The Candymakers

September 1, 2010

Set in a candy factory as tantalizingly fragrant as Willy Wonka's, this half-mystery, half–jigsaw-puzzle novel is a mild-mannered cousin to The Westing Game and When You Reach Me. Four 12-year-olds enter a candy-making contest. Logan lives in the confection plant with his parents, who own it; he narrates first, then the arc rewinds for the other contestants' viewpoints. Miles, who witnessed a drowning, adds a poignant fragility in his portion. Daisy narrates and readers see—shockingly—that she's a professional spy. Philip's no spy, but his section reveals unsavory intentions on multiple levels. There's no murder here—nor even death, it turns out; instead, there's forgiveness, correction of dishonor and an alignment of seemingly disparate events. This isn't fantasy, though it calls for a heaping cup of (enjoyable) suspension of disbelief (unflaggingly supportive grown-ups; chocolate pizza for lunch; adult confirmation that chocolate could potentially turn into gum and back again). Sweets fans will love the gooey sensory details. Earnest and sweet, with enough salty twists not to taste saccharine. (Fiction. 8-12)

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November 1, 2010

Gr 4-8-Children running amok in a candy factory, immortalized by Roald Dahl, is one story line that bears repeating. At the Life Is Sweet factory, four 12-year-olds gather to create new goodies for the annual Confectionery Association Conference. Logan, the Candymaker's son, dreams of winning his family's respect. Miles's parents hope the experience will help him forget a tragic accident he couldn't prevent. Daisy is fascinated by the factory, but for what reason? And Philip scribbles in his secret notebook, determined to win at all costs. When the factory's secret ingredient is stolen, the children find a common purpose: to foil the plot by creating the best candy ever. The tidy conclusion has a few contrivances, but none that will bother children. Mass has crafted a solid mystery dipped in sweet candy-making details. Character development moves a lengthy story forward in smooth increments. As each child's story emerges, the mystery becomes one bit clearer, making this a real page-turner. The characters are intricate, flawed heroes with whom readers will identify. The book's subtle message of teamwork over greed and growth through friendship will resonate with readers and educators alike. A magical setting filled with conveyor belts, chocolate jungles, and beehives makes it clear what the youngsters are attempting to save. Give this mouthwatering confection to children who like Trenton Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society (Little, Brown, 2007) and other quirky mysteries.-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2010
Grades 4-6 It starts with unmistakable echoes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) and eventually features a musical candy a la Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs Toot Sweets, but Mass latest novel ends up being a treat all its own. Four 12-year-olds gather at a candy factory to participate in the local segment of a nationwide contest to create a new and delectable piece of candy. One contestant is the only child of the factorys owner, known here as the Candymaker. Another boy is obsessed with allergies and the afterlife, while the third boy is unfriendly and intent on winning. The lone girl, Daisy, seems to be sweetness itself but displays great physical strength as well as odd behavior. Mass skillfully presents the two and a half days of the kids apprenticeship from the perspective of each of the four contestants. At over four hundred pages, this is not a lightning-fast read, but it reveals a multitude of mysteries, explaining all the clues about misunderstandings, spies, and sabotage that Mass has dropped along the way. Attentive, candy-loving readers will be richly rewarded.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2011
Four children compete in a candy-making contest. The book's first three hundred-plus pages follow the contestants separately through the same few days while the final 150 pages include many twists and turns. Conveying lots of information about the candy-making process, Mass also explores the psychological underpinnings of her characters, all revealed to be surprisingly different from what they initially seemed.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2010
Four children compete in a candy-making contest. Logan, son of a candymaker, hosts the other three at the factory: the outrageously competitive Philip; Daisy, who arrives on a horse; and Miles, who claims to be allergic to everything from pancakes to merry-go-rounds. The book's first three hundred-plus pages follow the contestants separately through the same few days, and as each character gets a turn, each is revealed to be surprisingly different from what they seemed at first. The final 150 pages complete the rest of the story with lots of twists and turns. Cooking show fans may enjoy this book the most, as Mass conveys a lot of information about the candy-making process, but mystery lovers will like it, too. Mass also explores the psychological underpinnings of each of the four characters, and while repeating the events of the same few days from the different perspectives slows the story, it deepens the reader's understanding of each child's motives, providing an overall message about not leaping to conclusions when you first meet someone. The novel satisfies without being sticky-sweet. susan dove lempke

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)