Pumpkins

by Kevin Miller

If they wouldn’t have planted those pumpkins, especially in that spot, maybe none of this would have happened . . .

Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Fisher has always been an outsider, but now that he’s been convicted of a crime he “sort of” committed, his status as a small-town pariah has just been made official. Bullied at school, branded a criminal by the community, and grieving the loss of his father, who just left one day, the only bright spot in Jeremy’s bleak world is Roxanne, one of the most popular girls in school who happens to take a shine to him—or is it just pity?—in the midst of his troubles.As the community prepares for Halloween, Jeremy notices something strange is afoot, and he suspects it has something to do with the ghastly jack o’ lanterns that are mysteriously popping up all over town. Before Jeremy realizes it, he and Roxanne are caught up in a desperate struggle to save their community from a supernatural force that may have a closer connection to the two friends than either of them realize.

Genres: Horror, Halloween

208 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2021

About the author

Kevin is an award-winning author, and filmmaker. His debut novel, "Up the Creek," topped Amazon.com's Canadian literature best-seller list for over 17 weeks. Kevin has been involved in over a dozen films in various capacities, and as a writer, editor, co-writer, and contributor, he's been involved in too many books to count. Kevin has been featured on CBC Radio, CNN, and numerous other radio and TV outlets and podcasts. His work has his been written about and reviewed in dozens of publications, including the New York Times, Variety, and the Globe and Mail. Raised on a farm outside of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, Kevin still thinks the prairies are the best place to be, but the mountains are a close second. He currently makes his home in Kimberley, BC, with his wife and four kids. Learn more about Kevin at www.kevinmillerxi.com.

Reviews

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cool (& spooky) middlegrade story.
This is creepy without being too dark; totally works for youngish readers!
I wouldn't put it in the hands of anyone under 9yrs, but anyone over that will enjoy it!
Exactly the type of thing my middlegrade self would have picked up.
Much love to Kevin Miller for my signed paperback.

[Virginie Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎃Carve me... carve me... Watch out for evil pumpkins!

I really liked this book, it was so much more than I expected!

At first, there are two storylines (one with Jeremy and the other with people having ''troubles'' with the pumpkins). It was a bit long before the two collide, but they were both enjoyable. I still appreciated more the chapters with Jeremy, even if they were less atmospheric (less about the pumpkins and Halloween!). It was very interesting to read about his life, his family and his work at a nursing home where his grandfather reside (with whom he doesn't have a good relationship). I didn't think this book would be so moving! And then, around 50%, his story and the one about the evil pumpkins become one and, little by little, the mysteries are solved.

Spooky, but also heartwarming: perfect October read! And it's on KU (or you can buy it for 2$, I think)!

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me knows that I am the Queen of Halloween (self proclaimed, of course). I LIVE for Fall and Halloween and breathe it with every fibre of my being. I love decorating (be it store bought or my own creations!), I love Goosebumps, I love giving out candy and making Halloween a fun time for everyone! It was fitting for me to pick up this book if only for that fact alone. Then, you make it one step better with this book being by Kevin Miller, who happens to be one of my favourite authors. How can a book be so Briar? It's like it was fate.

I LOVED this book. All caps, bold it, italicize it, and all of the other funky settings you can come up with. This book jived with me in ways I will have to find ways to explain in this review. It's unique, it's spooky, it has a splash of history in it, it's mysterious, and it's just all around a fun time. It had me guessing along the way, yet totally hooked at every turn. I found it really hard to put this book down, but I did because I wanted it to last a long time. It is totally binge worthy, but I was loving it too much to just throw all of the reading away in one go.

At this point, I might as well provide you with a quick summary:

We follow a few different characters in this book. Our main one is Jeremy. He's an awkward kid who just took the fallout in court for some other kids' mishaps. It really sucks, but he's trying to help people and save face, yet is only ruining it for himself. He gets stuck with community service at a long term care home where his Grandpa is. A popular girl (who he may or may not seem to like) named Roxanne works there in a Candy Striper type role. She takes a personal fondness to him, and they become fast friends quick.

