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Me and the Pumpkin Queen
It's just something she has to do.
Mildred has always dreamed of growing a one-thousand-pound pumpkin to enter in her town's Pumpkin Show. Her aunt Arlene thinks she's obsessed, but Mildred prefers to think of herself as focused. And growing giant pumpkins is way more interesting than boys or clothes or the other girly things Aunt Arlene wants her to like. She's been try
...morePaperback, 181 pages
Published
July 1st 2009
by Greenwillow Books
(first published July 1st 2007)
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Kate Hastings
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Grades 3-5
Shelves:
jfic-chapterbooks,
uabookdiscussionbooks
What a SWEET book... and sure to be a local hit, as the setting takes place in Circleville, OH, home of the annual pumpkin show.
Reasons I liked this book:
1)Girl lost her mother, but it is obvious that she has a very healthy relationship with her family. Her aunt drives her crazy in the way her mother might have, had she been alive. Her father has stood up for her and given her the support she needs. Mentions that her mother was a foster care kid-- and that not all fost...more
Reasons I liked this book:
1)Girl lost her mother, but it is obvious that she has a very healthy relationship with her family. Her aunt drives her crazy in the way her mother might have, had she been alive. Her father has stood up for her and given her the support she needs. Mentions that her mother was a foster care kid-- and that not all fost...more
I wasn't expecting much from this book, but it was actually kind of sweet. Mildred decides she wants to grow a giant pumpkin to enter at the Circleville Pumpkin Show. After being discouraged by everyone except her dad and best friend, she tries for several years until she finally grows some that meet her expectations. But will she win? I never knew growing giant pumpkins was so labor intensive...
I think it was an attempt to hang on to the last of Fall(read in November). Doesn't that cover just look Fall-y? And, I've grown to think very highly of the Greenwillow Books label!
In Me and the Pumpkin Queen, we meet Mildred.
"There's a bunch of T-shirts with sparkly words on them: Princess, Spoiled, Sweet. I see an orange one with the word Pumpkin in a fancy lettering and grab it. Not only does it catch my attention for obvious reasons, but Mama used to call me ...more
In Me and the Pumpkin Queen, we meet Mildred.
"There's a bunch of T-shirts with sparkly words on them: Princess, Spoiled, Sweet. I see an orange one with the word Pumpkin in a fancy lettering and grab it. Not only does it catch my attention for obvious reasons, but Mama used to call me ...more
What a cute little book. Picked it up because it's on our Battle of the Books list.
It's not the loveliest line in the story. But it made me laugh. "And speak of the devil, she is just now interrupting my Saturday morning, the screen door of Daddy's office banging behind her." Mildred's (don't let the old fogey name fool you as she is lots of fun) aunt wants to take her ... shudder ... shopping!
Mildred and her veterinarian dad are all alone as Mildred's mom passed ...more
It's not the loveliest line in the story. But it made me laugh. "And speak of the devil, she is just now interrupting my Saturday morning, the screen door of Daddy's office banging behind her." Mildred's (don't let the old fogey name fool you as she is lots of fun) aunt wants to take her ... shudder ... shopping!
Mildred and her veterinarian dad are all alone as Mildred's mom passed ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Although Mildred's Aunt Arlene is trying to get her interested in clothing and being more social, all Mildred cares about it growing the largest pumpkin and entering it in Circleville's annual Pumpkin Festival.
I had read this book knowing it was about the Circleville Pumpkin Festival. We have gone to it for several years with our sons and their friends....and always being so amazed by the giant pumpkins there and wondering how they get them to grow so big.
Well Mildred an ...more
I had read this book knowing it was about the Circleville Pumpkin Festival. We have gone to it for several years with our sons and their friends....and always being so amazed by the giant pumpkins there and wondering how they get them to grow so big.
Well Mildred an ...more
People keep brushing this book off as "cute". It's not. And Mildred is NOT a "cute" character. Was "Lucky" in The Higher Power of Lucky "cute"?
Mildred is an 11 year old girl still struggling to deal with her grief over the loss of her mother. And she has channeled that into a passion for growing a pumpkin big enough to win the Pumpkin Show where her mother was once Pumpkin Queen.
There's nothing "cute" in Mildred, though he...more
Mildred is an 11 year old girl still struggling to deal with her grief over the loss of her mother. And she has channeled that into a passion for growing a pumpkin big enough to win the Pumpkin Show where her mother was once Pumpkin Queen.
There's nothing "cute" in Mildred, though he...more
Wow, GREAT book! Sweet and straightforward, I'll definitely be recommending this book to fourth grade girls.
