Candy

( 220 )

Overview

Kevin Brooks is at the top of his YA game in this "provocative, suspenseful" (Booklist) novel. Now in a dynamic new Kevin Brooks repackaging!

When Joe meets Candy, it seems like a regular boy-meets-girl scenario. They chat over coffee, she gives him her number, and he writes her a song. But then Joe is drawn into Candy's world --- a world of drugs, violence, and desperation. As the dark truth about Candy's life emerges, Joe finds himself facing real danger at every twist and ...

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Candy

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More About This Book

Overview

Kevin Brooks is at the top of his YA game in this "provocative, suspenseful" (Booklist) novel. Now in a dynamic new Kevin Brooks repackaging!

When Joe meets Candy, it seems like a regular boy-meets-girl scenario. They chat over coffee, she gives him her number, and he writes her a song. But then Joe is drawn into Candy's world --- a world of drugs, violence, and desperation. As the dark truth about Candy's life emerges, Joe finds himself facing real danger at every twist and turn. Soon Joe's conflicting emotions begin to mirror Candy's, and he understands that falling in love just might be worth the struggle. This intoxicating tale of heartache, danger, and hope will enthrall teen readers.

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Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature
On his way to his doctor's appointment in London, Joe meets Candy and is mesmerized from the first moment he sees her. Little does he know at that point that she will so consume his thoughts that he will risk his life, and his sister Gina's life as well. As he attempts to rescue Candy from a life of heroin addiction and prostitution, her pimp Iggy arrives. Candy hits Iggy over the head and runs away with Joe to a cottage owned by his father. Through his connections, Iggy not only discovers where they are, but he has also kidnaps Gina. Brooks has created a tightly written cautionary tale; he sets up an interesting parallel between Joe's obsession with Candy and her addiction to drugs. The author addresses the race issue by contrasting Iggy with Gina's fiance, Mike, who is also black. The book is impossible to put down, and Brooks creates the perfect ending to a story that is tough, gritty and suspenseful. 2005, The Chicken House/Scholastic, Ages 14 up.
—Sharon Salluzzo
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-Joe is boring. He lives in a comfortable London suburb. He does alright in school, but shows no real promise. He plays in a band, but is less than passionate about music. Then he meets Candy. She is 16, beautiful, addicted to heroin, and a prostitute. She's also the only girl ever to look at him twice. He convinces himself that he loves her, and tries to get her off smack and the streets. Her enormous, terrifying pimp is very unhappy with Joe, and tries to murder him and everyone he loves. Brooks's plotting is masterful, and the action twists and builds to a frenzied and violent climax. Unfortunately, much of the book leading to this climax is filled with Joe's simpering, prosaic inner monologues. The author embellishes the teen's narration with stanzas of fragment or one-word sentences, which are more pretentious than dramatic or pointed. For all the fuss made over her, Candy's character is underdeveloped. If readers assume the book isn't about her, but how she changes Joe, her lack of nuance makes some sense. The shame is that he is the same humorless robot before and after risking his life for her. The minor characters-Joe's sassy sister and her tough, good-guy boyfriend-are so smartly and lightly drawn that they elicit more emotion than Joe and Candy.-Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
A gripping, fast-moving love story set in a dangerous underworld. Joe meets Candy on the streets of London and is instantly, painfully smitten. He buys her a doughnut at McDonald's and becomes embroiled in a confrontation with a mammoth, terrifying man-Iggy, Candy's all-controlling pimp. Candy's hooked on heroin, but Joe and Candy begin a delicate and electric relationship anyway. Joe's confused entrancement by Candy shimmers under Brooks's deft hand. He's addicted to her almost like she is to heroin. When Iggy catches up with them, they may be murdered-or the victim could be Joe's sister, who's been taken hostage by Iggy. Candy goes cold-turkey off drugs in Joe's country cottage; the violent denouement offers real suspense. Only a disturbing association between scariness and black skin mars Brooks's narrative, not simply because Iggy is black but because it's mentioned over and over again. Otherwise, this is a psychological page-turner adeptly capturing love's hypnotic feel. (Fiction. YA)
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780439683289
  • Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
  • Publication date: 2/13/2006
  • Edition description: Reissue
  • Pages: 384
  • Sales rank: 134,445
  • Age range: 12 years
  • Product dimensions: 4.90 (w) x 7.00 (h) x 0.90 (d)

Meet the Author

Kevin Brooks
Kevin Brooks
With his sharp-eyed knack for zeroing in on the fears and foibles of the teenage set in novels like Lucas (our first Discover Great New Teen Writers selection), British author Kevin Brooks creates books that both adolescents and their elders can relate to.

