Squashed

Max is serious about growing giant pumpkins and aims to win the Rock River Pumpkin Weigh-In. The sixteen-year-old tends to his massive gourd while juggling high school, a part-time job at the Soil and Feed Store, and family tensions at home. Max faces obstacles in both his pumpkin-growing quest and his personal life. His relationship with his widowed dad is strained, and his growing feelings for a girl named Liz add complexity to his already full plate. The story follows Max's determination over a growing season as he cares for his pumpkin, develops his skills, and navigates relationships with mentors, friends, and family. His preparation for the weigh-in competition becomes intertwined with his journey toward maturity. This novel uses competitive pumpkin growing as a lens to explore themes of growth, perseverance, and the connection between nurturing plants and nurturing relationships. The parallel between cultivating a prize pumpkin and cultivating one's own character emerges naturally through Max's experiences.

Readers describe this as a lighthearted young adult novel that balances humor with themes of family relationships and following one's passions. Liked: - Authentic teenage voice and relatable protagonist - Positive messages about determination and hard work - Balance of pumpkin growing details with personal growth - Family dynamics, especially grandfather-granddaughter relationship Disliked: - Some found the pumpkin growing details excessive - Several noted predictable plot elements - A few readers wanted more depth in secondary characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (50+ reviews) Reader Comments: "Perfect fall read that made me want to grow giant pumpkins" - Goodreads reviewer "The farming details felt authentic without being boring" - Amazon reviewer "Would have liked more development of the friendship storylines" - Goodreads reviewer "Strong father-daughter relationship that rang true" - Amazon reviewer

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🎃 Author Joan Bauer got her inspiration for this book while driving past a sign advertising a giant pumpkin contest, proving that story ideas can come from everyday observations. 🌱 The novel accurately portrays the intricate science of growing giant pumpkins, including the careful selection of seeds, soil preparation, and precise watering techniques. 📚 "Squashed" was Joan Bauer's first published novel (1992), and it won the Delacorte Prize for First Young Adult Novel. 🏆 Real-life giant pumpkin competitions, like those featured in the book, regularly break records. The current world record holder weighs 2,749 pounds, grown by Travis Gienger in 2023. 🧑‍🌾 The book's authentic portrayal of farming culture helped establish Joan Bauer's signature style of writing about teenagers mastering specific skills or trades, which she continued in later novels.