Mildred and her father live in Circleville, Ohio and ever since her mother's death, Mildred has been slightly obsessed with giant pumpkins and growing her own prize-winner to display at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
This book allows Mildred to work through her grief in her own way and CLEARLY the author really did her research when it comes to growing giant pumpkins! I...more
Mildred and her father live in Circleville, Ohio and ever since her mother's death, Mildred has been slightly obsessed with giant pumpkins and growing her own prize-winner to display at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
This book allows Mildred to work through her grief in her own way and CLEARLY the author really did her research when it comes to growing giant pumpkins! I...more
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Regina
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Regina by:
2010 Children's Sequoyah Masterlist
Shelves:
kids-books,
books-i-ve-reviewed
A sweet and fun read for girls, especially those who like science or growing things. Mildred, named after her grandmother, dreams of entering a giant pumpkin in the annual Pumpkin Show in Pickaway County, Ohio. After years of heartbreaking failure, she finally succeeds. Along the way she has to deal with an over-involved aunt, who wants her to be more girly. I certainly learned a lot about raising pumpkins. I never knew what all was involved in growing the monster squash. I like how the author e...more
Grades 3-5. Me and the Pumpkin Queen will snap you up from the start. Mildred lost her mom to cancer at age 6. Mom was former Pumpkin Queen at the Circleville Pumpkin Festival. She always stood by the giant pumpkins and wistfully stated that she was going to grow one sometime. Sometime never came for Mildred’s mom, but Mildred decided to give it a try. Her first year was a failure, but after that she did her research. Each year brought a new set of heartaches. Will Mildred persist and ac...more
Since it is autumn I thought this would be a good one to read outloud to the kids, and it started great. Then we got to page 7 and the Aunt wants to take the girl shopping and tells the dad, "The girl is starting to . . . grow." and Lauren and I looked at each other and I said, OK, let's try another book. Lauren went ahead and read it and I read it after her and it turned out to be a pretty good book with lots of great information about growing large pumpkins. If I wanted to try and...more
I liked this book and so did all the 4th grade girls and moms in the book club. It was about a girl who was obsessed with growing a giant pumpkin for the nearby pumpkin festival. There is added depth to the book because the girl's mother died when she was 5, and the daughter remembers her mother saying that she would have liked to grow a giant pumpkin someday. Also there is a small cast of people around her who are either encouraging and discouraging towards the young girl's obsession and ded...more
Honestly, I bought this book because of the cover: I love Marla Frazee's artwork! Glad to find that I made a good choice!
This was the perfect kick-off to my October Halloween reading. Now I'm in the mood for Autumn, pumpkin pie, apple cider, ghosts, and goblins and all that this time of year brings.
Mildred is a likeable character. In fact, the whole cast was likeable. There were touching moments, humorous moments, and nothing ever got too saccharine or too ridiculous. I loved reading abo...more
This was the perfect kick-off to my October Halloween reading. Now I'm in the mood for Autumn, pumpkin pie, apple cider, ghosts, and goblins and all that this time of year brings.
Mildred is a likeable character. In fact, the whole cast was likeable. There were touching moments, humorous moments, and nothing ever got too saccharine or too ridiculous. I loved reading abo...more
This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It caught me off guard. Based on some positive reviews I'd read and the back cover blurb, I expected it to be cute. I thought I'd kind of like it. I didn't expect to be so swept up in Mildred's quest to grow the perfect giant pumpkin that I was tempted to ignore my 7th period English class today.
But I was.
Marlane Kennedy captures the voice of a fifth grader who has settled into life with her dad after her mother's death an...more
But I was.
Marlane Kennedy captures the voice of a fifth grader who has settled into life with her dad after her mother's death an...more
Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com
Mildred dreams big dreams in the shape of a pumpkin. This may seem strange to some people, and it especially does to her Aunt Arlene, who's convinced Mildred should start acting and dressing like girls her own age. It's not normal, according to Aunt Arlene, for 11-year-old girls to spend every single summer cultivating a tiny seed and trying to grow it into a giant pumpkin. Even if it is to win the Circleville Pumpkin Show's giant pumpk...more
Mildred dreams big dreams in the shape of a pumpkin. This may seem strange to some people, and it especially does to her Aunt Arlene, who's convinced Mildred should start acting and dressing like girls her own age. It's not normal, according to Aunt Arlene, for 11-year-old girls to spend every single summer cultivating a tiny seed and trying to grow it into a giant pumpkin. Even if it is to win the Circleville Pumpkin Show's giant pumpk...more
Susan
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
3-5th graders, pumpkin show lovers
Shelves:
booktalkers
Mildred doesn't consider herself obsessed--not the way some kids are obsessed with basketball or High School Musical, but she does allow that she is very serious about growing pumpkins. Not just any pumpkins, no, Mildred(named for her grandma)has her sights set on winning the award for the biggest, heaviest pumpkin at the Circleville Pumpkin Show. Her desire to grow a thousand pound pumpkin sprouted when she was six the year her mom died. It began as a secret. Mildred had heard that her mom ...more
Mildred is an 11 year old child, dealing with the death of her mother by trying to grow the pumpkin giant her mother talked about growing before she passed away (sorry, that's a bit of a spoiler).
Mildred's aunt is determined to wean her from the pumpkin obsession. There's a fair amount of detail on how to grow a giant pumpkin ( but not to excess), and Mildred is indeed obsessed, but it's still a pleasant read, and a very subtle handling of a child's way of processing through grief.
