The Halloween Tree

Hold on. I know what you’re thinking: recommending a Ray Bradbury book during October, how gauche! But hear me out, this one is a real treat—The Halloween Tree.

This book is an interesting case study for me as I actually discovered the animated film adaptation (aired on ABC in 1993) before I read the book. After my first watch, I was enchanted by this story. Then, years later, I found out it was based on a novel. Of course, there are differences between the two versions. The most obvious change is the reduction of characters, as the book centers around nine children, and the film pulls that number back to five.

            Okay, let me back up for those unfamiliar with The Halloween Tree and give a brief summary. In a charming, bucolic town on Halloween, a group of local children gather to trick-or-treat. Before taking off, however, they realize that one of their numbers is missing—Pipkin, or Pip, the boy who loved Halloween the most. Tragically, Pipkin has fallen deathly ill. The children spot an ambulance taking Pipkin to the hospital and try to follow after it. During the pursuit, they catch sight of a spectral version of Pip racing across a ravine.

            They give chase. The specter leads them to a tall, dark mansion resembling a classical haunted house. Outside the intimidating domicile stands a tree with jack-o’-lanterns hanging from its branches—a Halloween tree. Then, the group meets the house’s owner, Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud, voiced by Leonard Nemoy. Moundshroud is also after the specter of Pipkin because he has stolen a pumpkin from the tree. The children convince Moundshroud to take them with him. He agrees, and they are whisked away to learn the meaning of Halloween and find their friend Pip.

            The structure of their journey centers around the children's costumes. For instance, one of the kids is dressed like a mummy, so they travel to ancient Egypt. Another is costumed like a skeleton, and they voyage to Mexico to experience el Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead. At each stop, the group learns how a different culture approaches the ritual of death.

            Now, I’m talking about Ray Bradbury here, not some cultural scholar. I’m sure not every detail is exact, but The Halloween Tree isn’t about precision. It is about the spirit of Halloween, one man’s love letter to the season. As an adult, the first time I watched this movie, I wanted to dig out an old costume, pick up a handled plastic pumpkin, and relive that childhood wonder.

            But what about the writing, you ask? Since this book was published in 1972, do I lambaste it for lacking the more modern ideals of diversity and inclusion? Or do I bend the fan-boy-knee before the idol of Bradbury? Well, neither, actually. As I said, I first encountered The Halloween Tree as a movie, not knowing its literary heritage or that Bradbury had written the screenplay itself. But I fell in love with the story. As a reader, I personally find his work hit-or-miss. I truly enjoy several of his short stories, but still haven't made it through Something Wicked This Way Comes.

            Regarding the writing, there is one thing that brings both the book and the film adaptation together: the opening line. And it is one of my favorite opening lines in all of fiction.

"It was a small town by a small river and a small lake in a small part of a Midwest state." Stop. Now, read it again. Slower. It shouldn't work. But it does. There isn't any action, no characters are introduced, no stakes are raised, and even the sense of place is nebulous. Then, the repetition of "small" was repeated four times. It isn't even a fifty-cent word! Now, go back and read it a third time, but out loud. The sentence sings. It is pure lyrical literature at its best.

            Overall, I tend to view the book as the expanded universe of The Halloween Tree story since the movie has a much tighter narrative structure. So, I would recommend that if you have any young children, this is a mandatory October viewing. Then, when they mature a little, get them the book. There is a new hardcover version out with illustrations by Gris Grimly that makes a great gift.

I wish you all a fun and spooky Halloween.

See you In-the-Mix!