I picked this up at ALA with much excitement. It was described to me as "Willy Wonka meets Mysterious Benedict Society" and I liked at least one of Wendy Mass's previous books. As I started in on it, I was pleased to find decent jokes, a quick-ish pace, and lots of mouth-watering candy descriptions. The structure of the book is interesting too: Each of the four main characters (Logan, Miles, Daisy, and Philip) narrate separate sections of the book. So after we've read Logan's POV, we go back in time and see the day through Miles' eyes, then Daisy's, etc. So it's a slow reveal of what's really going on, which definitely keeps the pages a-turnin'.

The mystery is very Wonka-esque. Three kids are invited to a candy factory to learn about candymaking so they can enter a candymaking contest (Logan, the fourth contestant, is the candymaker's son and lives at the factory). It seems as though someone is after the factory's secret ingredient and may be trying to close it down. But who's the bad guy? Why do these kids have so many secrets? Who can be trusted? Will the four kids end up best friends or bitter enemies?

I was with this book right up until the end. The finale could have really popped, but instead it fizzled. And it got pretty cheesy, too. Still, 90% enjoyable isn't bad. I always think the toughest part of writing a mystery/adventure story is coming up with a satisfying ending. Maybe it's enough that the journey is exciting, even if the destination leaves something to be desired. I think I'll still recommend this one. The premise alone will make it an easy sell. ( )

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.

A very fun book, that demands the need of making candy afterwards.
A great read aloud, or just to read by yourself! ( )

I'm not the audience for this book, which is why I gave it two stars (which means, remember, "It was okay"). It is probably perfect for upper elementary. There were little things about the book the bothered me, namely, the font switch anytime the name of the factory came up.

I did really like the structure of the book, as the story is told from each of the four main characters' points of view. I also liked the underlying message that we just never know what battles people are fighting until we take time to get to know them.

But other than that, it didn't really hold my interest all that much, and the only reason I finished it was because I told my niece I'd read it so we could talk about it. I am interested to hear what she thought of it. She's 9, and might have a completely different connection to it. ( )

I really liked how this book was a mystery and an adventure. This setting of this book was enchanting and really likable. I also liked the ending and the fact that it actually ended. I would love another book of this type. It reminded me of "The Gollywhopper Games" and that was one of my favorite books!I would reccomend this book to everyone! ( )