...more
Mildred's aunt is determined to wean her from the pumpkin obsession. There's a fair amount of detail on how to grow a giant pumpkin ( but not to excess), and Mildred is indeed obsessed, but it's still a pleasant read, and a very subtle handling of a child's way of processing through grief.
...more
I really enjoyed this book. Basically, it's a story about a girl named Mildred whose mother has passed away from cancer. Her mother wanted to try to grow a giant pumpkin after seeing the big pumpkins displayed at the Circleville Pumpkin Show (in Circleville, Ohio). Since the mother never got to try, her daughter is determined to grow one for her.
The story's main focus is on the work and perseverance that Mildred goes through to attempt to grow a pumpkin to be entered into the pumpkin...more
The story's main focus is on the work and perseverance that Mildred goes through to attempt to grow a pumpkin to be entered into the pumpkin...more
This was a cute Juvenile Fiction book, I grabbed off the shelve while my kids picked out their story books. It was of course a fast read, I finished it in two sittings. Its about a little girl who has a desire to grow a giant pumpkin for the Circleville Pumpkin Show in Ohio. I won't tell you the ending, but the beginning is she wants to grow one after her mom prematurely passes away because her mom loved the show and always said
"maybe we could grow one". Cute book, especially if...more
"maybe we could grow one". Cute book, especially if...more
This was a wonderful book! It tells how a young girl deals with her mother's death. Her wish is to grow the championship pumpkin for the annual town pumpkin festival. The reader will be entertained, as well as learn the process for growing giant pumpkins. I had no idea what all was involved until I read the book. I thought the book was heartwarming and very touching. I loved the ending!
This is one of those books that make you say, "Ahhhh". Mildred is a great character that you really get to like. Kennedy made growing pumpkins sound interesting and maybe even fun but lots of hard work. I like Mildred's relationship with her friends and family, each one was different and sincere. What is it with books about children that have lost a parent that make such a great read?
Hannah
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Any girls from 4th-7th grade
Recommended to Hannah by:
Libraian
When I first picked up this book, and I saw the cover I thought this was going to be the stupidest book I would ever read. Then when I stared reading it I started thinking it was the BEST book I have ever read. This is a sweet, fun book that i would recommend to girls from 4th -7th grade.... And if your a teacher do NOT read this to your boys there is a part about bras.
Mildred has one thing on her mind- growing the biggest pumpkin for the annual Pumpkin Show. Actually this was a very cute story about a girl dealing with the loss of her mother and her good intentioned, but interferring aunt. Really explained a lot about growing giant pumpkins in a way that was scientifically accurate yet interesting, not overdone. Simple and sweet.
Delightful young readers book about a girl whose ambition is grow the biggest pumpkin for the annual Pumpkin Festival in Circleville, Ohio. I grew up in NE Ohio and loved all the references to places I was familiar with. Thought the family feel was great and just loved the little girl's determination despite the many setbacks. Wonderful book!
My daughter Sierra suggested I read this one and I'm glad I did. I was surprised at how emotionally involved I became with the main character. The events, conversations, and narration all rang true and authentic to me. Kennedy has mastered the juvenile voice. The adult behind the child is delightfully invisible.
Great book! About a girl named Mildred who's mother died of cancer, and before she died she said she would try to grow a giant pumpkin, but she never got to it, so Milded did for her. So sweet, it really ment so much to Mildred! Still, very sweet! I think I might try growing a pumpkin because of Mildred!
Her aunt thinks she is obsessed but Mildred prefers to think of herself as "focused". Being from Circleville, I found this delightful, well written story about a single minded third grade girl determined to grow a giant pumpkin an inspiration! Thank-you Ms. Kennedy!
Tracie
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
3-5th gr
Shelves:
elem,
contemporary-lit
As a tribute to her mother who has passed away, Mildred has tried for several years to grow a giant pumpkin for the Circleville Pumpkin Show. Each year her pumpkins do better, but she never quite makes it to the winner's circle. Will this be Mildred's year? I bet you can guess the answer, but this sweet book is still worth your time.
Bonus points: It is local to our part of Ohio (the characters visit Columbus) and for a change even though Mildred's best, well only, friend is a boy, t...more
Bonus points: It is local to our part of Ohio (the characters visit Columbus) and for a change even though Mildred's best, well only, friend is a boy, t...more
To honor her Mother who passed away when she was six, eleven year old Mildred is determined to win the Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Show in Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy. Unfortunately, something awful always happens and her pumpkins turn to mush. Mildred’s obsession with pumpkins alarms her Aunt Arlene so she tries to get Mildred interested in boys instead of pumpkins. Will Mildred’s dream of growing a prize-winning pumpkin ever come true? This book is a sweet coming of age story th...more
Excellent book! Mildred grieves the loss of her mother unlike most little girls...she grows giant pumpkins. The growing season, the ups and downs of her attempts, her relationships with family and friends are well-crafted. A must read.
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