THE CANDY MAFIA

Preteen detective Nelle battles organized crime during her city’s prohibition on candy.

From the start, snappy dialogue and mannered narration spoofs the traditions of film noir when 12-year-old candy smuggler Eddie de Menthe hires private detective Nelle Faulkner, also 12, to find a missing teddy bear while a candy prohibition hangs over their neighborhood. As Nelle pursues leads in a playground hideout, store backroom, and lonely mansion, she encounters more kid bootleggers as well as crooked adults also on the hunt for the missing teddy bear. Similarities to the real Prohibition reveal government corruption and the difficulties inherent in denying a population what it wants. When Eddie also goes missing, Nelle’s case turns to recovering a candy fortune, locating a hidden chocolatier, and restoring peace—and all kinds of sweets—to her sugar-starved city. Food fights, an abandoned candy factory break-in, and more sweets-themed antics add to the fun and intrigue. Breaking up a mostly white cast is Nelle’s South Asian friend, Bobbie Singh, who’s also integrally connected to the illegal candy trade. In film-noir fashion, grayscale cartoons highlight Nelle’s escapades and exaggerate the criminals. While poking fun at the genre, in his debut for children, thriller writer Tidhar also recognizes young people’s need for respect.

Combining chewing gum and gumshoes, this comical mystery begs to be read aloud.