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Cam Jansen Mysteries #14
The Chocolate Fudge Mystery
When Cam Jansen and her friend Eric uncover a mystery while selling fudge door-to-door to raise money for the local library, Cam uses her photographic memory to foil a crime.
58 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
David A. Adler
407 books206 followersDavid Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.
Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.
Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.
As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
(source: Wikipedia)
Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.
Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.
As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 9, 2020
Cam Jansen and her best friend Eric Shelton stumble across a criminal in hiding while selling chocolate and candy for a local library program in this fourteenth entry in David A. Adler's beginning chapter-book series devoted to their adventures. Alerted, as always, by Cam's superior powers of observation, the two children, along with Cam's father and two local neighbors, foil the escape plans of the criminal and his confederate...
Although the resolution of many of the Cam Jansen Mysteries are unlikely - would Cam, Eric and Mr. Jansen really be included in the police chase that tracks down one of the robbers? - I would imagine that they are very satisfying for young readers, who will appreciate the idea of their favorite sleuth being in on the action. Like its predecessors, Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery relies upon its eponymous heroine's eidetic memory for the solving of the case, something I found fascinating as a young reader myself, even if its strains my adult credulity a bit during my current rereading project. Recommended to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy mysteries, as well as to fans of Cam Jansen.
Although the resolution of many of the Cam Jansen Mysteries are unlikely - would Cam, Eric and Mr. Jansen really be included in the police chase that tracks down one of the robbers? - I would imagine that they are very satisfying for young readers, who will appreciate the idea of their favorite sleuth being in on the action. Like its predecessors, Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery relies upon its eponymous heroine's eidetic memory for the solving of the case, something I found fascinating as a young reader myself, even if its strains my adult credulity a bit during my current rereading project. Recommended to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy mysteries, as well as to fans of Cam Jansen.
February 12, 2011
This was an awesome book for kids. I would have loved this (more than I did) at 8-10 years of age. This is a story of a young girl Cam (for her photographic memory...The Camera) and her friend Eric go around town and solve different mysteries...one per book...this is apparently #14. I really enjoyed it.
"Gr. 2-4. Cam (short for Camera) Jansen and her faithful companion, Eric Shelton, encounter yet another mystery as they try to raise funds for charity by selling fudge bars and rice cakes. (They never do explain the mystery of that unlikely combination.) This time Cam spots a woman behaving suspiciously in the vicinity of a supposedly vacant house. It requires only Cam's photographic memory (which she activates by saying "Click" constantly), deductive reasoning, and a short surveillance for the duo to ascertain that a criminal is hiding out and to alert a grateful police force. Cam satisfies the childhood fantasy of being smarter than adults and dealing successfully with mystery and danger, and young readers seem to be able to tolerate the clicks and to suspend reality in order to marvel at her wonderful ways. Another fix for the beginning readers who demand mystery books. Sheilamae O'Harris"
"Gr. 2-4. Cam (short for Camera) Jansen and her faithful companion, Eric Shelton, encounter yet another mystery as they try to raise funds for charity by selling fudge bars and rice cakes. (They never do explain the mystery of that unlikely combination.) This time Cam spots a woman behaving suspiciously in the vicinity of a supposedly vacant house. It requires only Cam's photographic memory (which she activates by saying "Click" constantly), deductive reasoning, and a short surveillance for the duo to ascertain that a criminal is hiding out and to alert a grateful police force. Cam satisfies the childhood fantasy of being smarter than adults and dealing successfully with mystery and danger, and young readers seem to be able to tolerate the clicks and to suspend reality in order to marvel at her wonderful ways. Another fix for the beginning readers who demand mystery books. Sheilamae O'Harris"
August 26, 2023
This book didn’t hold my attention like other Cam Jansen books.
May 6, 2016
cam and eric never expected to find a mystery while selling candy
door to door for their school fundraiser but that s exactly what they
find. when can outside she suspects of a house that is supposed to be desert , yes I like is the book is really fun to read I recommend to millie.
door to door for their school fundraiser but that s exactly what they
find. when can outside she suspects of a house that is supposed to be desert , yes I like is the book is really fun to read I recommend to millie.
December 18, 2022
Wow that one was REALLY far fetched and skipped a few steps in the deductive reasoning department. Not to mention it had hardly anything to do with the title.
September 13, 2023
This is a standard Cam Jansen book, sure enough.
I guess reading it as a younger reader is more intense than reading it as a less-younger reader, because it just feels... off. Part of that is Cam and Eric are going door-to-door selling for a fundraiser, and it unfortunately isn't safe for kids to do that anymore, supervised or not. (For what it's worth, I feel like door-to-door selling pretty much just taught me not to want to go to strange people's houses and not like strange people coming to my house.)
Another part is Suspicious Person Is Suspicious, like... if a real grown-up wanted to lay low, they wouldn't wear a huge raincoat in SUNNY WEATHER, and also in broad daylight when doing so. Of course, nowadays, the suspects would have mobile phones and be able to coordinate things better so , during which nosy kids would notice something suspicious happening.
I guess it's mostly that the mysteries feel a bit low-effort. Some of that is they're designed for younger audiences, sure, but even so, it's like they're projecting, "THIS MYSTERY SHOULD BE EASY TO SOLVE! SEE HOW SOLVABLE IT IS!" even though it's not really possible to solve without just reading along to find out what clues the kids find.
Decent read, not sure how popular this would be with contemporary young readers, given the door-to-door stuff and lack of mobiles.
Also, it's a little weird calling it the "Chocolate Fudge" mystery when the chocolate fudge had no part in the actual mystery except to randomly place them at the scene of the crime, as it were. I mean, they were ALSO selling rice cakes! Of course, "The Chocolate Fudge and Rice Cake Mystery" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it?
I guess reading it as a younger reader is more intense than reading it as a less-younger reader, because it just feels... off. Part of that is Cam and Eric are going door-to-door selling for a fundraiser, and it unfortunately isn't safe for kids to do that anymore, supervised or not. (For what it's worth, I feel like door-to-door selling pretty much just taught me not to want to go to strange people's houses and not like strange people coming to my house.)
Another part is Suspicious Person Is Suspicious, like... if a real grown-up wanted to lay low, they wouldn't wear a huge raincoat in SUNNY WEATHER, and also in broad daylight when doing so. Of course, nowadays, the suspects would have mobile phones and be able to coordinate things better so , during which nosy kids would notice something suspicious happening.
I guess it's mostly that the mysteries feel a bit low-effort. Some of that is they're designed for younger audiences, sure, but even so, it's like they're projecting, "THIS MYSTERY SHOULD BE EASY TO SOLVE! SEE HOW SOLVABLE IT IS!" even though it's not really possible to solve without just reading along to find out what clues the kids find.
Decent read, not sure how popular this would be with contemporary young readers, given the door-to-door stuff and lack of mobiles.
Also, it's a little weird calling it the "Chocolate Fudge" mystery when the chocolate fudge had no part in the actual mystery except to randomly place them at the scene of the crime, as it were. I mean, they were ALSO selling rice cakes! Of course, "The Chocolate Fudge and Rice Cake Mystery" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it?
January 30, 2017
Cam Jansen is a mystery sleuth who utilizes her photographic memory to solve crimes within her town. Relying on her gut instincts and her memory tricks, Cam Jansen finds the hide-out of a bank robber and catches his accomplice as well. In the midst of solving this mystery, Cam Jansen works to sell chocolates and rice cakes for a program with senior citizens.
This is an exciting story for readers interested in picking up on context clues and solving mysteries. This is a short chapter book that would keep students engaged in learning new words through a story that will keep kids on the edge of their seats. This could be a good introduction to a mystery unit.
This is an exciting story for readers interested in picking up on context clues and solving mysteries. This is a short chapter book that would keep students engaged in learning new words through a story that will keep kids on the edge of their seats. This could be a good introduction to a mystery unit.
March 6, 2018
Cam Jansen is a kid detective who will help solve ANY mystery she can get her hands on. This particular case was not that eventful in my opinion. I was interested in the book because of the gripping Chocolate Fudge title, but the mystery in the book really had nothing to do with the chocolates. However, I do remember reading these books as a developing reader and LOVING THEM; especially when Cam goes “click” and remembers everything that she has just seen. I wish I could have that super power. I would use this text/series in a 2-4 grade classroom for a book club or guided reading text. Although it is a “chapter book,” it’s only 58 pages and the plot is easy to follow for younger readers!
