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Candy Wars #1
Candy Wars: The Tooth Fairies vs The Candy King
You may not like your sister, but are you really going to fight a war against her?
James and Emily never get on - always fighting and arguing! But when James wakes up one night as his tooth is stolen by a jelly monster he follows it into a weird and wonderful world. Chocolate archers come out of the walls and fly in bubble gum balloons, giant rock candy trolls roam around, icing sugar snowmen appear and disappear, all under the direction of the Candy King who is preparing a war against the tooth fairies! Soon Emily and their cat Muffins find themselves joining the fairies, with only a toothless dragon and a phoenix with hay fever to help them fight the mighty Candy Army!
“The Candy King is waiting for you.”
James and Emily never get on - always fighting and arguing! But when James wakes up one night as his tooth is stolen by a jelly monster he follows it into a weird and wonderful world. Chocolate archers come out of the walls and fly in bubble gum balloons, giant rock candy trolls roam around, icing sugar snowmen appear and disappear, all under the direction of the Candy King who is preparing a war against the tooth fairies! Soon Emily and their cat Muffins find themselves joining the fairies, with only a toothless dragon and a phoenix with hay fever to help them fight the mighty Candy Army!
“The Candy King is waiting for you.”
220 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2010
8 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
R.G. Cordiner
8 books18 followersR.G. Cordiner is a primary teacher and author residing in Australia. Reading the works of Roald Dahl and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were early inspirations for his writing. Treasure Lost was his first book. He has subsequently released Candy Wars: The Tooth Fairies vs The Candy King, Bug Island, Alien Hunters: Discovery, Candy Wars II: Sweet Revenge and Treasure Lost II: Treasure Found. He is currently writing Return of the Elementals. He is married with two step-children, one psychotic cat and a dog. For more information go to cordiner.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 21, 2010
It’s been many years since I’ve read a kids book from start to finish. I’d purchased “Candy Wars” to read with my 7 year-old granddaughter. Her first visit we took turns reading. She managed her part without much help from this old geezer. By the time of her next visit she was on her own, I’d finished without her.
At its heart this is the story of a fantasy land where tooth fairies live when not slipping a few bucks under your pillow. Yes, fairies, it’s too much work for just one. When little brother James disappears his sister Emily manages to follow him into the land of the tooth fairies. The fantasy land R.G. Cordiner has created will spark a kid’s imagination while Emily and James encounter a castle made of teeth, chocolate-arrow-shooting snowmen, a toothless dragon, and more. Buried inside the adventure are a few lessons they might not realize they’ve learned about the evils of war and importance of family.
At its heart this is the story of a fantasy land where tooth fairies live when not slipping a few bucks under your pillow. Yes, fairies, it’s too much work for just one. When little brother James disappears his sister Emily manages to follow him into the land of the tooth fairies. The fantasy land R.G. Cordiner has created will spark a kid’s imagination while Emily and James encounter a castle made of teeth, chocolate-arrow-shooting snowmen, a toothless dragon, and more. Buried inside the adventure are a few lessons they might not realize they’ve learned about the evils of war and importance of family.
October 10, 2010
This was a fun book! My son's name is James (a character in the book), BUT it's my 7-year-old daughter who has been reading this with me. When reading this, I heard lots of little girl giggle. She really thought this was funny, and it is quite silly, there's jelly monsters, snowball fights and of course, the chocolate archers (no really!).
It also has a bit of a cautionary slant to it as well. Maybe not caution but perhaps a lesson that you should treat your siblings well or that no matter what, you'll always be brother/sister. I am interested to see if she gets to that once she gets to the end (I've read ahead of her). I'm sure she will though.
I will admit that I thought this book was going to be over her reading level at first, but while it was a challenge for her in some spots, overall she got it and, more importantly, she's asked to read it.
For me, this was a very cute story. I enjoy a good kid's story and this one was really a lot of fun! It does make me wonder though... what else does this author have up there in his head? This was a pretty unique story. It felt kind of like an evil version of the nutcracker (and their sugar plum fairies) crossed with a really ticked off gingerbread man. But let me be clear... it's NOT scary.
