Crush. Candy. Corpse.

by Sylvia McNicoll

Paradise Manor is depressing - the smells are bad and the residents are old. Sunny would much rather be doing her volunteer hours at Salon Teo, but her teacher won't let her. Who says volunteering at a hair salon doesn't benefit the community?

But working with the Alzheimer's patients has a surprising effect on Sunny. Along with Cole, the grandson of one of the residents, she begins to see that the residents don't have much more choice about their lives than she does: what they eat, how they are treated by staff, even what they watch on television. So Sunny does what she can to make the residents happy - even if she has to sometimes break the rules to do it.

But when tragedy strikes at Paradise, Sunny's left to make the decision about whether or not to honor a promise that Cole made to his grandmother about her life and her death.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Fiction, Crime

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2012

About the author

Born in Ajax, Sylvia McNicoll (pseudonym Genna Dare ) grew up in Montreal, Quebec where she received her BA in English with a minor in Economics from Concordia University. She began her writing career with adult short stories and household tips that were published in women's magazines, and moved on to freelance articles for Burlington local newspapers. Her friend and published author, Gisela Sherman, convinced her to take a children's writing course by Paul Kropp at Sheridan College. It was under his guidance that she wrote her first book "Blueberries and Whipped Cream" as a class project. Nine published books later she returned to Sheridan College to teach creative writing for a decade. She also edited "Today's Parent Toronto" for eight years.
Among her award winning published works are:

Project disaster, illustrated by Brian Boyd (Scholastic Canada, 1990) – Winner of Our Choice, 1990-91

The big race! Illustrated by Susan Gardos (Scholastic Canada, 1996) – winner of Our Choice, 1996-97

Jump Start, illustrated by Janet Wilson (Collier Macmillan Canada, 1989) – winner of Our Choice, 1989-90

Bringing Up Beauty (Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1994) – winner of Our choice, 1995-96; Silver Birch Award, 1996; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award, 1997

Caught in a Lie (Scholastic Canada, 2000) – winner of Explora-Toy award, 2001

Reviews

[Sanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a hard topic to read about, at least for me. Alzheimer’s is one of the diseases that I fear most, but something in the blurb caught my interest. My feelings are still mixed after finishing the book but maybe that just reflects my unease about Alzheimer’s itself.

I liked the way this was written as there was present, future and journal style but sometimes it was really hard to notice the transition between these 3 styles and I had to go back and re-read the passage – this could’ve been easily fixed with simple format changes, e.g. italics or different fonts.

The concept of the story was great, even if the execution sometimes lacked, for example: the courtroom scenes often were a bit dull in my eyes. This would have been a great opportunity to get more into Sunny’s feelings, to display her character growth but that didn’t happen very often.

Sunny came of as extremely shallow and while I realize that some of it was simply her way of coping, it still left a bitter aftertaste. The best example would be her relationship with her Boyfriend Donovan. He was just as shallow and even though she actually liked Cole better, she stayed with Donovan because he was better looking and stole the occasional thing or two for her. While she showed some growth towards the end, it came too late for me. Still she did great things for the Alzheimer’s patients but there were no palpable emotions there.

Cole was a sweet guy and I would’ve loved to get into his head for a bit – I can only imagine the emotions that warred in him. I definitely can see why everyone in the book took a liking to him, he was the sweet guy that was always there to help.

In the end, it was the Alzheimer’s patients that made me care the most. You don’t want to get attached to them because you realize that they suffer from a disease which can’t be calculated but I couldn’t stop myself from caring.

This book left me with a heavy feeling and many thoughts. So despite not always caring for the main character or the way the story was told, this book still deserves 3 solid stars.

ARC provided by James Lorimer & Company via NetGalley.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crush. Candy. Corpse. is a top quality YA novel that was a pleasure to read. The story was constructed in a suspenseful and logical way, and the character of Sunny was fleshed out, believable and realistic.

The story opens in a courtroom, where we find sixteen-year-old Sunny has been accused of the manslaughter of a woman who lived in the Alzheimer's ward in a long-term care facility where Sunny volunteered. Sunny is doing her 40 hours of community service as a high school requirement. Scenes in the courtroom and during the volunteer time at the facility intertwine, revealing Sunny's story and how she came to be accused of the crime.

As well as offering a suspenseful story, the novel deals with issues of euthanasia and caring for those with Alzheimer's disease in a really sensitive way. They never got in the way of the story; rather it was enhanced by dealing with these delicate subjects.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful WHO DONE IT about a young girl accused of manslaughter. Sonja "Sunny" Ebert has to do volunteer work for an English class. She is assigned to Paradise Manor and is put on the Alzheimer Ward. Sonja is repulsed by the smells and the patients but soon her attitude turns around. Cole's grandmother Helen Demers is a patient there. Cole and Helen have a pact that when Helen becomes totally unfunctionable he is to end her life. When Helen mysteriously chokes on candy, Sonja is accused of being the ringleader. Who is to blame? Did Sonja do it? Was the nursing home neligent? A real page turner!!!!!

[Kelly Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unusual YA murder mystery. The story skillfully unfolds through flashbacks, court scenes and journal entries from the main character Sunny. Sunny is putting in her high school volunteer hours at an old age home when an Alzheimer's patient dies. The story is beautifully written and explores several topical issues: the legalities of the right to die, and Alzheimers are some. What surprised me was how touching the interactions were between the teens and the Alzheimer patients. In this way, it was both a page turner and a tear jerker. A satisfying summer read.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a great book, though in the copy I read the spacing was a bit off with the journal entries, and the more personal things that happened, and yeah, just a great story!

