The Magic Pumpkin - Softcover

Palus, Benji Alexander

Softcover

ISBN 10: 147597048X ISBN 13: 9781475970487

Publisher: iUniverse, 2013

Synopsis

Far above a magical land, an enormous pumpkin flies across a bright sky with five-year-old Owen and his three-year-old brother, Oliver, riding on top. The two boys hang on tightly and laugh with pure joy as the beauty and wonders of the land below nurture their innocence and their imaginations. Even so, there is a darkness that threatens to extinguish the light of their childhood. Although they enjoy the home they have created in a cozy and shadowless cave, the boys miss their parents and long for a way back to them. Every night, the pumpkin sits motionless outside the entrance to the cave, keeping the boys safe from harm, but the pumpkin cannot protect Owen and Oliver from all danger. Shadow eyes wait in the darkness, and other creatures even more deadly. When the boys are torn from the pumpkin's safety, they must find strength and courage in their love for each other if they are to survive and find their way back home. This poignant fantasy tale explores the bond of love between two young brothers as they take an enchanted journey through the extraordinary miracle of childhood, through its hardships and fears, its discoveries and triumphs, its vulnerability and its resiliency. With only each other to depend on, the brothers must find their way through the darkness, and back to the light.

About this title

About the Author:

Benji Alexander Palus has spent much time as a volunteer, working and playing with children afflicted by childhood cancers. The Magic Pumpkin is his first novel, inspired by the spirit and courage of these littlest heroes. Benji currently resides in the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. The cover art was also done by Palus, a rising figurative artist in the style of realism. To see more of his artwork, visit benjialexanderpalus.com.

Review:

Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Palus writes about the children protagonists in such a way that their innocence and naïveté is part of the story. The joy of childhood and the unutterable sadness of its end come to vivid life as the story follows both the physical and psychological journeys of these children. Palus's prose is beautiful, as are the striking descriptions of the boys' new found home."

"The Magic Pumpkin is a lovely tale of growing up and of the love that these two brothers share. Read this one with an open imagination and a box of tissues."

San Francisco Book Review

About this edition

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 147597048X
• ISBN 13: 9781475970487
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 314