The Candymakers

Author: Wendy Mass

This week I’m going to review a book that I really enjoyed.  The Candymakers was written back in 2010 and, while I can’t seem to find any data from book critics, it seems to be well-received by audiences (at least according to most of the Goodreads reviews and to the popular author, Judy Blume, who endorsed it).  So, such an endorsement should tell you something.  I actually received this book as a gift from a friend of mine who is an avid reader like me (thank you RB!), and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  Just a warning though:  if you have a sweet tooth like me, this book does talk a lot about sweets so it might make you very hungry!  Speaking of “sweets” and hungry, on this same day back in 2013, I adopted my sweet canine companion, “Cupcake,” from a local rescue, and I could not have asked for a better dog, one who may be in double digits now but who is still very young at heart; so, I’m dedicating this post to her and to the sweet rescued animals in the homes of all my friends out there (you know who you are).

The Candymakers is about a 12-year-old boy, Logan, who lives in “Life is Sweet,” a candy factory that his father owns.  Logan has been invited to participate in a candy making contest with three other 12-year-olds:   Miles, a fearful boy with an intense interest in the afterlife; Daisy, a cheerful but rather mysterious girl; and Phillip, a very competitive and snooty boy.  Each of these four will make a brand-new kind of candy and whichever one of them wins will have their candy sold in stores worldwide.  Logan is very nervous about this because the contest is the same one that his father participated in and won; and Logan has never really hung out with other kids his own age before.  As the kids get closer to the contest, strange and unexpected things start happening, and the kids start to wonder if any of them will win the contest after all.  I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book!  Despite it being written for middle grade readers, I think that it can easily appeal to adults.  The dialogue is very witty at times, the characters are very likable, and the plotline is enough to keep you intrigued.  However, because Miles has a very big interest in the afterlife, I suppose that this part of the book might freak some sensitive kids out.  Also, I personally didn’t like Phillip’s character, as I thought he was very prideful and self-focused (though you understand why and how he came to be that way as you read the book).  So, I would caution parents of young kids due to these parts.  What I liked most about the book is that, overall, the kids in the book are great friends to one another and treat each other really well.  Their friendship is most admirable.  Another thing I really liked (though I won’t say too much here so I won’t spoil the book) is that one of the characters happens to have a disability from an accident they had when they were younger, but this person doesn’t want to be pitied or looked down upon because of their disability; they just want to be treated well.  I think this shows that people with disabilities shouldn’t be pitied or treated like they’re much younger than they really are or like they’re “less than” in any way, but they should be treated with the very same kindness and respect that everyone should be treated with!

“If nothing ever changed, there would be no such things as butterflies.”