My Rating - 4/5
Waylon Russell Brewer is a fat, openly gay boy stuck in the small West Texas town of Clover City. His plan is to bide his time until he can graduate, move to Austin with his twin sister, Clementine, and finally go Full Waylon, so that he can live his Julie-the-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music-Andrews truth.So when Clementine deviates from their master plan right after Waylon gets dumped, he throws caution to the wind and creates an audition tape for his favorite TV drag show, Fiercest of Them All. What he doesn’t count on is the tape accidentally getting shared with the entire school. . . . As a result, Waylon is nominated for prom queen as a joke. Clem’s girlfriend, Hannah Perez, also receives a joke nomination for prom king.Waylon and Hannah decide there’s only one thing to do: run—and leave high school with a bang. A very glittery bang. Along the way, Waylon discovers that there is a lot more to running for prom court than campaign posters and plastic crowns, especially when he has to spend so much time with the very cute and infuriating prom king nominee Tucker Watson.Waylon will need to learn that the best plan for tomorrow is living for today . . . especially with the help of some fellow queens. . . .
Julie Murphy's books are like little jolts of sunshine. They leave you happier than you were before picking them up. It's not that they don't deal with tough topics, because they do, but there is a feeling of hope at the center of them that shines through. Pumpkin fits the Julie Murphy mold perfectly and it does so with an extra bit of snark.
Waylon, like most teens, is trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. Self discovery is something that weaves through the entirety of this book. He knows some things about himself and isn't afraid of showing what he is comfortable with in himself but there are still some things he is learning and figuring out. He doesn't have all the answers even if he has some of them. This felt so important to me. Who you are can flow and change as we experience new things and that is shown to be true with Waylon's journey in this book. There isn't one correct path to adulthood for everyone and that is such an uplifting theme to see explored in these books.
Waylon and Clementine's codependent relationship is having a bit of a shake up as they both start to want different things for themselves. Their bond as twins is special to them both but they are discovering they each have their own dreams and hopes. The unsettled feeling that Waylon in particular experiences feels like a stand in for the uncertainty of that time in your life. You are just learning who you are but are expected to make all these decisions that will impact your future. I loved the sibling connection in this one because it showed you so much of who Waylon is through it.
A Julie Murphy book would not be complete without a romance. This very sweet romance makes the rest of the book even sweeter. The family connections and friendships are given as much weight as the romance and that balances everything out and gives it a more grounded perspective. Waylon and his grandmother have the sweetest connection. It is such a joy to read about all of the relationships in this book because they are all nicely fleshed out even if they are just a side element.
My favourite part of any companion novels are getting to catch up with the characters you've loved in previous books. This trio of books is no exception. It offers us a chance to see those characters through new eyes and gives us a glimpse at how they are doing. It's a treat for those who have read the previous books and one I was thankful for.
Julie Murphy is says goodbye to Clover City with what is perhaps her most heartwarming read yet. Waylon sends off the series with impeccable style and offers a thoroughly enjoyable read in the process.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love comments. Thank you for stopping by my blog and thank you even more for leaving me a comment.
I have decided to make this an awards free blog. I appreciate the gesture, and love that you thought of my blog, however I simply can't pass them along as required.