[Janice Bonczek · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I thought this was a very good book, and tackled a big issue, especially for a YA novel. Most recent YA novels I have read don't really include any kind of serious issues. But there was no angst-ridden love, supernatural creatures, or young people destined to save the world in this story.

The story, set in Canada, is of a young girl named Sonja "Sunny" Ehret. The book begins with a trial, in which Sunny is the defendant. The charge against her is manslaughter, of a patient who Sunny had been helping while volunteering at a local nursing home called "Paradise Manor". The woman, who was diabetic and had trouble swallowing, choked on some hard candies (which she was not allowed to have). The prosecution is trying to prove that Sunny purposely gave her the candies and then walked away when she began choking. The story begins to unfold and moves back and forth between the trial proceedings, Sunny's journal entries for her volunteer work (which the prosecution is using as evidence for the first half of the story), and Sunny's flashbacks told from her point-of-view.

At the beginning of the novel, Sunny is displayed as a selfish, thoughtless teenager, who only seems to care about styling hair. Upset that her teacher will not let her do her mandatory volunteer time at Salon Teo, she waits until the last minute to make her choice and eventually takes the last available option: Paradise Manor. She skips out on her first day there because it smells bad, then lies to her teacher about ditching with the ridiculous excuse that she thought a sewer pipe had exploded. She complains to her boyfriend, Donovan, about the smell, and we then see another unlikeable part of her character, as she looks the other way while Donovan steals perfume for her to help her be able to stand the smell while she volunteers. We also learn that they were previously arrested for shoplifing, although she was not charged. She seems like an unlikeable character.

She apologizes to her teacher and goes back to the nursing home to start her volunteer hours for real. When she first meets the patients, who are all in declining stages of mental health due to Alzheimer's, we see more of her shallow side as she is disgusted by their grooming habits, and uncomfortable while trying to conversate with them. She even refers to the patients as "inmates"! While at the Manor, she meets another volunteer, Cole Demers. Cole is not forced to be there by school requirement, he is visiting his grandmother, and genuinely wants to help her. Sunny begins to see him every time she goes to volunteer.

As the story progresses, so does Sunny, along with her moral character. Perhaps spending time with Cole (who is a much better role model than Donovan), helps her with that. She begins to actually like her time at the Manor, looking forward to seeing the patients and brightening their days. She buys them small presents, and really begins to care about them. Cole is always telling her that due to their disease, the patients only have moments of clarity, so it is important to try to give them happy moments when they can. But as Cole begins to trust Sunny more, he also tells her the full story of his "pact" with his grandmother. She was so depressed when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's that she made Cole promise that he would "help her go" when she could no longer live with dignity.

The subject of euthanasia is tackled admirably by McNicoll, especially for a YA novel. She does it very subtly; it is never directly named or defined. Cole spends a lot of time telling Sunny that he feels terrible that his grandmother has to live like this. He thinks that she is suffering more this way than she would if she died. He admits he wants to help her commit suicide but doesn't know how to go about it. And Sunny seems to agree with him in the beginning. We hear that she said she would rather die than live like the patients at the Manor did, and similar statements. However, when Cole asks her directly what he should do, she tells him to forget about it, that what his grandmother asked of him was too much and no one should have to make a decision like that or actually have to help someone commit suicide.

The story continues to progress with Sunny starting to realize she likes this new version of herself, realizing that not only does it feel better when she spends time with Cole rather than with Donovan, but she feels better about herself as well.

This is a very difficult topic to discuss, even among adults. That is why I like that Sylvia McNicoll chose it as one of the themes of her book. It is not an easy topic to write about, and the author states that she drew from personal experience (her mother had Alzheimer's) while writing the novel. It was an especially refreshing read with the YA being released lately, which all usually includes a dark romance, and does not include any important issues. This book had some romance, but it wasn't the main topic, and it wasn't described in over-the-top ways. There was no sexuality in the book at all. While I'm not saying that I dislike most YA fiction that is being released today, I think that it is praiseworthy when authors actually try to put some substance into their offerings for younger readers. This not only was a good story & mystery, and had a likeable heroine trying to decide between two love interests and also beat her court charges; it also dealt with several difficult topics such as: aging, Alzheimer's, the way society treats our elders today, euthanasia and whether it should be against the law, and growing up. And as it dealt with all of these issues, it did so in a way that did not feel too heavy, and the ideas were not overbearing or shoved down your throat. (I think this is especially important in YA novels that deal with heavy/adult subject matter).

I thought it was a great read, recommend it for teenagers especially. But also for anyone who has any interest in these topics, or is interested in reading a heartfelt story about a seemingly shallow young girl who learns about life, friendship, suffering, love, and death, all while becoming more mature and growing up in the process.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly researched and compellingly written. Love this book.

[A Book Vacation · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

This novel opens in the beginning stages of our main character’s trial. You see, Sunny has been accused of manslaughter–the intentional murder of an elderly woman in a nursing home, but she says she didn’t do it. Sound intriguing? It is.

