This summer, Boston Public Library's teen volunteer program has gone remote! As part of this program, local high schoolers will be sharing their thoughts on books, movies, and more on our blog. In today's post, Wesford Academy sophomore Mia Ikeda reviews one of her all-time favorite books, The Candymakers, which she recently reread.
The Candymakers by Wendy Mass is a sweet read on the surface. But it reveals layers of a wafer-like intricate plot in every bite. The story springs to life in vibrant smells and colorful tastes as soon as the first chapter. Readers will find themselves immersed in the colorful world of sweet treats.
Every year, a contest to make a revolutionary new candy is held for twelve-year olds around the country. Starting with a competition essay, hundreds of kids enter. The winner gets an opportunity to make candy with some of the world’s best candymakers. This year, the Life is Sweet candy factory is hosting their own batch of contestants for the competition: Logan, Miles, Daisy, and Philip. These kids are battling against each other to concoct a treat with which no existing sweet can compete. Flying in from vastly different lives, these contestants soon find themselves contending to make the best candy. But they also find a mystery that could lead to the demise of the entire candy business. Can these young candymakers come together to save the candy industry? Or will their desire to win force them apart in rivalry?
I have read this book many times. Experiencing this story has been one of the most fun hours I have ever sat to read. I am always blown away by how detailed the descriptions of the sweets are without being too heavy in narrative. I am very much an avid fan of Wendy Mass, and although I enjoy all of her works, this story has taken the cake for me. This inspiring and heart-warming novel of friendship in the face of competition is such a wonderful story for all candy-lovers.
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