When Candace Thompson begrudgingly took a summer job at The Zone, she never dreamed that she would one day want to come back. But in THE FALL OF CANDY CORN, the second book in Debbie Viguié’s Sweet Seasons series, she finds herself once again back at the local amusement park looking for a job. This time, she will be working at The Scare, the big Halloween event at the park. She is more than nervous about the new job, as it will put her in the spotlight like never before. Working at The Scare is like a high-intensity acting gig, complete with monster costumes, running and screaming.
But Candace’s great experiences and friends from the summer (including gorgeous boyfriend Kurt) are enough to convince her that she wants the job. She figures that at least she will be unrecognizable in her costume --- until she realizes that she will be playing a fictionalized version of herself. Over the summer Candace and Kurt accidentally got locked in The Zone, and the rumor that they were chased by a serial killer became something of a legend. She is not happy to not only be forced to perpetuate the myth but also to have no disguise (and a slightly inappropriate costume).
Candace’s embarrassment is compounded when her best friend Tamara decides to invite their entire school AND church to watch her big debut. With everyone she knows watching, she must confront her fear of attention and give the best performance of her life. Things start to go great for her, until a series of mysterious events at The Zone makes her feel uneasy and then afraid. Someone harmful is on the loose, and now not all of the blood at The Zone is fake. As things continue to go wrong, people begin to wonder if The Zone is actually haunted, and Candace is determined to find out what is really going on.
Stressed out enough about work, Candace also must make big decisions about her future, and a less-than-encouraging guidance counselor makes her wonder if she really has what it takes to go to college. And to top it all off, Kurt has been acting strange lately. She can’t even seem to talk to him anymore, and his behavior at a party leaves her wondering if he in fact is the man for her.
THE FALL OF CANDY CORN is an enjoyable seasonal addition to this new series. Perfectly timed for Halloween, readers will enjoy the surprising twists and turns of this mystery-style novel. Audiences would be advised to first read its predecessor, THE SUMMER OF COTTON CANDY, to fully understand this second installment. One thing that some may not enjoy is the relationship between Candace and Kurt, which has gone more than flat and will leave many wondering why they are even together. Nonetheless, those looking for a fun new novel to usher in the autumn need look no further than THE FALL OF CANDY CORN.
--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby
