The Candymakers

The Candymakers

By Wendy Mass

247 ratings 305 reviews 312 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 3 - 5U5102497
Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country. Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew?

Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone?

Miles, the boy who is allergic to merry-go-rounds and the color pink?

Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it's a feather?

Or Philip, the suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?

This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316002585
ISBN-10: 0316002585
Published on 10/5/2010
Binding: Hardcover
Number of pages: 464

Book Reviews (291)

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I just started reading this book yesterday. I like how in the book there is a chapter for each character. It reminds me of the book Auggie and me.

this book has 4 kids that are going to try to win there desert. the true meaning of this story is in the factory where all the candy makers worked that they should worked together.

This book can be enjoyed from different perspective's of the kids trying to win the contest and it shows that it is not just about winning but it is really about working together in this contest of deserts.

The Candymakers is a good book. I can compare in to another book I read. It is called Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It is about a couple of kids with a family member that goes to Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory. Who ever is the most well behaved kid gets a special treat at the end of the tour. In this book, 4 kids have to try to invent chocolate better than anything else. I really like this book and it is so good that I recommend it.

HFSS HFSS

My opinion was to 'The Candy Land' was that they only said that there was going to be a competition to find the most tastiest and sweetest lolly in the country and they introduced the characters so I disliked it because I wasn't interested in it and into it because it was just boring ........

I LOVE this book! Like it always just makes me hungry when i read it and for me, it was funny. My personal rating is a 4+ because i kind of like candy but that's not really the reason. In the beginning, the book didn't hook me up but it got exciting in the middle and end

This book reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I enjoyed this book because it kept me on the edge of my seat at different points of the book!

I thought this book was not good. It was a ripoff of Charlie and the chocolate factory. And the storyline is repeated FOUR TIMES.

This book reminds me why I always tell fellow readers to give young adult books a chance. The only complaint I have about The Candymakers is due to the fact that these books are unfortunately targeted towards young adult readers rather than adults that are young at heart. On that note, the only real problems I had were the same reasons this was not targeted to me. Again, unfortunately. The sentences were more concise and simple then I believe necessary for teens; there was a lot more telling than necessary, although there was notable detailed showing. Some of the plot was rather unbelievable; it all came together a little too easily. But, it is a fantasy world filled with candy, after all. How could I not fall in love with this book? The only other two fictional books that I have read set entirely in the Candy World are "True Confections" by Katherine Weber and, of course, "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl. And now this one, which holds its own among them. My favorite thing about this novel is its structure. The author is able to successfully write from different points of view- something many adult books cannot get right. Furthermore, these accounts are sold separately, in different chapters- a difficult thing to do. With impeccable exactitude, no facts, no details, none if the timeline, not the characters are mismatched. Readers get the feeling that they are experiencing the event as they switch between the four childrens' minds, each with their own secrets. They all have their own reasons for being there and all eventually really want to win competition. At first a few are enemies, but, of course, they eventually grow to really care about one another and sincerely can each other friends as they learn each other's secrets and inner thoughts. **** Spoilers **** Logan, The Candymaker's son, feels the need to prove to his parents that he is worthy of inheriting his father's position. He has no other friends because his parents have kept him sheltered since he was a young boy. During the annual factory picnic, he met Philip, who was touring the area. This was one of the first boys had met and he was excited to find a new friend. After playing like boys do around the candy factory for most of the day, they were at the chocolate vat when Phillip lost his toy truck in it. Not wanting to upset his friend and wanting to return it, he crawled into it. He ended up not getting it in time and scarring his entire face. He is still a very happy boy; it seems that he notices his scars far less than anyone else does. In fact, he often forgets that they are there. Daisy, who grew up in a special family- spies with all the technology and ninja moves- is on an assigned mission. She is there for reasons that at first she does only because she was told; until certain events cause her to truly consider what she is doing. And what is right and wrong. Finding and taking Life Is Sweet's secret ingredient with the goal to shut down the factory? Certainly in the latter category. Miles, whom carries a life jacket around everywhere and has taken an interest in the afterlife ever since he was out boating and watched a girl drown. He eventually funds or that girl was actually Daisy, who of course never died because she was utilizing her super powers. Last but not least, there is Philip, whom is extremely negative, pretentious, rude, and full of animosity as soon as he meets the others. We eventually find out that he is the former boy with the toy truck. As expected, he typically is not this type of guy. But as an equally lonely child, when he was erroneously informed by his father that he had been banned from the Life Is Sweet candy factory (he was actually invited back by the family), he is there to win the competition; to take Logan's thunder. I also loved his secret violin talents and music genius. Looking forward to reading her other books!

The Candymakers is a great book about four kids (Miles, Logan, Daisy, and Phillip) who are all in a candy-making contest. Each child has a secret that nobody else knows about. It was a funny book and amazing for readers from 4th - 8th grade. The only part that I thought was confusing was when the whole day started over but in a different person’s point of view. Other than that, it was fabulous.

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