Good To Know

In our interview, Brooks shared some interesting facts about himself with us:

"I used to work in a crematorium."

"When I was young, I fell out of a window and landed on my head. B-b-b-b-but I'm all right now...."

"I have six guitars and a banjo."

"I like: reading, walking on the beach with my wife and our dog, losing at chess, playing guitar, sleeping, thinking, wearing hats, watching TV crime dramas and The Simpsons, feeding my goldfish, eating sandwiches, making funny noises, and much, much more. Most of all, though, I love writing: it's what I do, and I adore every minute of it."

"I dislike: worms, mustard, and anything that hurts."

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    1. Date of Birth:
      March 30, 1959
    2. Place of Birth:
      Exeter, Devon, England
    1. Education:
      B.A. in Cultural Studies, Aston University, 1983

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 220 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(157)

4 Star

(38)

3 Star

(13)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(9)

Your Rating:

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 221 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 12, 2009

    Candy by Kevin Brooks

    I thought Candy was a compelling book. It takes you into the dark world of prostitution, drugs, and addiction. All of it gets seen through the eyes of Joe the main character. He has to watch Candy live this terrible life. I think the author does a good job of bringing this world to life. We get to witness all the terrible things about the underworld almost through our own eyes. The author shows that anyone can get sucked into this world. Candy came from a good stable home.The book also shows how strong addiction can be. Weather its to drugs or something else entirely.I would recommend this book as well as others by Kevin Brooks.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 8, 2011

    Awesome

    I read all 364 pages of this book in three days. That's how good it is. It's a boy meets girl situation that's just really exciting. All the things Joe, the protagonist, and Candy, Joe's love interest, went through together! If you're looking for a book that you can simply enjoy for what it is, then this is a great one. Based on my taste, Candy is one of the best books I've ever read. It was easy to get into and I loved the story line. It's one of those books you just want to pick up and read all over again. Because it's genuinely good.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 5, 2011

    Scott Pilgrim

    Is it just me or is does this book remind you of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona and not only because of the hair. The book is amazing and needs to be read immediately.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 8, 2009

    A Unexpected relationship between me and this book...

    I started reading the book candy because i saw another person reading it as well. I thought I'd give it a try.
    I flipped the pages of this book gently at first, and then i realized i was rushing through the pages really. The words are intense, the paragraphs to die for, and the chapters... you need to read more of. Personally i cant relate to these characters. But i can say i feel for them. i mean i feel for his compassion towards her. And i believe he can help her get over the messed up life she has lived for years. There's a lot of things you can say about this book but one very important simile that you will understand once reading is... I WAS HOOKED, HOOKED LIKE CANDY WAS ON DRUGS.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 10, 2013

    Fukk

    You

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 10, 2013

    Eh..needed more!

    It was an okay book!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 4, 2013

    CRAP

    CNDY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 2, 2013

    Lottie

    What haopened while i was gone? Lottie

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2013

    Milan to griffin

    Can we talk?

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2013

    C

    What a lie you dont have an eight pack. Who.res cant have eight packs.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2013

    Griffin

    Ya sure and tall 8 pack. Btown haired and dark blue eyes. I play football and lift weights. I wanna lift u bae

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2013

    Ali

    She looks puzzled. "Lift me?"

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 20, 2013

    To candyclan

    I am here to join can u tell me how???????????

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 19, 2013

    Bluestar

    Im in need of catz such as a med xat and a duputy and more strong warriors see thunder result two and ssk for Bluestar go to every singlre place and tell them were in need of catz

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 18, 2013

    To candyclan

    How can i join

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 14, 2013

    Clanless

    Help me and mommy just quit aquaclan we need a new clan and im injured aquakit aka aquawarior oh ps ill be a warior!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 14, 2013

    Jake to isis

    Wher are you baby...

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 13, 2013

    Kyla

    If you are telling me the truth. And if your not prevy!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 10, 2013

    TO ALL

    THERE IS A NEW CLAN FORMING IN THE SHOP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT GO TO MONEY RESULT ONE

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 9, 2013

    To JayClan

    This book is no one's territory. CandyClan can do what they want because everyone is allowed to post. From, Thundershadow of WindClan

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
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