A charming and witty tale of bullies, pumpkins and unlikely friendships from award-winning author Gillian Cross. Jason Banks is a bully. No one likes him and even the teachers are scared of him! It's time that someone taught Jason a lesson and he might just have met his match in the strange pumpkin that keeps appearing on his doorstep.

Will Jason ever learn the error of his ways? And can he crack the case of the dreaded Pumpkin of Doom? Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 8.

• Author: Gillian Cross
• Illustrator: Sarah Horne
• Publisher: Barrington Stoke
• ISBN: 978‑1‑78112‑813‑8
• Publication date: 08 June 2018
• Dimensions: approx. 124 × 193 mm; Weight: approx. 116 g
• Interest age: 7+; Reading age: ~8
• Accessible features: dyslexia‑friendly layout, short chapters, supportive design for struggling or reluctant readers.

FAQs

Q1. Is this book suitable for children with dyslexia?

Yes — it is published by Barrington Stoke, which specialises in dyslexia‑friendly texts, and this title is explicitly described as “particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 8”.

Q2. What age is this book aimed at?

The interest age is around 7+ (so children aged 7 and above), and the reading age is about 8, making it ideal as a confidence‑boosting read for younger or struggling readers.

Q3. What is the story about?

Jason Banks is a bully, but when a strange pumpkin keeps appearing at his door, things begin to change. It’s a humorous, mysterious story about consequences, change and unlikely friendships.

Q4. Could this be used in schools or for reading interventions?

Definitely — given its short length, accessible format and engaging story, it is very well suited for classroom libraries, intervention programmes or reluctant readers.

Q5. Is the text simplified or abridged?

While the format is designed to support accessibility, this is a fully‑written original story rather than a heavily abridged classic. The aim is to offer a strong story in an accessible format.