But, that's not all. The town got a recent shipment of giant pumpkins. It's kind of weird though, because everyone is hearing "Carve Me," and other spooky sayings when they carve the pumpkins. And then... they go kind of batty. Is it a curse? Do we have pumpkins with souls now? Why are vegetables so scary? So many questions!

This mystery unfoils itself, leading us down unsuspecting paths and closing out on a big surprise. I honestly really liked the twist at the end, and didn't see all of it coming (which is a nice surprise, too many soap operas and books have ruined endings for me). This story is complex yet is simple to read. Middle grade readers will love its spooky and fast paced nature, and adults can easily get a kick out of it too. The book is PG but feels like it is aimed at all of the generations. Goosebumps and FNAF loving middle graders will have a fun time with this book, while adults who seek horror and spooky without the gore will easily enjoy it as well. I had a fun time and I wish there was more!

I'm all around impressed with this book. The Canadian roots is evident, especially once you get to the end (no spoilers, promise!). The family drama, the style and tone, and all of the rest of this book make it a friendly, spooky and engaging tale. I don't really have any faults with this book. It felt quite perfect to me (as perfect as a book can get, of course). It's a "perfect" kind of book for me to read. It's nice when you find those books you just vibe with.

Also, the cover is cool. It's spooky yet simple - I like it! The orange pumpkin really makes it pop to. Someone tell me the font for the title "Pumpkins" because that's got to be my new personal font during October. I need more spooky in my life!

Overall, this is an awesome, engaging, fast paced and easy to read book. I highly recommend it and it will be sitting high on my shelf.

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to Kevin Miller, the author, who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Gregg Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkins is a Phenomenal book for Teens and Young Adults who love Fiction with enough light horror to keep you on edge. The plot of the book keeps you always wondering what is going to happen next and the switching between characters in the story feels like each chapter ends on a big cliffhanger. You are always given a clear depiction of what life is like in the Small Town of Sommerville and what young Jeremy has to overcome. The Characters are all very likeable and really add to the story in perfect ways. I cannot wait to see what Author Kevin Miller makes next and I would absolutely recommend this book to my friends and family.

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and unique read, but the ending was a bit rushed and convoluted.

[Suzanne Cowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, cute spooky novel appropriate for middle school and up. Themes include bullying, first crushes, and parental loss. Despite its young themes, anyone who enjoys a clean, spooky read will enjoy ‘Pumpkins.’

Fast paced and entertaining with no gore or extreme horror. Fans of the Goosebumps series will find plenty to enjoy here with mind controlling pumpkins, ghosts from the past and my personal favorite, zombies!

There is little to no bad language for those parents and librarians concerned about these things. No sexual themes (there is a female couple but their relationship is incidental to the story and as a Christian librarian I had no problem mention of it). No alcohol use or drugs that I can remember.

Overall, this is a fun story with a few spooky thrills that I recommend for all ages. Great story for around Halloween!