Forced to volunteer at Paradise Manner (a name synonymous with irony) for a school project, and keeping a journal every step of the way, readers get to know the real Sunny through her own written words, but also others’ perceptions of her as the trial commences. My favorite aspect of the novel, by far, is that we, as readers, become a part of the jury. The evidence is presented in such a way that we are given the opportunity to weigh all the evidence for and against Sunny, and it’s especially intriguing because we get to see Sunny’s thoughts as she sits in her seat listening to the witnesses. Yes, we get to see inside Sunny’s head a little more than the jury, and she gets to explain herself, but even way before the end, my mind was made up in terms of her guilt. Did she or didn’t she do it? You’ll have to make that judgment call as you read.

And, as the story progresses, the title reverberates in the readers’ minds: Crush. Candy. Corpse. For the longest time I couldn’t figure out why this was the title, but it’s is perfect. Sunny has a crush. There is candy involved. And a death. One thing leads to another, but not necessarily in the way you think. Along with the title, I have to say the cover itself it perfect. Not only striking, it shows the main character exactly as I envision her, even though I didn’t understand the meaning behind the pink hair for quite some time. I love it.

When I first began this novel, I thought Sunny was going to be a brat. She begins the novel with her rants about having to work at paradise Manor and she spells out just how much she hated the idea and the people in the very beginning. While her observations and wit are often times quite amusing, it does paint the picture of a bratty little girl. But, rest assured, she grows on you. It’s not long before Sunny begins to enjoy volunteering, partly because he gets to see Cole, and partly because she really does care about the patients, and as the novel progresses, it becomes more and more about the patients. From start to finish, Sunny morphs into a completely different person, and I loved this, especially as we see the different testaments about her “breaking of rules” and other’s perceptions of her. It’s true that first impressions are hard to dispel, and in Sunny’s trial, it becomes evident that many people hold vastly to those first impressions. However, she doesn’t make it easy for them to see past her pink hair and destructive ways, so it makes sense that so many would testify against her. Her past hasn’t necessarily been a great one.

Overall, this is a great, clean story that makes you think, and I really enjoyed it.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny is sixteen and is accused of the manslaughter of a woman with Alzheimer’s who she had met as a volunteer at a senior’s home. Sunny, named so by her own grandmother has two pink strips in the front of her hair and an attitude that is not appreciated by the supervisor at Paradise Manor. Sunny's attitude extends to her choice of boyfriend and to ignoring her parents request that she not see him after they are caught shoplifting. Sunny's immigrant parents work long hours managing a condo. Occasionally Sunny helps out at the condo office but she would prefer to work at Salon Teo as a hairdresser. Sunny and her family are also dealing with the mother’s ongoing treatment of a cancer. These issues create the path that leads Sunny to her arrest for manslaughter. Sunny is hurt and frightened; she is confused and defiant as she begins her compulsory forty volunteer hours in order to graduate from high school.

Sunny is a realistic and believable protagonist experiencing authentic events and responding with genuine reactions. As we review each visit to Paradise Manor in Sunny’s required English journal and through the events of the trial we witness the changes that many teens experience as they mature. Her relationships with the victim’s grandson, the victim and the other residents at the Manor change as she progresses through her forty hour sentence. Sunny’s frank opinions, spontaneous reactions and often caring participation in Manor bingo, birthday parties and funerals show us the true nature of her being.
Sunny develops a crush and becomes close to a fellow volunteer whose grandmother is a resident at Paradise Manor. This relationship hovers around her while she volunteers and helps her come to terms with the loss of her own grandmother and creates the dilemma of choosing between the boy at the manor and the one she is secretly dating.

Some readers like myself may hesitate to select a book about an Alzheimer’s ward but this reasoning will be unfounded even when the issue of euthaniasia hovers around the experiences of the two young volnteers. The subject is dealt with honestly and with genuine understanding of the patients, the families and the care givers. My own experience with the disease rang true in this story. Even young readers without the experience of living with Alzheimer's disease can relate to and understand Sunny's experiences at Paradise Manor. Without burdening the reader with too much Canadian justice system legal jargon and procedure we experience the trial as an equal companion to Sunny's narrative and her journal entries.

McNicoll is the author of twenty-seven books and five award winning titles including Bringing up Beauty (Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1994).
crush.candy.corpse is nominated for the Ontario Library Association's Red Maple Award 2013.

[Lauren Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recent novels in the Young Adult genre have some upsetting depictions of elderly people and I'm not entirely comfortable with that. Who could forget that scene in Twilight where Bella has a nightmare that she is introducing her grandmother to Edward and then suddenly realizes that she is in front of a mirror and she is the grandmother. This leads to mostly vain reasons why Bella can't stand to not be turned into a vampire. After all, she'd be ugly and old one day and Edward will always be young and beautiful.

I recently read Starters by Lissa Price which had an amusing plot line with interesting science fiction elements, yet I couldn't stomach the blatant ageism in the story. Elderly people prey on those who are younger and poorer through a service organization that offers money and plastic surgery to teens who are willing to let an older person "borrow" their body for days, weeks, or months.

While Crush. Candy. Corpse. uses a familiar plot vehicle, I was delighted and surprised by the authentic care and kindness it fosters toward the elderly. Teens are a group that are more frightened of death, dying, and ageing than adults for the most part, and using this fear to titalate or thrill doesn't seem right to me. McNicoll's writing never feels forced or fake, giving the characters a chance to come through as they are, multifaceted, flawed, and interesting.

The courtroom drama plot vehicle is used immediately, clueing in the reader to the fact that Sunny, the main character, is accused of a very serious crime involving an older woman from the assisted living home where she reluctantly volunteers, a requirement for her graduation. During her community service, Sunny completed a journal for her class, stating the details in her own words.

While both of these elements are tired and overused, McNicoll gives us a great story using both Sunny's journal, the courtroom dialogue, and Sunny's internal narration. Not the best of students, Sunny's teacher describes her as "average." Her boyfriend is a creepy kleptomaniac that feels the need to steal something every time they're at the mall, and Sunny doesn't really come across as the most honest of people either. She wants to be a hairdresser and the two bright pink streaks in the front of her hair attest to her talent. She is always fixing her own hair and is eager to fix other characters' hair when given the chance. Sunny comes across as selfish, ditching her volunteer hours when she gets a whiff of a bad smell at the nursing home, but she surprises the reader with some amazingly caring and considerate behavior later in the story.

There's a touch of romance, but this story is mainly a realistic, touching depiction of a teenager who makes a few really genuine connections with some elderly citizens. Well executed and a difficult subject matter in a familiar format.

[Faith.m · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crush.Candy.Corpse. by :Sylvia McNicoll
review by: Faith.M

I've been reading Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll, which I just finished, And is in the top 20 Red Maple selections for 2013. The author who wrote this book, was born and raised in Ajax,Ontario.She wrote this book based on some parts of her childhood.Sylvia McNicoll's grandmother used to call her sunny, which was short for Sylvia. Same as the protagonist’s mother called her, but her real name was Sonja Ehret.

The major themes in the book Crush. Candy. Corpse. are Crime, Romance and death.16 year-old Sunny Ehret stands trial for the manslaughter of a 75-year old Alzheimer’s patient.
the novel goes back and forth between sunny Ehret’s life, as she completes her required 40 volunteer hours for school, at a local nursing home of Alzheimer patients, and the court scene where she is accused of manslaughter. However, in the book the Author described the protagonist-sunny- considerate,and kind hearted to the old Alzheimer patients. but made a few mistakes as she volunteered at the nursing home. And sometimes didn't follow the rules because she thought they were a little too cruel, or were sometimes really stupid.(I agree.’No celebrating birthdays until the end of the month,to celebrate everyone’s birthday at once on the same day.’ seriously? even worse, no presents.)

After I was done reading this book, I felt more of a relief than sadness that it had ended. I’m saying this because throughout the book nothing exciting really happened. Which I thought was really disappointing. Because I expected something more thrilling and from the look of the cover and the title. However the thing I liked about the book was the romance. The relationship between her best friend, and her two guy friends she couldn't choose between. One who she called her boyfriend,named Donovan. Though, I still didn't get why Sonja was still with him, because her parents had banned them to be together after he’d been caught shoplifting. And the other guy was one she called ‘just a friend’, named Cole. Though you could that tell Sonja liked him.

Overall, I thought this book was okay, because it could teach the reader three or four things about life and how to handle it. My favorite character in the book was sunny-Sonja- because she was a creative, compassionate and brave teen,even though she was being accused of manslaughter, she had stayed strong for her mom who was maybe going to dye because she had cancer, which was really tender.To add on, I’d give this book a 3 out of 5.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was really thought out and well written. I also really liked that it started on the present day with what was happening and then took you back to when everything actually started and it took you through as in you were actualy there witnessing everything. I really liked how Sylvia thought out the characters and had there background down pat as you were actually friends with Sonja "Sunny" Ehret.

[Michelle M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, McNicoll's novel was a good and quick read. I thought it was interesting how it was structured, as each witness spoke of what they thought happened to the poor old woman (Cole's grandmother), Sunny would explain her side through the journal. However, I didn't like the end very much, ONLY because it seemed abrupt. The court case was unrealistically short; I would have preferred a longer novel, so the ending wouldn't give me a "what the hell" reaction.

[Lynda Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tense, intriguing, very highly recommended!

