Comments for The Candymakers

The Candymakers: 09/01/14

It is a very rare book that can take me through the entire emotional spectrum from a one star — can't finish — to five star — recommend this book to everyone. Usually by the first couple chapters, I have a pretty good idea of how I will rate the book at its conclusion. The Candymakers by Wendy Mass, though, completely surprised me. Slowly but surely it rewarded me for my patience.

Logan, Miles, Daisy, and Philip are the regional finalists for a nationwide candy making competition open to children age 12. Logan, as the candymaker's son at one of the host facilities, is an expected shoo-in given that his father and grandfather both won. Logan, though, knows he doesn't have what it takes to get the ingredients just right, even if he does have a stellar idea.

The competition gives a chance for readers to explore an extraordinary but still plausible (and grounded in reality) candy factory. Although Logan's family produces all of their ingredients on site (including a spectacular greenhouse for a mini forest of cacao and rubber trees), Mass avoids the temptation to make the factory an overt homage to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory (Roald Dahl, 1964), which means Logan's idea is bound to be too difficult or impossible to create.

But, Candymakers isn't about Logan flaming out either. It's so much more. The best way I can describe this book is as a tween candy making equivalent to the delightful manga and anime, Space Brothers.

Five stars

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Tuesday, September 09, 2014 at 01:16:03

Kim Aippersbach

I keep seeing Wendy Mass's name come up, always highly recommended. This one is a must for me, not just because I love candy, but because my son has wanted to own a candy store for a very long time!

Comment #2: Tuesday, September 09, 2014 at 17:53:11

Pussreboots

You and he will will learn a few things about candy making. Beyond the candy making, though, it's also a very good story!