[Ernst Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gist: A cozy American town is plagued by a mysterious curse, shortly before Halloween; the protagonist: a teenager trying to make sense of his emotions and an outsider at his high school; the love interest: the most popular girl at school but with a kind heart; other elements: family secrets hidden in old documents, an overwhelmend mother, a cranky grandfather, aaand a lot of jack-o'-lanters. Pumpkins has all the ingredients to be completely predictable and yet ... it simply isn't. On purpose, I suspect. The author uses these tropes to weave a tale that juggles the familiar and the surprising quite deftly. A few revelations can be predicted early on, but the heart of the novel is about something else entirely. So yeah, it's a good story. Also suspenseful in a way that evokes a pleasing shudder without ever drifting into gory clichés.
Style: A word that kept popping up in my head while reading, was "cinematic". Especially scene endings tend to have the kind of cliffhanger you are used to seeing in thriller movies. Sadly, the dialogues are where the novel loses a bit of its well-calculated interplay between familiar and surprising. I know that good dialogue is hard to write, but most of the verbal interactions between characters felt stereotypical. Maybe, that's the downside of the cinematic aspect. I felt like I have read/heard those dialogues a dozen times before. It might be a bit harsh to deduct a whole star for that. If the rating system was a bit more nuanced, I'd give the novel a 4.5 star-rating.
The Moral: For a book that flirts with the horror genre, Pumpkins is surprisingly optimistic. Without being happy-clappy, I should add. Usually, I expect horror(-leaning) stories to be rather ... misanthropic because they tend to portray humans at their worst, or powerless in the face of evil. Sure, someone usually survives, or evil is defeated. But then there's that one sneaky teaser at the end which I can't help to think is meant to imply "Ha-ha, evil can never truly be defeated". This novel is refreshingly different. There's an underlying belief that humans can be and do better; they learn from their mistakes and act accordingly. Personally, I think that's a great note to end a YA novel on.
Reading Experience: I firmly believe that there's a slew of things that influence our decision whether we like a book or don't which have nothing to do with the actual content – the context of reading being one of them. I ended up reading the novel in one sitting because it was the perfect fare after a stressful week, luring me in with familiar imagery and a familiar plot and then surprising me with a soulful ending. The well-managed suspense helped, of course. In a nutshell – Despite some initial reluctance, the novel won me over. I really liked it.

Read this, if you are in the mood for some thrills or a more light-hearted take on Stranger Things.

[Krista Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkins is a fun and mysterious journey, perfect for the transition from middle grade to YA novels. I loved the quick jumps in the beginning of the book, from one character in the town to another, to establish the various relationships to each other, and ultimately to our protagonist, Jeremy. As a Canadian reader, it is satisfying to read place names from our own country. Even though Somerville is a fictitious town, as a born and bred prairie girl, I can imagine the small town easily.

Jeremy is a relatable character, with a complicated family life, and feeling like an outsider at school, which leads to some questionable friendships. Though he crushes on his classmate and co-worker, he has a firm belief in his head that she could never feel the same way, and this will also evoke sympathy from readers. The end brings a sense of fulfillment as Jeremy finally finds the friendship and understanding he longed for.

I couldn’t put the book down as the history of the town and the families and people involved, unraveled at the end. The townspeople, haunted because of a horrific crime that was committed against their ancestors, and seeking avengement, made me think of the reconciliation sought between indigenous people and the white colonists in Canada. Ultimately, as Pumpkins ends, sharing and spreading the truth of the heinous events ends up bringing more healing than revenge ever could.

Pumpkins has just the right amount of suspense and thrill, and young readers will be captured right to the end, and looking forward to the next installment in The Uncanny Icons Series.

[R.S. Twells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember those days back in grade seven when you were itching to start silent reading to dig into the latest "Goosebumps" book? Well, that is the exact feeling you are going to have reading Kevin Miller's "Pumpkins"! From chapter one, I felt myself constantly saying "Just one more chapter", continuing on to read half the book in one sitting, dying to know what was going to happen. Kevin has a skill at starting a chapter by comforting the reader and ending it by leaving the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering "what the heck is happening with these pumpkins?!" and "do I need to sleep with the nightlight on?"
Need a new instant classic to read around Halloween? "Pumpkins" is going to be your go-to book!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I told my 14-year-old daughter about the book I was reading, she gave me a quizzical look and said, “So... the antagonist is a squash?” Well, I’m not enough of a botanist to know whether pumpkins are squash or gourds or something else, but her point was well taken. A story with paranormal pumpkins might sound like it strains credulity a bit too much to make a good story, but Pumpkins, by Kevin Miller pulls it off. I actually had trouble putting it down, and over the two days that I read it, I was actually looking forward to finding time to read so I could see what happened next.

What is impressive about Pumpkins is the way Miller builds a world where the believable and the paranormal collide in a truly unique way. As just one example of the “believable” parts, one of the settings of the book is an old-age care home, and as someone who works part-time in a similar facility, so much about this place rang true. The old lady hitting on the young volunteer, the barely-mobile resident persevering to travel her daily route, the daily complaints about the food, the grief when one of the other residents died — all of these moments felt incredibly real. There are other examples of this realness as well, such as the main character’s awkwardness as he tries to figure out his friendship with a girl he knows is way out of his league, or the shock of the old grocer when he can’t figure out why the female customer in front of him is talking about her wife, but once he figures it out he just treats them like people. I know people like this. I am people like this.

At the same time that this realistic world of a quiet Saskatchewan town is being built, there is an undercurrent of the paranormal which keeps showing up, stretching the bounds of believability but never breaking them. If you know anyone from a small Saskatchewan town, you have probably heard a ghost story or two, and Pumpkins fits with the ones I’ve heard. There is enough weirdness and paranormality to elicit a pleasurable shudder, but the creepiness never becomes grotesque or gratuitously violent.

In the end, Miller brings all the threads of the story together in a heart-palpitating climax, but instead of just wrapping up the threads of the story with a nice feel-good conclusion, he elucidates one of the key themes of the novel in a powerful way: cycles of violence cannot be broken by scapegoating or more violence.

I’m a high school English teacher, so I try to read a lot of books that are geared toward a youth audience, and this book comfortably belongs on a shelf next to John Green. I could use this novel to teach students how to write realistic dialogue, magical realism, or sympathetic characterization. I’d tell them, “I know — supernatural pumpkins sound a little weird, but it works. You’ll like it.” I’m going to tell my daughter the same, skeptical though she may be of a squash antagonist.

[Michelle Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Miller weaves a story with teenaged main characters that is hard to put down with bursts of beautifully descriptive scenes like this, “The trees stood out stark and black against the moonlight, swaying gently as if trying to gather the world into their deeply grooved arms.”

I really enjoyed the transitions between characters and scenes. I knew the characters were somehow more connected, and end of the story interestingly tied up knots. It is a paranormal story that is believable because of Kevin Miller’s skillful story telling.

A theme in this story is a thread that weaves through human history - unless the pain of the past is acknowledged and transformed, it will be transferred to others.

[JC · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Pumpkins" centers around Jeremy, a 15 year old boy, uncovering the towns secret history to save the town from trouble-causing pumpkins. Despite taking a little over half the book for any real action to begin, the book has enough intrigue and mystery to keep the reader's interest piqued. The main character is extremely likable as you can't help but sympathize with what he is going through, but his relationships to the other characters felt underdeveloped at times. The twists the book takes at the end makes up for the slow start, and "Pumpkins" is ultimately an interesting young adult thriller that you will want to read all in one sitting.

[William Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Carve . . . me.”

An ominous invitation plagues Somerville, Saskatchewan in Kevin Miller’s Pumpkins. Family secrets can be damning things, and sometimes—generation by generation—grievances swell into something twisted. Plucky teenagers, Jeremy and Roxanne, are plunged deep into the depths of self-discovery as they find themselves in the midst of an encroaching and fermenting march toward revenge.

The story broaches very personal and sociological issues, holding a magnifying glass over current affairs and what will continue to be relevant themes so long as humanity strives for peace. There’s a beautiful marriage of old wisdom and fresh inspiration in the story that emphasizes the value of reconciliation.

That said, Jeremy encounters great difficulty negotiating his way around an indifferent mob “their faces blank but their eyes burning with rage”.

Communities and lives leave marks, impressions: cultivating and/or cutting. Pumpkins asks the reader to consider their path and what choices they’ll make when presented with the knife.

Horrifying adversity, hardy courage, cautious romance, and gripping mystery: Miller’s book will resonate with the young audience.

As a teacher, I would recommend it to my class as a prompt for creative writing and lessons exploring important themes.

