Title Announced for Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks’ Graphic Novel

Accomplished author Rainbow Rowell (Fangirl, Eleanor & Park, Attachments) is writing her first graphic novel, to be illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks (The Nameless City, The Adventures of Superhero Girl) and published by First Second Books. I have enjoyed the work of both creators, so I’ve been looking forward to this since it was first mentioned in 2014. (Hicks has previously done a good job adapting the work of a prose author with Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong.)

Now comes announcement of the title. High school seniors Deja and Josiah are “working their last shift at the world’s greatest pumpkin patch” in Pumpkinheads.

Rowell said this “is the zaniest and zippiest book I’ve worked on. I just really wanted to do something joyful,” while Hicks added, “I’m not ashamed to admit I teared up at the end of reading the Pumpkinheads script. It’s cute and hilarious and sweet, full of characters so alive I immediately wanted to start drawing their adventures.”

Still no word on release date — probably at least a year away, since Hicks is wrapping up work on the third book in her Nameless City trilogy — but the book is highly anticipated!

Update: Hicks tweeted they’re “hoping for a 2019 pub date.” So a bit longer to wait, but I’m sure it will be worth it.

We're hoping for a 2019 pub date. If I can make my deadlines & my arm doesn't fall off, it should be out then. :)

— Faith Erin Hicks (@FaithErinHicks) October 9, 2017

Update: Author Rainbow Rowell has posted additional thoughts on her blog.

I’m (obviously) very emotionally attached to autumn. I set books in October whenever I can. For the last five years or so, I’ve been wanting to write a book where fall is a big part of the story. I specifically wanted to write a story that takes place in a pumpkin patch.

In Nebraska, where I live, pumpkin patches aren’t just fields. They’re more like theme parks or months-long harvest festivals….

Faith and I are both drawn to character-driven stories, and to stories about friendship….

It wasn’t really intentional, but I think this is my most all-ages book. It’s about high school seniors, but there isn’t cursing or adult themes. As I was writing, I wanted it to feel kind of like The Parent Trap. Like a big fun Disney movie that an adult could really enjoy, but that would work in middle school, too.