Book Review: "The Summer of Cotton Candy" by Debbie Viguie
You are my candy girl Summer's arrived and instead of kicking back with her best friend, Candace must find a summer job. Unfortunately for her she's a little bit late in choosing the best jobs at The Zone, the nearby amusement park She's left with being the cotton candy dispenser. What seems like a slack summer job ends up being an eye opening experience of a lifetime. Not only does Candace have to learn the ropes of passing out sugary sweetness but she has to deal with her best friend who is jealous that she can no longer waste her free time. A dashing masked Zorro, a sugar addict, an angry ex-girlfriend and a crazy train driver just adds to the chaos. Then add in random drug tests, sleazy customers, and the scavenger hunt of the century. Looks like it's going to be one crazy long summer...
I really wish that an amusement park like The Zone existed. It sounds like an awesome place to not only visit but to work as well. The job doesn't sound too hard and the perks are great. I wish this could have been my summer job! I really liked how Candace evolved throughout the story. She starts off dreading everything and wishing she was somewhere else. She sort of self-centered in the beginning with no drive or motivation. As the story continues, she grows up, makes friends, and begins to see her herself as someone with a purpose. Working at the amusement park is chaotic but it's a colorful and exciting ride. I could totally picture the park with the great descriptions the author had made. I could see the costumes, hear the rides, smell the food, and immerse myself in the crowd. The book was a total sensory experience, the next best thing to actually being there.
The only thing that irked me was the whole Becca situation. I personally would have reacted exactly the same way Candace did whenever someone would only casually warn her about Becca. If it was such a life threatening issue, she really should have been officially warned by the park. I also didn't like Tamara's attitude throughout the book. She was being VERY petty in my opinion. Just because she has money to throw around doesn't mean everyone else does. I understand her being jealous of Candace having new friends but for Tamara to keep giving her a cold shoulder for obeying her parents just really irked me. This series is a great alternative to fans of Gossip Girl and other trashy teen lit series. There's nothing offensive at all in the books, but teens will relate to reading about people just like them in real situations. I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of the seasons with Candace and the rest of The Zone gang!
The Summer of Cotton Candy by Debbie Viguie is published by Zondervan (2008)
I worked the cotton candy machine at my son's school carnival one year and it was a windy day. I ended up with cotton candy all over me and in my hair. It was a mess! I know what you mean about the amusement park, though. There were a couple small ones like that near me when I was growing up, now I think they're all big like Six Flags.
ReplyDeleteThis brought back memories!!!! I too worked the cotton candy booth, but it was only at my school's festival for three days. I was 14 years old and I LOVED IT! I did look like a pink cloud at the end of each day though. :) Sounds like a great read. It certainly was a great review. I am always hunting out books for my neices and my coworker's granddaughter. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love this whole series. :)
ReplyDelete