This is a great great chapter book story for the 6-13 year old set. Heck, anyone really. I'm a 35-year-old woman and I loved it!
It also has a bit of a cautionary slant to it as well. Maybe not caution but perhaps a lesson that you should treat your siblings well or that no matter what, you'll always be brother/sister. I am interested to see if she gets to that once she gets to the end (I've read ahead of her). I'm sure she will though.
I will admit that I thought this book was going to be over her reading level at first, but while it was a challenge for her in some spots, overall she got it and, more importantly, she's asked to read it.
For me, this was a very cute story. I enjoy a good kid's story and this one was really a lot of fun! It does make me wonder though... what else does this author have up there in his head? This was a pretty unique story. It felt kind of like an evil version of the nutcracker (and their sugar plum fairies) crossed with a really ticked off gingerbread man. But let me be clear... it's NOT scary.
This is a great great chapter book story for the 6-13 year old set. Heck, anyone really. I'm a 35-year-old woman and I loved it!
May 5, 2018
3 star
It's ok. A cute story, but not the best grammar with run on sentences here and there. The plot twist is ok but ends with an attempted cliff hangar when they leave.
It's ok. A cute story, but not the best grammar with run on sentences here and there. The plot twist is ok but ends with an attempted cliff hangar when they leave.
August 18, 2011
This is a copy of my review for the blog "Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!"
What an imagination! Mr. Cordiner creates a world full of fun surprises, and a lesson about sibling affection.
The author presents these surprises and the lesson from the perspective of two children—the heroine, Emily, and her brother James—and writes in a way to which children can relate. For example, the adventure starts when a tooth fairy comes to collect James’ tooth:
“The child, a young boy, had his mouth open in his sleep and his hands gripped his pillow, which was becoming increasingly damp due to the drool leaking out of his mouth. The creature flitted down lower. She was now so close that she could smell the stench of the baked beans that the child must have had for dinner. She screwed up her face as the stink waves floated out of his mouth.”
James accidentally goes through the portal to Candy Land and—lo and behold—all evidence that he existed in this world vanishes, even from the memory of his parents. But Emily remembers him and, though they never liked each other much, worries about him. It turns out that only children can remember James. Certainly not their bullying teacher, who has a metal cage that can be hoisted to the ceiling for picking on Emily!
But Emily finds her way into Candy Land herself, and the author gives full play to her imagination. James, it turns out, has entered Candy Land in the realm of the Candy King, who is about to make war on the Tooth Fairy Queen—who rules the realm where Emily enters.
The Candy King has created a fascinating array of soldiers. There are marshmallow men who “didn’t run around the trees, they ran through them – their bodies hitting the trees in a gloopy mess and then splitting around it and reforming on the other side!” There are chocolate archers, some of whom try to fly a bubble-gum balloon which “was now heading straight towards the rock face at an alarming pace. PHHMP! It smacked into the wall and exploded. A toffee like liquid ran down the rock.” There are huge sugar-snowmen, rock-candy giants, jelly monsters… Read the book to find more!
Meanwhile, Emily is having adventures with a phoenix with hay fever, who explodes whenever it sneezes, with a dragon whose teeth were stolen (this turns out to be important), and with her new friends the tooth fairies: “Like totally, human,” [the tooth fairy] said in a shrill voice, “it is like, such a pleasure to finally meet you.” When Emily hears of the planned attack of the Candy King, she helps the fairies defend their kingdom, without knowing that her brother is fighting on the attacking side!
And from here, I can’t tell you anymore without spoiling the plot—except that Mr. Cordiner creates a fun and imaginative climax and a satisfying resolution.
What an imagination! Mr. Cordiner creates a world full of fun surprises, and a lesson about sibling affection.
The author presents these surprises and the lesson from the perspective of two children—the heroine, Emily, and her brother James—and writes in a way to which children can relate. For example, the adventure starts when a tooth fairy comes to collect James’ tooth:
“The child, a young boy, had his mouth open in his sleep and his hands gripped his pillow, which was becoming increasingly damp due to the drool leaking out of his mouth. The creature flitted down lower. She was now so close that she could smell the stench of the baked beans that the child must have had for dinner. She screwed up her face as the stink waves floated out of his mouth.”
