38 pages • 1 hour read
Barbara RobinsonThe Best Halloween Ever
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1981A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Series Context: The Herdmans
The six Herdman siblings appear in two other novels by Barbara Robinson: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1972) and The Best School Year Ever (1994). The Herdmans are known for being unruly, wild, and unexpectedly creative in all three books. In The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the antics of the Herdmans include burning down a toolshed and smoking cigars, while in The Best School Year Ever, the siblings make the kindergarten gerbil disappear and hex a bus. Described as the worst children in the world in the series, the Herdmans nevertheless have a funny, sympathetic side. As Beth notes often in The Best Halloween Ever, the Herdman pranks do not cause any lasting harm. All the children who are victims of their naughtiness emerge unscathed. Furthermore, the Herdmans often end up enhancing the event others fear they may destroy, whether it is a Christmas pageant or a candy-free school Halloween.
The Herdmans live in a ramshackle house at the bottom of a hill, have little interest in school, and often indulge in rude behavior, such as writing swear words on the shell of a schoolmate’s turtle. They are being raised by a single mother who works two jobs to support her family. Despite these difficulties, the Herdmans are always upbeat, adventurous, and funny. They illustrate the popular children’s-literature trope of misbehaving-but-lovable children. Classic children’s literature recognizes the appeal of the mischievous and complex child, and uses such children to explore themes of redemption, community, and goodness. In The Best Halloween Ever, the Herdmans embody the themes of The Importance of Inclusivity in Communities and Finding Joy in the Unexpected. They symbolize life in all its unpredictable and mixed energy.
Cultural Context: The Importance of Festivals in Fostering Community Spirit
Through the context of Halloween, the novel examines how community celebrations foster social cohesion. The author draws on the history and culture of festivals to show that celebrations cement social bonds. In the novel, the entire community of teachers, parents, and children comes together to prepare for Halloween. Parents dress up as monsters and organize a Mystery Maze, while children create their costumes. Historically, festivals not only break the monotony of daily living, but they also allow social groups to express shared traditions, indulge in creativity and play, and forge a sense of identity.
Another important feature of festivals is that they allow people a space to dissipate and resolve social conflicts and tensions. In the novel, Halloween is the medium through which Beth and the other children discover the unexpected good side of the Herdmans. The spirit of participation and joy subsumes the social stress among the children. While the novel explores the idea of celebrations as central to building community spirit, it specifically focuses on the particular joys of Halloween. Halloween, as it has evolved, has come to represent adventure, fun, thrills, and of course, treats for children. The festival derives from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, held on November 1. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. On this day, the dead were said to return to their homes. Therefore, people lit bonfires, patrolled streets, and offered food and drink to appease spirits. Over time, Samhain and the Christian festival of All Saints Day evolved and gave rise to the Halloween of today.
