The Candy Shop War: A Christian Perspective

The Candy Shop War is a children’s fantasy book by Brandon Mull. Four young kids named Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pidgeon befriend Mrs. White, the kind owner of a candy shop, and do tasks in exchange for sweets and magical candy. However, the kids begin to question Mrs. White’s motives, as the tasks she gives them become more dangerous. The fifth graders soon become entangled in a war between wizards searching for a valuable treasure. Unsure of who to trust, they try to discover the truth and must figure out how to stop the real villain from getting their hands on the treasure before it’s too late.

One thing I enjoyed about the book was the unique aspects of the magical characters within the book, particularly their magical abilities and weaknesses. For example, the wizards can make magical candy but cannot use it on themselves due to their old age, as the magic will not affect them. It can only work on children. Another is that one character had a curse where the injuries he inflicts on others are inflicted upon himself also. I also enjoyed the candy that gives the kids amazing abilities and the adults who wielded magical powers, which made things interesting and increased the stakes.

Another thing I enjoyed is that the main characters were elementary school kids in fifth grade, only ten. Usually, kids in children’s books are either in middle or high school, so this was interesting. The children are a bit naïve when doing certain questionable tasks in exchange for sweets, but they are also clever in that they later question Mrs. White and other adults’ motives behind their actions. They are supportive of each other and do their best to protect and help one another. They also discuss their concerns and thoughts with each other to try to collaborate to find the best solution to a problem. The kids’ behavior can serve as a good lesson in friendship and healthy communication for young readers.

The kids’ mistakes, such as their carelessness and perhaps their naivete, also serve as lessons for readers as the kids’ mistakes have negative consequences. For example, one of the kids uses magic candy but is seen by another student at their school, which causes problems for the kids later. This demonstrates that our actions have consequences, so we should be mindful and cautious about what we do in a given situation.

As I read the book, I questioned who the friends and enemies of the main characters truly were, though one villain became obvious. It kept me guessing, which is another aspect I enjoyed. I also loved the twist that occurs near the end of the book, which I will not mention because I do not wish to spoil it. I will say that one of the kids pulls off something amazing to help his friends.

The prologue made me interested in the world that the characters inhabited, displaying a modern world that has wizards and wizard hunters unbeknownst to most of the world. However, I also felt the prologue spoiled some things for the rest of the book. The prologue is from a different character’s perspective, and it portrays him in a certain light. So, when the children run into him later, I already had a hunch of what would happen. At the same time, I wondered if the prologue was trying to mislead the reader, but it was not. That was one thing I did not like about the book.

The second thing I disliked was that at the end of the book, Pigeon has a slight crush on a character who was formerly out to get him and his friends. His friends question this, but that does little to dissuade him. It could be argued it’s because he is a child, but his friends seem to know better. The ending felt a bit strange because of that.

The third thing I disliked was that the book left me with questions it didn’t answer. For example, a character identified as a good guy, or at the very least an ally to the kids, does some morally questionable things, such as tying up an innocent woman in her home and leaving her there. The man says she is fine, but we never hear about her again. I was left wondering who, if anyone, would help her escape. The woman is not married, and it’s not mentioned whether she has any friends who would check on her. So, was she ever released? If so, how? Who helped her? It was never explained.

One message is to be careful who you trust. The kids immediately trust Mrs. White because she is nice to them at first, but as they do errands for her, and their assignments become shady in nature, they begin to realize she may not be the person they thought she was. From a Christian perspective, it’s wise to put your trust in God first and foremost, and if you ask Him, He will guide you. When David was in Keilah and Saul was coming to kill him, he asked God for guidance, and He told him that the inhabitants would give him up to Saul if they stayed, so David and his men left (1 Samuel 23:7-13). Asking God what we should do in a difficult situation and consulting the bible to learn what is good in God’s eyes can improve our lives and prevent unneeded suffering.

A second message could be to not do things for instant gratification because there can be negative consequences later. Nate and his friends enjoy using magic candy and agree to help Mrs. White in exchange for sweets, but they end up doing things they never should have done and get in trouble. Again, it’s good to consult God and His word for guidance on what to do, and it’s a good idea to step back and consider whether what we are doing is right.

Another message could be to consult your parents about certain things going on and to keep them updated. The kids do not tell their parents about the magical candy and Mrs. White’s errands, and they later regret it as things turn for the worst. To their frustration, the kids end up having to rely more on themselves instead of their parents, and they cannot receive the parental support they need and want. Children shouldn’t keep secrets from their parents, because it may cause them and their whole family problems in the future. If the kids had talked to their parents sooner, they would have had a better chance of getting much-needed parental advice and assistance.

As a side note, there is mild violence in the book. For example, a child gets his ribs broken in a fight scene. One adult loses an eye, but not in front of the main characters. There are also mentions of people being killed. However, I don’t think it’s too graphic for the targeted audience.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I would give it 4.5 stars. It left me wanting to read another book like it or to read it over again. I would recommend it to children nine to twelve, and for people who enjoy reading urban fantasy and adventure books.