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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
one of my favorite books from my childhood. re-read it for the nostalgia, and no regrets here. wendy mass never fucking misses.
I made it through a few chapters, but it just didn't catch my attention quickly enough and it has holds. I may return in the future.
Logan, Miles, Daisy, and Philip have each entered the Annual Candymakers Contest for different reasons. As the four of them get their tour of the Life is Sweet Candy Factory and start to work on their creations, they'll discover things about each other - and themselves - that will change everything.
I don't mean to be punny, but this is a sweet story about four kids who are each dealing with problems and starting to figure stuff out. I love Wendy Mass's way of combining a good story with snippets of information (in this case, about the candy-making process) that bring the setting and topic to life. This imaginative story will appeal to kids who like Roald Dahl or, let's face it, anyone who likes candy. :)
More on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/09/candymakers.html
I don't mean to be punny, but this is a sweet story about four kids who are each dealing with problems and starting to figure stuff out. I love Wendy Mass's way of combining a good story with snippets of information (in this case, about the candy-making process) that bring the setting and topic to life. This imaginative story will appeal to kids who like Roald Dahl or, let's face it, anyone who likes candy. :)
More on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/09/candymakers.html
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory feeling. Kid loved it, but the structure (you get the same series of events from the perspective of all four kids) was pretty redundant for me.
This book is an absolute triumph of POV and narration. And it makes me cry.
I originally read this book back in 2012, when I was in middle school. I'm now finished with college, but this book was still very sweet and well-written and kept my attention despite the fact that it was written for 12-year-olds. I'm also very excited to discover that there's a sequel ([b:The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase|28118451|The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase (The Candymakers, #2)|Wendy Mass|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1465761451l/28118451._SX50_.jpg|48129250]) and you can bet I've put that on hold at the library!!
This was difficult to read out loud, and I ended up giving up after part 1. The action proceeds slowly, the language is dull, and it was a chore to read aloud. I do wonder what the 4 kids' secrets are; it just might be the kind of book that is best suited to solo (in-head!) reading.
It took me a while to get into this story, disappointed with a sort of unpolished writing style (ending sentences with prepositions!? For shame!) and continuously fighting the urge to contrast it with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The two books share certain plot features but about a quarter of the way through, The Candymakers definitely takes on a life of its own and becomes much richer with changes in point-of-view. This story telling device exposes readers to the way that we make assumptions, in effect teaching us about ourselves and the way that we interpret the world around us. It’s a relatively thick chapter book but captivating and simple enough for a well-read third grader to enjoy. The book is also a clean read, touching on themes such as friendship, grieving, hopes, insecurity, and ingenuity in the framework of a candy-making competition.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes