Candyfloss [Paperback]

Jacqueline Wilson (Author), Nick Sharratt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

CHOOSING BETWEEN PARENTS AND FRIENDS Candyfloss is the perfect introduction to jacqueline Wilson.  When Floss's mother and stepfather announce they are moving to Australia for six months, Floss has to decide whether to go with them or stay home with Dad--inept, but loving and always lots of fun.  And how will her choice affect her friendship with her popular but not-so-loyal best friend, Rhiannon?

 

About girls everywhere, for girls everywhere, Candyfloss speaks in universals: it's about friendship, family, and growing up in a complicated world.  Like all Wilson's novels, it has an honesty and cheerful integrity that offers a real alternative to the materialistic values of so much fiction aimed at girls.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Flossie's mom is remarried and has a prosperous life with her husband and baby. Flossie's dad, however, is close to 40 and hasn't gotten it together. Overweight, depressed, and financially hard up, he is his own worst enemy. When Flossie's mom and stepdad move to Sydney for six months, Flossie convinces her mother to let her stay with her loving but inept father in London. Her life changes drastically when she starts going to school looking unkempt and smelling of her father's greasy-spoon café. She loses her superficial and status-conscious friends, but makes friends with Susan, whose background is more like hers. After numerous trials that end in near homelessness, Flossie's father finally puts the divorce behind him. When he encounters Rose, a fortune-teller and cotton-candy maker with a traveling carnival, he's met his true match. Flossie is a likable character who discovers the meaning of true friendship, suffers hardship with aplomb, and learns some important life lessons along the way. Readers will cheer her on and feel satisfaction when she sees her ex-best friend for the bully and snob that she is.—Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID
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Review

School Library Journal

 

Gr 4-7–Flossie’s mom is remarried and has a prosperous life with her husband and baby. Flossie’s dad, however, is close to 40 and hasn’t gotten it together. Overweight, depressed, and financially hard up, he is his own worst enemy. When Flossie’s mom and stepdad move to Sydney for six months, Flossie convinces her mother to let her stay with her loving but inept father in London. Her life changes drastically when she starts going to school looking unkempt and smelling of her father’s greasy-spoon café. She loses her superficial and status-conscious friends, but makes friends with Susan, whose background is more like hers. After numerous trials that end in near homelessness, Flossie’s father finally puts the divorce behind him. When he encounters Rose, a fortune-teller and cotton-candy maker with a traveling carnival, he’s met his true match. Flossie is a likable character who discovers the meaning of true friendship, suffers hardship with aplomb, and learns some important life lessons along the way. Readers will cheer her on and feel satisfaction when she sees her ex-best friend for the bully and snob that she is.–Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 339 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; First Edition edition (September 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596432411
• ISBN-13: 978-1596432413
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,812,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great treatment of subject lots of children will be able to relate to, January 8, 2008

By 

teachermum "teachermum" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Candyfloss (Paperback)

I read this aloud to my 8yo daughter last year and we both enjoyed it. Floss's feelings of angst about choosing between her divorced parents is something that many readers might be able to relate to. She also learns important lessons about friendship but has some painful experiences along the way (such as the mortifying shopping trip and being called names and teased about her dad). There are some great adult characters in the book too - Flora's bumbling but ultimately likeable father, Rhiannon's revolting mother, the lovely Rose with her pink caravan and nail polish, Susan's nerdy academic dad etc etc. The other advantage of this book is that it is nice and fat so great value for money. Best of all it is a great read from start to finish.

Jacqueline WIlson is a fabulous writer for this age because she puts so much detail into her characters and stories yet still writes in a way that is accessible and engaging for kids. She is also not afraid to tackle difficult issues but doesn't do this in a dreary or didactic way. I heard she has just been made a Dame in UK for her services to children's literature. Very well deserved!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I heard!, March 16, 2009

By 

Sheila Furr (LeRoy, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Candyfloss (Paperback)

I have heard how good this book is. I am a retired teacher and my daughter teaches third grade so I bought it for her classroom and it is very popular.

4.0 out of 5 stars Candy Floss, November 7, 2010

By 

Mahsa - See all my reviews

This review is from: Candy Floss (Hardcover)

Jacqueline Wilson is one of my favourite authors.
I like this book and I think it is very interesting to read,
This book is about a girl called Flora who lives with her mum and her step father and her step brother Tim.
Her father lives in his cafe Harley's cafe that only has three regular customers.
The part that I really liked is when Flora becomes friend with Susan Pots who is grate at every school subject and is has an excellent ability in writing poems.
The part that I did not enjoy much was when Flora's best friend goes off with two of Flora's enemies.
The only inappropriate word used in the book is `sex' which is only used once. Overall it is a great a book to read with a lot of exciting and dramatic parts to read.