Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

"Feel any different?" Pigeon asked eagerly.

"A little," Nate said. "Sort of tingly. It tastes really good. I almost feel..."

He moved to take a step and floated right up into the air.

Any Fablehaven fans in the house? The Candy Shop War is by the same author, Brandon Mull.

Nate Sutter just moved to Colson, a small town in California. His first day in town he meets Summer, Trevor and Pigeon (known as Paul to his mother). He is relieved to be initiated into their club, The Blue Falcons, so he has some friends when they all start 5th grade at Mt. Diablo Elementary.

The four friends meet Mrs. White, a grandmotherly woman who just opened a candy shop in Colson. After earning her trust, she reveals to them that she is a magician and she makes candy with magical side effects such as: "Rock candy that makes you weightless. Jawbreakers that make you unbreakable. Chocolate balls that make you a master of disguise." These candies prove to come in handy as Mrs. White has The Blue Falcons search the town for a long lost treasure.

Enter Mr. Stott, an ice cream truck driver that Summer and Pigeon have known their entire lives. He turns out to be a magician himself and tries to recruit The Blue Falcons as well. They don't know who they can trust and it doesn't take long before they are in way over their heads. The mysterious man in the fedora hat and dark overcoat that is following them around does nothing to rest their minds either.

This book was fast paced and very funny. Like Fablehaven, Mull's characters are witty and age-appropriate. I reread the last few chapters because there was so much to take in! How authors can keep track of all the details and tie everything together at the end is amazing!

Let the war begin...

P.S. For those who haven't heard yet, I got accepted to graduate school and will start working on a Master of Library Science in Children and Youth Services degree in January. One of the first classes I will be taking is History of Children's Literature. Wahoo!