Waylon Brewer, aka Pumpkin—nicknamed for his bright red hair—is fat, gay, and biding his time in Clover City until his real life can begin after graduation, when Pumpkin and his twin sister, Clementine, who is lesbian, plan to attend community college in Austin. Although he isn’t closeted in Clover City, Pumpkin, who is white, isn’t loud and proud, and he can’t wait to be. In the meantime, he loves spending time with his supportive family and watching the drag competition show Fiercest of Them All. Disappointed when his favorite contestant, who is fat, doesn’t win, he tapes himself trying drag at home with the vague idea of submitting a video for the next round of competition. Instead, the video goes viral at school, and Pumpkin is nominated—as a joke—for Prom Queen. His sister’s girlfriend, Hannah Perez, is nominated for King. The drag queens of Hoedown City make a return appearance, offering support and encouragement, in this stand-alone companion to Dumplin’ and Puddin’, as Pumpkin enters the competition, becoming an idol to younger LGBTQ+ kids at school in the process. Through it all, he wonders what is up with Tucker Watson, the football player in the running for prom king who ditched him when they were younger but is suddenly sending definite signals that suggest he’s interested in more than just renewing their friendship. A book of frothy wish fulfilment with unexpected depth, Pumpkin is irresistibly affirming and uplifting, funny, and poignant.
(Age 12 and older)

Return to the beloved world of Julie Murphy’s #1 New York Times bestselling Dumplin’—now a popular Netflix feature film starring Jennifer Aniston—in this fabulously joyful, final companion novel about drag, prom, and embracing your inner Queen.

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 getting accidentally 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. . . .