[Mirna Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley Review


Altered By Words


A book title and a book cover have much in common. Each device can be a determining factor when deciding whether a book is worth reading, and if used effectively; a combination of the two can be an alluring, siren call to book lovers. Like a cover, the title barely scratches the surface though. You don’t always know what you’re gonna get…Good or bad.
Originally, I decided to read Crush Candy Corpse based on the title. The combination of candy and corpses made for an irresistible piece of literature to my brain; akin to the boldest and most unusual cover design, and the word crush amidst that catchy language compelled me to request it. Cadavers, sweets, and the possibility of some crush related romance? My mind was practically screaming, I must have it now! While there isn’t anything particularly interesting about Candy, other than it being delicious and colorfully cute, sweet even. Corpses are always intriguing; especially to someone as dark and twisty as I.
Imagine my glee at discovering that a teenage girl was being accused of manslaughter? Death isn’t a happy thing, but the idea of a teen being involved makes for awesome reading! I was dying to see how it all played out! Did she kill the barely responsive patient to end her suffering, and if she did, is it wrong? Should we grant Alzheimer’s patients the mercy of death, rather than allow them to eventually forget how to live?
The story begins with our leading lady Sunny on trial for the death of one of the residents of Paradise Manner. Just when Sunny is thanking her lucky stars and high-fiving herself for being done with her 41 hours of required community service, Mrs. Demers, her crush’s Alzheimer stricken Grandmother, chokes to death on some hard candy she never should have had. I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure about this angle at first because I typically just like to watch court procedurals like Law and Order rather than to read about court cases, but Sylvia Mcnicolls’ writing style immediately kyboshed any lingering reluctance. Especially when she alluded to the possibility that Sunny may have helped Cole murder his grandmother; because of a promise Cole’s grandma tried to talk him into when she was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
The author smoothly transitioned between the courtroom and the events leading up to the trial, using Sunny’s community service journals as both a primary means of storytelling and evidence. Through the journals, we get to see Sunny grow. She initially starts off as this self-absorbed, bad boy loving, teen, who I really didn’t think I could like, I mean she didn’t want to use hand sanitizer because of its smell, and used a coffee bean necklace because she was too prissy to withstand the old people smell. Not to mention, she was also in this rather irksome love triangle with her hunky, troubled boyfriend Donavan and sweetie pie crush Cole. Still, the pink-haired fashionista ends up surprising us all as she is the epitome of true character growth.
As each journal is dissected for premeditative motives, the reader gets to watch as reticence gradually becomes love for the elderly folk in her care. From feedings to hair dying, to forbidden doughnut runs, we get to see all the ways in which Sunny seeks to bring joy to those she helps, even if for a moment. We get to see view changes in her as well. For example, she used to feel extremely sorry for seniors struggling to make purchases at the store, and after her volunteer work, her pity changes to pride as those with “trembling fingers”, still have their independence. “Good for you”, she wants to say.
When Sunny’s character was being ripped apart and the nice things she did were being used against her, like when she got one of the patients new pants because his were stained but didn’t label them like the rules expressed, my heart broke for her. I remember her thinking something along the lines of, “if you could only see the last journal entry, you would understand”. I know I’ve thought similar things in moments when I’m being called to task for mistakes I’ve made. “If you would have been there, felt what I felt, you’d understand.” She started off thinking death was better than aging, but changed her frame of mind when a patient she had grown attached to passed on. There’s nothing like the wisdom of experience.
Looking back, I can’t believe I misjudged Sunny for a second. She is such an amazingly compassionate character. It’s sad and beautiful to watch Sunny attempt to offer choices to people who won’t remember them later, and it’s deeply moving to see how despite their lack of remembrance Sunny still kept her word, even when many told her that it wasn’t necessary. Not many could claim such integrity as their own.
I think there’s a bit of Sunny in all of us. Around the middle of the book, she admitted to herself that she liked Cole better than her thieving boyfriend, but she was warring with herself because Cole was sweet rather than the smooth talking popular boy Donavan was. Cole was dorky rather than a token of instant status. How many times in our lives have we known that someone was bad news, but stayed around to not be alone? How many times have we let what others might think slow us down?
Overall, I loved this book to pieces. It gives a very accurate portrayal of what it would be like if a loved one was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and is well written enough to make even the strongest will falter. I laughed, I cried, I pondered, this book is beyond powerful. Trust me. I for one have completely changed my views on Community service, and would whole-heartedly recommend volunteering to most people. Schools require hours because if teens weren’t made to help, then very few of them would learn what career path they’d like for the future and waste precious time dithering about. The threat of not graduating must be in place; otherwise, most would wait to learn till the last minute. Like during the internship portion of the Bachelors’ degree or something. OH and when we finally truly understand why Sunny has made certain ill advised choices, and why she’s the way she is, and just how fragile she is; it will just make you love her even more. I found myself wishing that I could go through my Kindle via some magical portal and hug her as tightly as possible. Normally I write book reviews the moment I’m done with a book, but it nearly took me a week to finish this one because there is just so much I loved about Crush Candy Corpse. It’s not everyday that one is forever altered by words. I’m still trying to catch my breath from this major paradigm shift. Don’t know about dying your hair pink, but I do know that everyone must read this book. Please?

[ayms ♥︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prose did not capture me whatsoever but the entire depiction of alzheimers really did. The part where she helps Jeanette win bingo almost brought me to tears. this book was so depressing, and most of the characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out, but like i said the parts about alzheimers were super well written. i also liked the back and forth format.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA mystery with some hard topics and different perspectives. I loved this writing style of journal entries and the present day trial for each chapter. The entire book kept me questioning what the outcome would be and I appreciated all of the characters, even if some frustrated me or made me roll my eyes. Donovan I'm referring to you 😑

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much, it was very mysterious yet realistic and had a good ending if you ask me. It was fun to read and I really got sucked into the book and whenever I put it down I always thought of when I was going to pick it back up again!!!

[Beary Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 5

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

[Mikki Van Keulen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with my students. It's a pretty good book. The subject of Alzheimer's hits close to home.

[Mallory Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What caught my eye about this book was the cover and then the title. The young girl’s gaze called to me and I found myself drawn in by the look on her face and pink hair. Crush.Candy.Corpse intrigued me in its own right and combined with the short description provided I had to know more. After reading the book I can say that the unique title and cover picture fit the book perfectly and I can’t imagine a better match. To me they were both the perfect choice.
Sonja Ehret known as Sunny throughout the book is a seventeen year old girl struggling to figure out what she believes in and who she is, something every young adult and even older adults can relate too. When she meets Cole Demmers, the grandson of one of the resident’s parts of Sunny’s true personality and character emerge showing her in a different light to readers. She introduced quite a few residents and minor characters that actually made the story better. They provided different types of interactions allowing you to really get to know Sunny and who she was as a person. I enjoyed how Sylvia McNicoll used situations and moments of stress in a way to let readers develop their own feelings about the characters and who they were. Instead of saying Sunny is good or Donovan is bad. McNicoll made the readers judge Sunny, Cole and the rest of the characters based on their actions and not what they were being told to think.
Another aspect that I loved about this book was how McNicoll made the decision to start the story in a courtroom with Sunny facing charges of manslaughter. She proceeds to fill in the blanks using mandatory journal entries from her community service at the nursing home that lead into scenes from the previous year. I worked in an assisted living facility so I found myself locked into the story and remembering all the old people I met during my own experience and remembering how it broke my heart to watch them deteriorate before me and some even pass away. I could sense Sunny’s struggle to come to grips with understanding along with trying to help the residents. Her unbreakable desire to make them happy touched my heart in so many ways. Not only do you get to know Sunny through flashbacks but also through the witnesses called to the stands and her friends.
Crush.Candy.Corpse packs a punch. Hands down, this is a book that should be required reading for students. McNicoll weaves such a heart wrenching story that you’re forced to contemplate your own beliefs, to question parts of yourself that are easily pushed away and rarely confronted. While reading this book you will have no choice but to think about how you feel about what’s happening to Sunny. After all, she could be you. The way the story unfolds introducing different elements and parts of Sunny’s character and personality through bits and pieces adds to the total effect. Sunny is not portrayed as perfect by any means and doesn't even walk away from the story a saint. Through the story she even admits that time and time again. But between the covers you grow with her and understand her pain. At the end of the story you won’t be the same, it is bound to touch you in some way.
This coming of age story had me entranced from beginning to end. Just when I thought she couldn't cut my soul anymore, she slid the knife in deeper. Sylvia McNicoll uses similes and metaphors throughout the book that add a certain depth along with a “detachment” in the beginning. Who wouldn't want to see the courtroom as something else when you’re standing trial for manslaughter and possibly facing your future? Honestly I tried to find something that I could point out and say could possibly have been better. However when I was reading this book my heart was pounding and the only thing that mattered was the next page. I was completely drawn in, not just by Sunny but the unique plot as well. I haven’t read another book quite like this. Crush.Candy.Corpse made me question my own feelings about facing death. Even when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. Sylvia McNicoll made all the right choices from beginning to end.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me awhile before I got the hang of the story. Maybe because I was waiting in the hospital that day or maybe because the start didn't have that much of an impact to me. It actually started out unique. I think too unique for me that I didn't get it all too well.

It started out in the courtroom. See? Unique right? But the organization of the scenes confused me. A lot. There are parts in the book wherein an entry of Sunny's journal is inserted. So it's like, courtroom, journal, courtroom, journal, etc. The entries in the journal were directed to Mr. Brooks. He was the teacher who actually forced Sunny to volunteer at Paradise Manor. The thing is, that journal itself made a lot of confusing thoughts for me. I don't know if it was my comprehension level or the book was just confusing. Either way, it was so confusing that I don't even know what's in the journal and not anymore. Placing a journal in a book sounds so good. Though I think it could have been executed in a better way. Without confusions.

There's Sunny. She had this volunteer work at Paradise Manor for her school requirement. Obviously, she was forced to do it. She met Cole and his grandmother in the Manor. She met a lot of oldies. A lot of staff hated her. Why? She doesn't follow rules. I hate her for that. Those rules weren't even for her. It was for the old people. So why can't she just follow them right? And I know she doesn't even want to volunteer. It was just for her school requirement. I read on thinking that she'll love the old people since she was close to her grandma before. She did, of course. But that, my friends, was the part where she lost me. I didn't feel as if she really felt concern for the old people. Sure, she was kind to them, did good things for them. But was that enough? I just didn't find that sincerity in her voice. And to think that this was written in the 1st person POV makes me sick. I felt like I was reading from a 3rd person POV. That's how much I didn't connect to her. There's also her boyfriend issue. Goodness, how can she lead on Cole when she has a boyfriend? If you're thinking that I hate her, I don't. Really. But her choices do suck. It's just so frustrating, okay. And here's the thing, I can forgive for her stupidity if she has a life that is sucking her up. But she doesn't. Maybe she has issues. But those weren't much of a big deal in the story. The story was so much focused on the case, in the courtroom. So I guess that's why I wasn't able to connect to her and understand her.

The thing that led Sunny to that courtroom concerns Cole and his grandma. You'll figure it out immediately when you read this. I just don't want to say it here. What happened was so freaking shallow. I'm sorry. But I think there are worse problems that can happen than that. It was pure accident. And I don't even know why there was a case against Sunny. Seriously? It was so unbelievable. I know Sylvia did some research but I didn't find it so convincing.

Another thing is, there are a lot of issues that were introduced in this book that I find it so dragging already. Sure, the case is the main concern. But there are little problems that seemed so unimportant. They weren't discussed or even explained a little more. And there's the ending. It was so so so not what I expected. I know what's gonna happen to the case. But the last part of the ending itself made me think about what the moral of this story is.

