Monday, January 5, 2015

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull


A new ice cream and candy shop has opened in town and four friends—Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon—are naturally interested in the establishment. After several visits, the owner, Mrs. White, decides to share with them some special candy she keeps in the back. This candy gives the children magical powers, such as the ability to defy gravity or be unbreakable. But to earn this candy, Mrs. White enlists the children into doing some strange tasks, such as steal certain items around town. The children begin to question Mrs. White and her motives and break their deal with her. As soon as they end their commitment with Mrs. White, the children get mixed up in a magicians’ war. Only with their clever use of the magical candy can they help end it.

Mull has created an enchanting and tantalizing read with The Candy Shop War. The four friends grow and progress realistically as they see the deception through the sweets. Instead of letting go of the problems they created, they take responsibility for their actions—even to the point of sacrificing themselves to make things right. Few books today showcase this honest progression from innocence to maturity. Mull does it splendidly while adding immense suspense and drive to the story. This book can be a helpful resource to teachers, librarians, and parents as they use the reading guide at the end to spark conversation and lesson plans about the book. The second book is called Arcade Catastrophe.

(Full review found on The Children's Book and Play Review: https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/CBPR/article/view/19130/17824)

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