Book Review: Bellyache by Crystal Marcos

Title: Bellyache: A Delicious Tale
Author: Crystal Marcos
Page #: 145
Cybil Book #: 23

Author Website: A very tasty site!!!




From the website:
A lip-smacking, mouthwatering, absolutely delectable debut, BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale by Crystal Marcos is a literary feast for ages seven and up. In the vein of Roald Dahl’s best-loved adventures, Marcos offers a mystical, character driven escapade that intertwines strands of reality with a larger-than-life fantasy world. When Peter Fischer sets out to help his grandfather at Papa’s Sweet Shop, he will quickly learn that sneaking sweets and covering up his sugar-dusted tracks will have major consequences. As Peter is transported to a mysteriously delicious, faraway land, a curious people known as the Candonites, some of whom have no time for a non-Candonite, will teach Peter a lesson on what it means to be different and what it means to forgive.

My Thoughts

Two fun reads right in a row. I had a couple fantastic reads from my Cybil list and now I have just encountered two really fun and enjoyable reads with Astrosaurs and this novel. I am not sure what age group this is geared for, but I would place it at 8-10.

As I read this book in the beginning I was not quite sure this was going to be my cup of tea. It was just too easy going with hanging out with Papa in a candy shop. However, once we move to the Candonite world I fell in love with the creativity and imagination of this author. Candy like people who eat vegetables as dessert. Very clever indeed and what was even more cleverer(is that even a word?) was the whole point of the this world(which you will have to read to find out).

I just thought the story was fun. The one thing that will appeal to some kids is the fact that there is nothing sinister or evil. That could be a drawback to others as there was not a real major conflict in the novel. Depending on your flavor of books this could be a perfect story or one that just needs a little more. I had a great time reading and as I have stated several times already in my previous reviews I am glad the Cybils have nominated me a judge because I am reading good books that I would never have contemplated ever reading.

Now that this is all typed up I am off to the store to go find some candy that I have not thought about in quite some time that I am craving after reading this book.