I read this because I have a soft spot for people with Alzheimer's. But because there are more issues I have with this book, I didn't get to enjoy the read anymore. I can't even think that the focus was Alzheimer's disease. I felt like the story took a lot of turns but didn't make it back.

Despite all my rant, I'm giving this two stars. It was okay. Neither liked nor disliked. Still, I just thought the story could have been executed in a better way. The premise was so good anyway.

Of course, I'm not discouraging you to read this. Maybe this isn't just for me. But I do hope you'll give this a chance!

(Many thanks to James Lorimer & Company for allowing me to read this through NetGalley.)

[Sheri (Tangled Up In Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Perks of Being a Bookworm

3.5 out of 5 stars!

This is a hard review to write, because while on the whole I enjoyed this book I did have a few problems with it. Now it was a very short book, my Adobe Digital Editions displayed a total of 164 pages at the bottom. That's not what I had a problem with. That was fine. But the way it was written kind of gave me whiplash at times. It starts out at the beginning of her trial and then it starts jumping back and forth between the past and her thoughts of what happened at each point, back to the trial and what was being said, who was being questioned, what they were asked etc.

This volunteer work is a graduation requirement and they're supposed to put in 40 hours and keep a journal about they're hours for English class? I don't remember for certain. As evidence for the trial, her journal entries would sort of be the transition between past and present at times. There wasn't ever a smooth transition either, that would have made it okay but it was like Witness A is being asked questions and she's reacting in her head then numerous times she would say something like "..if only they would read more entries in my journal, then they'd understand" and bam you'd have a big bold title DAY 2 - 38 HOURS LEFT or some such and then a short paragraph or two for the entry where she's writing to her teacher. but then it goes right into a flashback with no warning and sometimes at first I couldn't tell if I was still in the journal entry or in the flashback.

I guess I feel like with it being such a short book there was a much bigger opportunity to make this book a bit fuller and ease the headache it causes at times, instead of the constant whiplash from the back and forth between flashbacks. It wouldn't of hurt. And the ending could have been fleshed out dramatically. It just sort of dropped off. And if you're going to stop it right there just like that..we should have at least gotten a epilogue. All this build up and then...nothing.

There were a few other items but I really don't want to give away anything about the plot and/or the characters. But none of this is to be mistaken as I didn't like this book. Because it was a good story. Had it been a bit longer and the ending tweaked just a bit it would have been a great story. It was definitely worth the read. Though Alzheimer's hasn't touched anyone in my life I have known others that it has effected. If to get a better understanding about the people it touches alone it's worth the read. I feel like it does a decent job portraying the patients and some of them are quite endearing.

[Bailee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's your turn to back a decision. Is she guilty or isn't she? Did she kill someone or was it a simple mistake? Perhaps it was a pack with the family of the patient and she was setup as the fall guy or perhaps we don't understand much of anything at all. In this book, the reader gets a chance to do something that many jurors wish they could do. We get to hear the evidence, hear the case, and get an inside look into the accused mind. My mom is addicted the murder mystery/forensic files/cold case shows so I am familiar with the whole process that takes place in a murder trial but this truly sounded interesting. It appeared to be right up my alley, although I ended up being slightly disappointed in the end with the main character and some of the story.


There are some people in this world that just happen to rub you the wrong way and it's hard to forget, even if they change. Sunny, sadly, was one of those characters for me. Her vibrant pink hair didn't honestly bother me because it fit her rebellious spirit. However rebellion doesn't always equal bratty attitudes and disobedient behaviors that grated on my nerves. I admire characters who manage to show their true nature through their facades of brattiness, however I failed to see it. Yet she did manage to prove that she did care for the residents of the care center and her disobedient behavior became a way to try to make these patients lives better. Her attitude really did continue to bother me though, which proved to be a problem regarding the rest of the story.


The main men of this story are Cole, the son of one of the patients in the care center and the eventual supposed murder subject, and Donovan, whom she actually claimed to be her boyfriend but seemed to lose eventual interest in him. Her parents had forbade a relationship between Donovan and Sunny after he was caught shoplifting but as any teenager and parent knows, when you say no, it only makes the opportunity seem that much better. It drives the girl into the wrong guy's arms and leads her farther away from the good influences of the people who should be closest to her. However, she eventually begins to show some form of interest in Cole but refuses to entirely admit it to even herself. This little crush has a small motive in the whole plot of the story, even if she claims that he is only a friend.


So, now it is your choice. Is this your type of book? It wasn't really mine but I understand that to each their own! Check it out and maybe share your thoughts.


**This book was received from the publisher via NetGalley. None of the review was influenced by the author or the publisher. This is a completely original review. The thoughts and feelings of the reviewer are entirely her own and have no ties to the publisher.**

[Michelle Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts on Crush. Candy. Corpse. By Sylvia McNicoll

Crush. Candy. Corpse. Isn’t a typical young adult book. I was completely taken by surprise when I started reading it. But I have to make this perfectly clear…

I loved it. I think everyone should read it.

But don’t go into thinking it’s going to be a sappy, romantic contemporary love story with a happily ever after ending like I did, because it isn’t and it won’t. This is a totally different experience. One that can potentially change lives.

Crush. Candy. Corpse. Follows the court hearing of Sunny who is charged with murdering one of the Alzheimer patients she was assigned to work with for her high-school’s mandatory forty-hour community service hours. The chapters alternate between the courtroom scenes and scenes at Paradise Manor, the Alzheimer home.