James accidentally goes through the portal to Candy Land and—lo and behold—all evidence that he existed in this world vanishes, even from the memory of his parents. But Emily remembers him and, though they never liked each other much, worries about him. It turns out that only children can remember James. Certainly not their bullying teacher, who has a metal cage that can be hoisted to the ceiling for picking on Emily!
But Emily finds her way into Candy Land herself, and the author gives full play to her imagination. James, it turns out, has entered Candy Land in the realm of the Candy King, who is about to make war on the Tooth Fairy Queen—who rules the realm where Emily enters.
The Candy King has created a fascinating array of soldiers. There are marshmallow men who “didn’t run around the trees, they ran through them – their bodies hitting the trees in a gloopy mess and then splitting around it and reforming on the other side!” There are chocolate archers, some of whom try to fly a bubble-gum balloon which “was now heading straight towards the rock face at an alarming pace. PHHMP! It smacked into the wall and exploded. A toffee like liquid ran down the rock.” There are huge sugar-snowmen, rock-candy giants, jelly monsters… Read the book to find more!
Meanwhile, Emily is having adventures with a phoenix with hay fever, who explodes whenever it sneezes, with a dragon whose teeth were stolen (this turns out to be important), and with her new friends the tooth fairies: “Like totally, human,” [the tooth fairy] said in a shrill voice, “it is like, such a pleasure to finally meet you.” When Emily hears of the planned attack of the Candy King, she helps the fairies defend their kingdom, without knowing that her brother is fighting on the attacking side!
And from here, I can’t tell you anymore without spoiling the plot—except that Mr. Cordiner creates a fun and imaginative climax and a satisfying resolution.
January 25, 2011
3.5 stars.
Something strange is definitely happening when you wake up in the night to find a jelly monster making off with the tooth you left under your pillow for the tooth fairy! What would you do? Well, if you are James, you follow that jelly monster through the portal and right into the land of the tooth fairies. Only James finds himself with The Candy King who is planning ways to get all the teeth he can from the tooth fairies. (Yes, there is more than one tooth fairy! How could one fairy possibly collect them ALL?) James commits to help the Candy King and his candy army, made up of chocolate archers, marshmallow soldier, jelly monsters and other candy creatures. Meanwhile, Emily is puzzled over the disappearance of her brother, James. She too finds her way into the land of the tooth fairies and soon realizes that James is fighting against the fairies! It is an adventure Emily and James will never forget as brother and sister are on opposing sides in a great sugar war over teeth.
This is a story full of imagination and fun, geared toward readers ages 9-12. Although, this would make a great bed time story to be read aloud to younger children. It has lots of fun characters like Muffin the cat, Simur the orange bird and Delinda the toothless dragon. The tooth fairies live in a castle made of teeth which made me say, “EW!” But, really. What did I expect? I won a signed copy of this book from the author here on Goodreads and I’m happy to add it to my bookshelf. It is a great children’s story.
You can see my full review for content at http://www.theliteratemother.org/cand...
Something strange is definitely happening when you wake up in the night to find a jelly monster making off with the tooth you left under your pillow for the tooth fairy! What would you do? Well, if you are James, you follow that jelly monster through the portal and right into the land of the tooth fairies. Only James finds himself with The Candy King who is planning ways to get all the teeth he can from the tooth fairies. (Yes, there is more than one tooth fairy! How could one fairy possibly collect them ALL?) James commits to help the Candy King and his candy army, made up of chocolate archers, marshmallow soldier, jelly monsters and other candy creatures. Meanwhile, Emily is puzzled over the disappearance of her brother, James. She too finds her way into the land of the tooth fairies and soon realizes that James is fighting against the fairies! It is an adventure Emily and James will never forget as brother and sister are on opposing sides in a great sugar war over teeth.
