The Candymakers

The Candymakers

By: Wendy Mass

Reviewed by: Madeline S.

The book The Candymakers by Wendy Mass is unique because there are five different sections in the book, each one told by a different main character. The first four sections are actually the same events but as seen from the perspective of each character. As you read farther into the book you learn more about each character and what really happened to them. I think that Mass’s style brings you close to the story because she tells it through an all-knowing narrator that can see into all of the main characters’ thoughts in turn. I personally think that this book is good for anyone 6+ who likes a book that keeps you on your toes and who likes a good mystery. The plot will keep you guessing and wanting to read more.

This book opens with a boy waking up to the smell of sweet cotton candy. His name is Logan Sweet. He is the son of a famous candymaker who runs a factory called Life Is Sweet. Logan has been accepted to compete in the Annual New Candy Contest, which is only for 12 year olds. The contestants have to make a candy, the judges then taste the candy and read what ingredients were used. The judges decide which candy is the best; that candy will be sold all over the country in lots of candy stores. Logan is very excited to compete but also nervous because his grandfather and father previously won. He feels like he has to prove that he can also be a great candy maker by winning the contest. This year his dad’s factory, Life is Sweet, is hosting some of the contestants; their names are Miles O’Leary, Philip Ransford III, and Daisy Carpenter. On the first day, Logan greets the others at the door, and then Max, one of the workers, gives them a tour of the factory. Daisy is super cheerful and awed by the factory, Miles is very quiet and his favorite part is the factory library, but Philip wants to start making candy right away and is very rude when they don’t. Finally they are introduced to the candy lab where they will be making their candy for the contest. The contest is just two days away. Will they all make good candies? Who will win? Will it be one of them or one of the other 28 contestants?

I really enjoyed the mystery that is present throughout the book. There are some surprising twists and turns in the plot that keep you guessing what is coming next. Mass makes this story fun to read because she tells the same events through each character’s eyes — it is amazing how much more you learn about the same event when you see it through every character’s point of view!

Equal Rites

Equal Rites

A book review by Daniel S.

Equal Rites is another book of the Discworld series, following Rincewind the Wizzard and Mort. Just as the previous books in the series, this book is great. This one is a bit different from the others so far, in ways that you will find out only by reading it. I also recommend the Discworld series to Harry Potter fans. The book is an excellent way of just letting your mind wander, and will be very enjoyable if you like the books with fast paced plot, scene shifts, and originality, you will most certainly like this book.

All wizards on the Discworld are male, but always we portray wizards as male. All wizards are, indeed, male. Until now, in this story. This is the story of a female wizard, which on the Discworld, is 101% different from a witch. Witches just use herbs, and borrow creatures minds (more of a gentle steering than possessing, rather, you are inside the creature’s mind, and it does not work with humans).  Wizards on the other hand… they are very powerful. You think they hurl fireballs, send lightning, and create huge tidal waves. No, those are sorcerers, the most magical creature on earth. A wizard is an old, tattered man, and looks as if he has seen too much. They in fact, have seen too much.

The female wizard’s name was Eskarina Smith. Her staff, was hidden until she was eight years old. Then her magic began to emerge, very suddenly. But she thought logically, completely baffling any wizard. Or anyone, in fact. She knew how magic worked. This was crazy! No one could possibly know, because it doesn’t. and female wizards were against the lore. There could not be one, it was impossible.

All in all, the rating I give is a 8/8 for ingenuity, originality, comedy, and intensity. The only problem with this, you cannot find a good place to stop. No book could have even been close to similar. Nothing can reflect why anything in the world is as it is, but this does for wizards being male, because wizards don’t exist.

Kitten's First Fill Moon

Kitten’s First Full Moon

By Maxine P.

The book Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes is very cute and funny. It has very unique artwork that fits the story perfectly. In the story, Kitten sees the little bowl of milk in the sky. And she wants it. She chases it and chases it and lunges at it and jumps at it but never seems to get close. Poor Kitten! In the end she returns home where there is a big bowl of milk waiting for her, and she drinks it all and then curls up and goes to sleep.

It is a picture book, so for young people. Older people may enjoy it too. It is very cute and also amusing, it is worth reading. It is available in the Seabury library.