The Candy Shop War

The Candy Shop War (2007) is the first book in a trilogy by children’s fantasy author Brandon Mull. He is best known for his New York Times bestselling Fablehaven Series (2006-2015). Other works include the Dragonwatch Series (2017-2021) and the Beyonders Trilogy (2011-2013). Sequels to the Candy Shop War are Arcade Catastrophe (2012) and Carnival Quest (2023).

Like his characters in The Candy Shop War, Mull attended the Mount Diablo Elementary School. His fictional town of Colson is loosely based on his own childhood home of Clayton, California. Mull graduated from Brigham Young University and completed a two-year mission in Chile for the Latter-Day Saints. He and his wife have 11 children combined from their previous marriages, perhaps explaining Mull’s interest in writing children’s literature.

The movie rights to The Candy Shop War were acquired in 2007, and plans were made for a film in 2010. Currently, the project remains in development. The novel is intended for readers aged 9 to 11 in grades 3 to 4. It falls into the categories of Children’s Fantasy & Magic Adventure and Children’s Cooking Books. This study guide and all its page citations are based on the Kindle edition of the novel.

The story takes place in the small town of Colson, California, during a contemporary period.