The Fall of Candy Corn

February 1, 2009
Gr 6-9-This second book in a series about a teen who lacks self-confidence but matures through jobs at The Holiday Zone amusement park has a premise that's hard to buy and a weak mystery. Candy tries out for the park's Halloween "Scare." Improbably, she ends up playing herself in a re-enactment of an urban legend in which a psycho killer chases her around the park. She does well until she's hurt when someone booby traps her performance space. Other employee areas are targeted, prompting rumors of a ghost. After her mysterious run-in, Candy is reassigned to the candy-corn cart and organizes the park's "Sugar Shock," where children collect candy on Halloween. She makes the event a success and helps catch the saboteurs. These experiences allow her to stand up to a less-than-supportive guidance counselor. The real star of this novel is the Holiday Zone with its many imaginative areas. A scene with marauding pirates is its most memorable. All in all, this title is not the best choice for most collections."Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA"

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