This is a story full of imagination and fun, geared toward readers ages 9-12. Although, this would make a great bed time story to be read aloud to younger children. It has lots of fun characters like Muffin the cat, Simur the orange bird and Delinda the toothless dragon. The tooth fairies live in a castle made of teeth which made me say, “EW!” But, really. What did I expect? I won a signed copy of this book from the author here on Goodreads and I’m happy to add it to my bookshelf. It is a great children’s story.
You can see my full review for content at http://www.theliteratemother.org/cand...
February 6, 2011
I do love my Kindle. So, I've been trying to acquire more books to read, and see what some other children's book authors are doing. I found this book/author on Kindleboard.com.
I think the first I had to get used to is the style of this author. His style draws from terminology in Australia, a bit different than American English. However, I enjoyed the fantastic fantasy world that was created. I could see myself getting lost in the world of tooth fairies and candy creatures if I was a kid. There were some phrases that were distinctly Aussie English, like icing sugar snowmen as opposed to powdered sugar. So, for American children, they will have to use context clues to figure out the meaning.
Overall, I found this to be an enlightened tale with candy at its center. I'm sure it will hold most children enthralled until the end.
I think the first I had to get used to is the style of this author. His style draws from terminology in Australia, a bit different than American English. However, I enjoyed the fantastic fantasy world that was created. I could see myself getting lost in the world of tooth fairies and candy creatures if I was a kid. There were some phrases that were distinctly Aussie English, like icing sugar snowmen as opposed to powdered sugar. So, for American children, they will have to use context clues to figure out the meaning.
Overall, I found this to be an enlightened tale with candy at its center. I'm sure it will hold most children enthralled until the end.
February 13, 2011
Not quite sure how to rate this one. My 7 and 4 year olds really enjoyed it, though I doubt it will attract much attention from teens/adults. Still, they enjoyed it and I love being able to sit down and read with them. I'll give it a 5 star because my kids kept asking me to pick it up and read it to them and we stayed up late the last night to finish it, so 5 from my boys.
The story is of two human children pulled into the fairy world. One fights with the tooth fairies, the other for the candy king in a struggle to control the use of teeth from human children. Fun characters and interesting story.
The story is of two human children pulled into the fairy world. One fights with the tooth fairies, the other for the candy king in a struggle to control the use of teeth from human children. Fun characters and interesting story.
April 10, 2011
My 13 and 8 year old loved it. I read it first then handed it over to them for them to share. For a whole week the kids talked about nothing else but Candy Wars. That in itself is enough for me to recommend this book.
I like the book for the theme. Seeing how Emily goes to the fairy world to help find her brother whom everyone else forgets about. I like how the boys picked up that siblings should stick together and take care of each other no matter what.
It was a great book for all of us to read and will save it for my youngers ones for later.
I like the book for the theme. Seeing how Emily goes to the fairy world to help find her brother whom everyone else forgets about. I like how the boys picked up that siblings should stick together and take care of each other no matter what.
It was a great book for all of us to read and will save it for my youngers ones for later.
December 11, 2013
I bought this book and the second one for my kids. I helped my son read this story, and I thought that it was really cute. A brother and sister go through a portal, and trapped in another world, when the tooth fairies come to collect teeth at night. It is written in UK English. My son thought that that was really neat seeing words spelled differently. A great book for kids, but I enjoyed the story also.
July 16, 2011
Had its moments, but very few and far-between. Kids totally lost interest in it very quickly. Author's methods of going back and forth between the simultaneous stories once they got to the Candy Kingdom was very awkward and confusing.
July 11, 2011
None of the characters really were given enough depth to make you like them. The fairies' dialog gave me a headache and made me almost root for the antagonist because they were just so annoying.
March 28, 2012
Sush a fun story, you can read it together with kids. I wasn't board to read it to them as I like ther writing and the uniqe story to it.
August 8, 2012
Cute children's book, a little choppy and the faeries' speech patterns were excessively annoying. Otherwise enjoyable enough.
June 16, 2013
Great book to read with the kids.
January 5, 2013
Read this to my boys. It was painful.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews