A Sweet Selection

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Candymakers is as delicious as it sounds. Four 12 year olds are given the opportunity to invent and make an exciting new candy in an actual candy factory. The book opens as the contestants arrive at the factory.

Logan lives at the factory, he is the candymaker's son. He feels a certain amount of pressure to prove himself and live up to his family's history of creating award-winning candy. He knows what he wants to create but lacks confidence in his technical skill.

Daisy is a bright, sunny girl whose enthusiasm and love of candy emanate from her very pores. She instantly puts everyone at ease with her warm, confident manner. Well, almost everyone.

Miles is nervous. He is full of questions about the factory and how the candies are made. He shares his thoughts on the afterlife, along with his many questions, with the others as they tour the factory. Miles also has some pretty unusual allergies.

Phillip arrives in a suit and tie. He carries a briefcase and seems incapable of smiling or showing the slightest glimmer of friendlliness. He is all business, and lets them all know at the outset that he intends to win. What is he hiding as he constantly scribbles in his notebook?

I love the way Mass shows different aspects of the characters and the story as she shifts point of view throughout the book. There are some delicious life-afirming surprises here for everyone. While the book is too difficult for my seven year old to read on his own, I think he would love the story. I think my 12 and 13 year old daughters would also enjoy it, especially the candy-crazy one!

A delightful read with just enough mystery and intrigue to tempt your palette.



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