriously injures her left hand Rose must adjust to a different way of thinking. With extra time on her hands she helps her brother grow a giant pumpkin. Soon it becomes a community project involving the entire neighborhood.
There is so much focus on her music in the beginning I can see a child struggling through this initial part. It was often during my reading that I felt there were so many things going on that all the concepts were tripping over each other - the cello, contest, unreasonably hostile Maestro, gay couple, united nations neighbors, pumpkin, bad decisions, injury, friendship, parent in jail, sleazy judge, music teacher's move that no one talked about, emerging crushes, and perception of people.
The story did pick up and after the initial slow "language-of-music" chapters and I did enjoy it.
As a gifted musician, Rose is singularly focused on her music. Rose and her twin Thomas are very different but have an amazing, strong, twin connection. Thomas is happy-go-lucky and an average student while Rose has skipped a couple of grades, now attending high school and even college math classes. After an accident that seriously injures her left hand Rose must adjust to a different way of thinking. With extra time on her hands she helps her brother grow a giant pumpkin. Soon it becomes a community project involving the entire neighborhood.
There is so much focus on her music in the beginning I can see a child struggling through this initial part. It was often during my reading that I felt there were so many things going on that all the concepts were tripping over each other - the cello, contest, unreasonably hostile Maestro, gay couple, united nations neighbors, pumpkin, bad decisions, injury, friendship, parent in jail, sleazy judge, music teacher's move that no one talked about, emerging crushes, and perception of people.
The story did pick up and after the initial slow "language-of-music" chapters and I did enjoy it.
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