[Ron Suchoplas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkins from Kevin Miller
Right from the start when I read the story from small town Saskatchewan you had me hooked and made me want to finish the story as fast as I can. The depth of the writing and details made an instant connection with me, putting me into the story and feeling a part of it.
It took me back to my younger self growing up in a small town and thinking of all the things that spooked me. Also all the secrets and untold stories of years past.
And it does help that Halloween and pumpkins are my most favorite time of year.
This book would be a great read for students/young adults who like to explore into the realm of horror.

[Jeffrey Dewsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a middle school educator, I always keep my eyes open for suspenseful, compact fiction that will appeal to reluctant readers. Because of its quirky characters, unpredictable plot line, and sometimes humorous, sometimes ominous tone, I’ll be keeping a copy of “Pumpkins” on my class bookshelf. Author Kevin Miller weaves together a compelling, inter generational cast of characters that’s likely to keep young readers waiting impatiently for the next instalment in the Uncanny Icons series.

[Lillian Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkins is a great book for teens and young adults that enjoy fiction with light horror. The story has strong characters and a creepy plot that will make you never want to put it down. Pumpkins is a thrilling page turner that will have your interest from the start. You are given a great visual of what life is like in the small town of Sommerville, and what challenges young Jeremy has to face. All of the characters are portrayed perfectly and all really bring the story to life. I really enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to see what comes next. I definitely recommend it to teens and young adults that love books with supernatural qualities and a bit of mystery.

[Eric H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Pumpkins to be very engaging for two reasons. First, the characters are great. In the midst of some very strange goings-on, family dynamics and friendships are explored in a way that keeps you turning the pages. Second, what a great story. There is a mystery unfolding in Pumpkins and I wanted to know the answer. I recommend this book not only for young readers but for adults as well. You will enjoy losing yourself in this small town and find yourself wanting to know more as each chapter ends.

[Andre Harden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pumpkins is a fast moving thriller suited for readers moving from junior into young adult. It's creepy and foreboding rather than horrifying, and the romance, while present, remains prospective. It's a good, visual genre piece that sees Jeremy pinballed around the small town of Somerville as Halloween nears and his neighbors become entranced by an infectious need to take up knives and carve into a crop of strangely compelling pumpkins. He and his beautiful, self-possessed co-worker Roxanne try to resist the curse as it overwhelms their homes, the streets and the school, finding a last but temporary refuge in the old folks home where they work, and where Jeremy's crotchety grandfather is a recent and reluctant resident. It's a flavorful take on Invasion of the Body Snatchers (visually it really reminds me of the classic 1978 film), though the overall experience is more reminiscent of an early Buffy episode.

[Joni Sappington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved this book perfect for starting off Halloween.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for my 12-year-old nephew and read it first. I can't wait for him to read it! Great spooky story and I was impressed with the vocabulary for a young reader.

[KT · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a middle grade-ish read. but i loved the cover and premise so much i snagged it for one of my halloween reads. as a 36 year old.

the town is taken over my haunted pumpkins. like, sign me up!

it gives off a goosebumps vibe... and man i loved me some goosebumps growing up. i mean, i had a whole damn collection.

i definitely recommend this one to the middle grade bunch or a read along because it's fun! and i mean, sometimes we just need fun.

[Lily Frey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! A great middle grade book for lovers of spooky Halloween stories. It gave stranger things/ goosebumps vibes. I loved the LGBT representation as well! Highly recommend for any reader. (over the age of 10 likely.)

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story, HORRIBLE editing at the end

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was spooky, unpredictable and interesting. However, the last two chapters were switched. It wasn't making sense, but I kept reading, thinking there would be an explanation. Nope, the last twe chapters were switched. That was so annoying!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. A little too slow to get at what was happening. But overall an entertaining enough read around Halloween.

[Rose Haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

May be a young adult book, but it is still a thrilling read for adults too. Sure gave me the Halloween feeling.