Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Find out what happens after Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in the first book of the hit series that’s told from the perspective of Sally, the determined rag doll and love of Jack Skellington!
And don’t miss the sequel, Hour of the Pumpkin Queen, available now!
Jack and Sally are “truly meant to be” . . . or are they?
Following a whirlwind courtship with her true love, Jack Skellington, Sally the rag doll has officially stepped into the role of Pumpkin Queen. But while she adores Jack with every inch of her fabric seams, she can’t quite say the same for her new job. Cast into the spotlight and tasked with all sorts of royal duties, she starts to wonder if all she’s done is trade her captivity under Dr. Finkelstein for a different cage.
Then, while exploring the Hinterlands beyond the holiday doors, Sally stumbles upon a long-hidden entrance to another ancient realm called Dream Town—and unknowingly sets a chain of sinister events into motion. Before she knows it, both her future as Pumpkin Queen and the future of Halloween Town itself have been thrust into jeopardy.
Can Sally discover what it means to be true to herself and save the town she’s learned to call home? Or will her future turn into her worst . . . well, nightmare?
And don’t miss the sequel, Hour of the Pumpkin Queen, available now!
Jack and Sally are “truly meant to be” . . . or are they?
Following a whirlwind courtship with her true love, Jack Skellington, Sally the rag doll has officially stepped into the role of Pumpkin Queen. But while she adores Jack with every inch of her fabric seams, she can’t quite say the same for her new job. Cast into the spotlight and tasked with all sorts of royal duties, she starts to wonder if all she’s done is trade her captivity under Dr. Finkelstein for a different cage.
Then, while exploring the Hinterlands beyond the holiday doors, Sally stumbles upon a long-hidden entrance to another ancient realm called Dream Town—and unknowingly sets a chain of sinister events into motion. Before she knows it, both her future as Pumpkin Queen and the future of Halloween Town itself have been thrust into jeopardy.
Can Sally discover what it means to be true to herself and save the town she’s learned to call home? Or will her future turn into her worst . . . well, nightmare?
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Community Reviews
This book was an easy read and probably could be finished in a day or two, but I wanted to take my time enjoying this realm. The author did an amazing job telling the story of Sally and keeping true to the characters of Halloween Town.
The first half of this book was just…bland. I agree with a lot of other comments that said it reads like a fanfiction, and I’m so glad I’m not the only one who thought that. :”) That, and the fact that this is clearly a middle grade novel and not ya.
I also didn’t like the fact that, despite Sally trying to become her own character (and that being like the whole point of the story), it all still circles back to Jack. When I first watched the movie, I always felt that Jack and Sally’s romance was a little bit forced, and that Sally’s entire purpose was to be a love interest with no depth. Despite giving her a backstory and problems that she has to solve by herself, the character growth is pretty minimal in my opinion. It’s constantly reiterated that the entire reason why Sally sets out to fix things is because of Jack (and her friends, but its clear that Jack is the main reason.)
Despite my few annoyances with this book, the middle and end were pretty ok in my opinion! The story actually got interesting and compelling, and I found myself wondering what would happen next, and what would become of Sally’s parents, the other worlds, and Jack and Sally themselves.
Overall, I think this book is just…ok. It’s cute and cheesy in the same ways the movie is, so I think that makes it a little bit excusable. Also, I am a MASSIVE TNBC fan, as I’m sure everyone else here is, so I may have given this book a little more leeway than it actually deserves. :”)
3.5/5
I also didn’t like the fact that, despite Sally trying to become her own character (and that being like the whole point of the story), it all still circles back to Jack. When I first watched the movie, I always felt that Jack and Sally’s romance was a little bit forced, and that Sally’s entire purpose was to be a love interest with no depth. Despite giving her a backstory and problems that she has to solve by herself, the character growth is pretty minimal in my opinion. It’s constantly reiterated that the entire reason why Sally sets out to fix things is because of Jack (and her friends, but its clear that Jack is the main reason.)
Despite my few annoyances with this book, the middle and end were pretty ok in my opinion! The story actually got interesting and compelling, and I found myself wondering what would happen next, and what would become of Sally’s parents, the other worlds, and Jack and Sally themselves.
Overall, I think this book is just…ok. It’s cute and cheesy in the same ways the movie is, so I think that makes it a little bit excusable. Also, I am a MASSIVE TNBC fan, as I’m sure everyone else here is, so I may have given this book a little more leeway than it actually deserves. :”)
3.5/5
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