Jan 3 2013

Coming Soon – Beyonders: Chasing the Prophecy

Title: Chasing the Prophecy

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Beyonders #3

Genre: Young Reader

Release Date: March 12, 2013

I’d have to say that Brandon Mull is officially my favorite YA author. Fablehaven captured my imagination like no book as done since Harry Potter, and his other works are just as entertaining. As the third book in his Beyonders series, it’s guaranteed to be a good read!

Working in the book business has some perks. I had the privilege to meet Brandon Mull several months ago. He told me Chasing the Prophecy is his favorite book that he’s ever written. He was so excited for its release and I couldn’t help but pick up on his enthusiasm!

Here’s some information about some of this author’s other works:

Title: Fablehaven

Series: Fablehaven #1

Overview: Danger lurks everywhere at Fablehaven, where someone has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn, now that long trusted allies have been revealed as potential foes. Kendra embarks on a special mission that only she can attempt because of her new abilities as fairykind, while Seth stays behind and discovers an incredible new talent of his own. The siblings are put to the test as the threat grows both abroad and home at the Fablehaven preserve, and Brandon Mull spins his richest and most thrilling fantasy tale yet in this third title of the popular fantasy series

Title: The Candy Shop War

Series: Candy Shop War #1

Overview: Welcome to the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe, where the confections are bit on the . . . unusual side. Rock candy that makes you weightless. Jawbreakers that make you unbreakable. Chocolate balls that make you a master of disguise. Four young friends—Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon—meet the grandmotherly Mrs. White, owner of the Sweet Tooth, and soon learn about the magical side effects of her candies. Then the ice cream truck driver, Mr. Stott, arrives with a few enchanted sweets of his own. The danger unfolds as the four youngsters discover that the magical strangers have all come to town in search of a legendary treasure—one that could be used for great evil if it fell into the wrong hands. The kids, now in over their heads, must try to retrieve the treasure first. And so, the war begins . . . Read full review

*Overviews taken from bn.com

Oct 4 2012

Coming Soon: The Candy Shop War – Arcade Catastrophe by Brandon Mull

Title: The Candy Shop War: Arcade Catastrophe

Series: Candy Shop War #2

Author: Brandon Mull

Genre: Middle Grade

Release Date: ~~October 23, 2012~~ Now Available!

I’ve mentioned its release date in the review of book #1, but now it’s official: the next book will be out in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing what Mull has in store for these kids next!

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 23 2012

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Book Review: The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

Title: The Candy Shop War

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: The Candy Shop War #1

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: What if there were a place where you could get magical candy? Moon rocks that made you feel weightless. Jawbreakers that made you unbreakable. Or candy that gave animals temporary human intelligence and communication skills. (Imagine what your pet would say!) Four young friends, Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon, are befriended by Belinda White, the owner of a new candy shop on Main Street. However, the gray- haired, grandmotherly Mrs. White is not an ordinary candy maker. Her confections have magical side effects. Purposefully, she invites the kids on a special mission to retrieve a hidden talisman under Mt. Diablo Elementary School. However, Mrs. White is not the only magician in town in search of the ancient artifact rumored to be a fountain of youth. She is aware that Mr. Stott, the not- so- ordinary ice cream truck driver, has a few tricks of his own.

The Review:

I decided to read “The Candy Shop War” mostly because I am a huge fan of the Fablehaven series, and thought I would give this one a try. He did such a good job capturing my imagination in Fablehaven that I’ve reread it several times. If it weren’t for Harry Potter novels, which stand on a pedestal and always will, I would argue that they are my favorite YA books of all time.

This book is about four kids who get caught up in a war of magicians. Going on special missions for these magicians, the kids are given candies that bestow on them several magical abilities. The story is definitely meant for a younger demographic, and I think it does a good job hitting it’s target audience. While some YA books have the ability to transcend generation, I unfortunately don’t think this was one of them. The storyline was fun, and the characters felt like kids we all grew up with, but it was just a little over the top. I don’t usually go for totally fantastical stories, but there are plenty of people who do like them and would probably enjoy it. I also found it a bit anti-climatic.

While the plot is juvenile in nature, the writing is surprisingly sophisticated. Mull is a great example of an author who doesn’t “dumb it down” when writing for a younger audience. Because of this, along with the study-guide at the back, I think it’s an excellent tool for educators to teach their students vocabulary, critical thinking, and ethics. As for the rest of us, if you’re in the mood for something to make you feel like a kid again, this one will certainly do the trick!

Recommendations: Although this one was fun, I would definitely recommend you read the Fablehaven series first as an introduction to Mull’s works. If this one sounds like the perfect book for you, be on the lookout for the sequel “The Candy Shop War: Arcade Catastrophe” out October 23rd!

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