August 28, 2021
Cam and Eric are saving money for a read and ride program for elders. They're selling chocolate bars and rice cakes and they see this strange woman and they follow her. They realize that there's something weird about her. And then a news report comes on that $10,000 from the bank was stolen. When Cam and Eric stopped at a house to sell their chocolates, they figured out that the thief lived right next door. They called the police. The strange woman had a raincoat, a hat, and sunglasses. She took them all off in a grocery store. She wasn't the one who did the crime but she helped the bank robber hide. They end up finding both the strange woman and the bank robber.
August 12, 2024
This is a fun story about a girl named Jennifer who has a photographic memory and solves a mystery about a deserted house and a bank robbery. This was a good beginner chapter book for those who enjoy mysteries. Not memorable, but hoping other entries in the series are more twisty and turny. My rating - 3/5
November 2, 2017
Cam solves a mystery while out selling fudge to raise funds.
May 21, 2018
Alice: 5 stars. I liked that cam has a photographic memory
Jenny: 3.5 stars. A fun little mystery, but sometimes I wonder about the kids getting involved in sort of serious crimes.
Jenny: 3.5 stars. A fun little mystery, but sometimes I wonder about the kids getting involved in sort of serious crimes.
November 12, 2018
Cute story and the chapter endings make children want to keep reading to find out what happens next.
April 26, 2019
Very sensitive!
Read
June 21, 2019This book is a organised
September 1, 2019
"Anything Cam Jansen is automatically a 5-star."
January 2, 2020
This was my first detective book and now I want to read more of them.
September 1, 2020
Cam Jansen is called Cam because she has a photographic memory - like a Cam-era! I remember enjoying these as a child.
January 24, 2021
Scary,mysterious.
March 31, 2021
No observation scene for the reader to puzzle. But at least the mystery does point out the details one should notice if one wants to be a detective. Thank goodness Cam's dad was along though.
April 8, 2021
I loved this series as a kid! I read this one aloud to my seven-year-old Calvin, and we both enjoyed it.
June 7, 2022
Kidnapping
Robbers
Bombs
Kids might like it but not my kind of book
Robbers
Bombs
Kids might like it but not my kind of book
February 28, 2023
I liked this book because they were passing out fudge.
April 6, 2023
Spring break read aloud with mac… super fun! Each chapter ended with a mysterious cliff hanger that kept him hooked. Can’t wait to read more!
June 7, 2023
Love Cam Jansen books
November 21, 2024
I like reading mystery books because they are really fun and exciting!!!!!!!!! -OC
February 8, 2026
Fun series. I wish that the actual illustrations could be used to solve the case...not so in this volume.
March 29, 2026
Ride and Read sounds like a program I’d support!
April 1, 2026
Read in like 20 mins at work when I was bored. I remember it being way more of a thrill. I wish I could read this as a 7 year old again.
December 27, 2019
Totally reading this series out of order, but here we go. This is another one of those books that is great for its target audience, but doesn't really work for those older.
My main issue with this book is the fact that the adults let the kids help with tracking down the bad guys. It could have been a very dangerous situation, but they just went with it. I understand that Cam's photographic memory was helpful, but it still seemed irresponsible for the adults to include two young children.
The title of the book made me think that chocolate was going to be playing a much larger role than it did. It's really just there to give a reason for the kids to be walking around the neighborhood. It has nothing to do with the actual mystery.
Author: David A. Adler
Publisher: Puffin
Publication Date: 1993
My main issue with this book is the fact that the adults let the kids help with tracking down the bad guys. It could have been a very dangerous situation, but they just went with it. I understand that Cam's photographic memory was helpful, but it still seemed irresponsible for the adults to include two young children.
The title of the book made me think that chocolate was going to be playing a much larger role than it did. It's really just there to give a reason for the kids to be walking around the neighborhood. It has nothing to do with the actual mystery.
Author: David A. Adler
Publisher: Puffin
Publication Date: 1993
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews