Book Review #4 - The Candymakers

 

This is an amazing story. There are a few times the story dragged, but even when it slowed down, it never lost my interest. I've always loved the setting of the candy factory and the realistic, loveable characters. In fact, if someone were to ask me "what book could you read over and over and never get sick of?" I would say that the audio version of The Candymakers is definitely on that list. 

Author: Wendy Mass

Genre: Fiction/Mystery

Series: Yes- two book series
Time Period: Modern day
Setting: in a candy factory somewhere in the United States

Summary: 

Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to create the world's best new candy. Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Yellow Lightning Chew?

Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can determine every single ingredient in a piece of candy by taste alone?

Miles, the boy who constantly carries around a mysterious backpack and is allergic to merry-go-rounds?

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

Or Philip, the rude suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?

Join the foursome as they spend two days creating candy in the Life is Sweet candy factory. Mysteries are unraveled, secrets exposed, and friendships made.

(Summary is from the author's site, with personal edits)

Characters: 

Logan Sweet- age 12

Miles O'Leary- age 12

Daisy Carpenter- age 12

Philip Ransford the Third- age 12

Writing Style: 

written in third person, switching between each contestant's perspective. The writing flows well and holds your attention the entire time. Considering there are over 400 pages, that's saying something. 

Character Development: 

The characters are alive. Their personalities are vibrant and captivating. They're real and they each have their own problems and struggles. Sure, some of their gifts/skills are a bit unrealistic, but they are still relatable and understandable.    

Plot Development: 

The book's design and setup is absolutely masterful. The story is  broken up into five different sections- each one from a different character's point of view. Because of the setup, the plot can seem quite complicated.

The first section, from Logan's POV gives you a basic overview of the storyline from a more neutral perspective. But watch what he tells you and what he doesn't.

The same two days repeat in each of the characters' sections. That may seem boring when you hear it, but the sections are so unique and complex that it never feels like it's the same days over again. The characters see the days in their own distinctive ways. Their secrets, struggles, and personalities fuel the way they see life. The reader gets an amazing feel for how a simple activity for one character can mean something entirely different for another. 

As the story moves forward through the sections, the personalities of each character gets deeper and more intricate. You start to understand what's motivating them to act the way they do. 

Slowly, the mysteries behind each character begin to unravel. But then, when some problems are solved, another difficulty pops up that everyone must work together to solve.  

        Theme of the Book: 

Always Be Yourself, Teamwork/Cooperation, Trust, and Overcoming Fears 

Spiritual Content: 

Logan's grandfather is said to have gone to heaven and another character mentions "the afterlife" multiple times  

Positive Content: 

Loyalty, wanting to do what's right, a character never stopped being themselves despite a life altering accident, teamwork, believing in others

Warnings: 

Two characters are comfortable with lying, one character (previous to the actual storyline) had a frightening experience that stuck with him and another character had an accident which ended in many hospital trips (also previous to the story) 

Age Rating: 

8+ 

Pre Teens:

Young Teens:

Older Teens:

Personal Rating:

Remove a star if the reader can't handle long and descriptive stories. Remove half a star for sensitive readers who have recently lost a family member/friend.