The Candymakers

THE CANDYMAKERS

By:  Wendy Mass

Release Date:  Oct. 5, 2010

FIRST SENTENCE

“Logan didn’t have to open his eyes to know that morning had arrived.”

SUMMARY
from goodreads

Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country.  Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew?

Logan, the Candymaker’s son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone?

Miles, the boy who is allergic to merry-go-rounds and the color pink?

Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it’s a feather?

Or Philip, the suit-and-ties wearing boy who’s always scribbling in a secret notebook?

This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant’s perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.

REVIEW

Do not read this book if you are hungry.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you!  The Candymakers is a clever middle grade book about four children in a national candy-making contest.  Yummy!

The book begins from Logan’s perspective.  He actually lives in the candy factory, and his account of things is pretty nuts-and-bolts.  Ah, but then the point-of-view changes to the other kids (Miles, Daisy, and Philip).  That’s when things really get interesting!  With each perspective, I learned something new. I also realized that not all of the kids are entirely truthful and they don’t all reveal everything they know.  Things are not always what they seem to be.   

A simple candy-making competition becomes a complex mystery.  In the end, secrets are revealed and the mystery is solved.  You’ll have a good time getting to the conclusion.

The Candymakers is a fun book that will appeal to middle graders and anyone who has a sweet tooth.  The candy descriptions made me hungry for a sweet treat of my own.  Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company for sending this book for me to review.

RATING

5        Plot

5        Characters

4        Attention Grabbing

4        Girlie Meter

4        Ending

22      TOTAL

5        STARS