The book is riveting. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next, what witness was going to be called and what they would say…what was going to be revealed in the scene at Paradise Manor…I was immersed in the story.

Sunny starts out her mandatory forty-hour community service hours hating her placement. She doesn’t want to be at Paradise Manor. She thinks it smells, the old people are weird, she doesn’t know how to deal with them. She wants to be anywhere but there.

But as the story progresses, we see Sunny mature. She begins to develop relationships with the patients, care about them. She worries if they are eating enough, if their families are visiting enough, if their clothes fit right. She develops a sense of empathy toward them that she didn’t have at the beginning of the book. We watch this growth as we go through her murder trial with her.
This book touches on some very deep and emotional subjects. Alzheimer’s disease and the effects it has on a family and the person afflicted. And, perhaps even harder to deal with, euthanasia. Is it okay to end a person’s life if they ask you to? When is the time to do so? Or is it never an option?

Crush. Candy. Corpse. Looks at these questions form a young adult’s view. It’s a powerful book.

Bottom line: Would I recommend it? Yes! Most definitely. Would I read it again? That’s a hard question. As much as I loved the book, it was also emotionally draining. I don’t know if I would read it again. Also, knowing the outcome, it wouldn’t have the same impact as the first time I read it.

Five Stars. It was an exceptional book. Not what I was expecting at all. It was much, much better!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crush.Candy.Corpse
by Sylvia McNicoll

The story is about a young girl who is charged with manslaughter in the death of an elderly patient. The book takes you through the trial and by flashbacks through journal entries.

At first Sunny appears to be a teen with a negative attitude going down a path of destruction and thinks she is above volunteering at a nursing home for her school community requirement. As you begin to know Sunny, you realize that the outer façade is self-protection.
Sunny is assigned to Paradise Manor Nursing in the Alzheimer ward. Her first day is not a success, well actually didn’t happen as she bolted. She quickly becomes attached to the patients and becomes friendly with one of the patient’s grandson. Cole discusses with her that his grandmother made him promise to help her before the disease wiped away her memories turning her into an empty shell.

We find out the story through the trial and Sunny’s journal entries. We find out that she is not an uncaring teen, but someone who cares very deeply. We watch her grow from this “I don’t want to be here” held hostage volunteer to “I want to be here” volunteer at my own will. She is a rule breaker, but you find that she breaks the rules with good intentions. Not always right, but meaning to do the right thing.

The last paragraph leaves you wondering if the author is considering a sequel or wants you to imagine what’s next.
The book hit home with me. As a young adult my grandparents were patients in an Alzheimer ward. People say that it affects the family and living more than the actual patients. That it is easier for the patients. I don’t think it is easier or harder for either side. I think it is just plain hard and heart breaking. At times you see the glimpses of the people they once were and it gives you both false hope. Then it’s gone. Each time it is as if you are losing them over and over again. I imagine for them it is worse. I know how frustrating it can be to forget something insignificant, I can’t image losing everything important to you. I remember the smells, the feeling of hopelessness and sadness when I entered the nursing home. Now many years later, I still feel that way when I visit the nursing home. Those memories of what my grandparents lost come crashing down. Reading the book brought back those memories, but now also the guilt as I was one of those teens who didn’t go visit as I should.

[Sibella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also posted here http://reviewsofyabooks.blogspot.ca/2...

Introduction

Sonja "Sonny" Ehret is on trial for manslaughter.

After being forced to do her forty volunteer hours in order to graduate at an Alzheimer's ward, she meets and and interacts with many of the residents. After about two visits she meets a boy named Cole Demers who visits his grandmother Helen regularly.

After Sunny and Cole become friends, Cole confesses that his grandmother made him promise that when the disease progresses too far, he was to help her 'go.'

When Sunny 's hours are finished, she returns to the Alzheimer's ward to visit Helen one more time. Ten minutes after she leaves Helen Demers is found dead in her room. Sunny was the last person to see her alive.

Cover

The cover is Sonny showing of her trademark pink streaks with a black background. I like the cover because it's simple, and because of the pink streaks, there is no confusion that the cover is showcasing Sonny.

Characters

If I had to pick a favorite Character, it would probably be Wolfgang. I know, he's not in the book all that much but in the part he is in he is really nice. And for the record his name is pretty cool. I guess that Sunny and Cole are a little bit more than friends. I was not a fan of their relationship. I found it annoying because Sonny has a boyfriend but she still lets Cole kiss her. PLUS Cole knows that Sunny has a boyfriend yet this still goes on. The relationship between them was not an aspect of the book that I enjoyed.

Conclusion

This book was very enjoyable. I think that boys would enjoy this book too as long as they don't mind reading books with a female protagonist. I would read this book again in the future, and I would recommend this book to teens looking for a quick read whodunnit type read.

[Lis - The Indigo Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a cosmetologist and also hearing stories from my social-work friends who work in nursing homes, I actually found this book...what's the word...almost endearing with a touch of humor. I felt for the main character, Sonja aka Sunny, as she just seemed to be misunderstood and trying to establish her role in life during her teenage years. We all experienced peer pressure and toxic relationships growing up, but not everyone experiences the selflessness of volunteer work. Especially in a place like a nursing home. Even though this wasn't an action-packed fantasy romance novel, Sylvia McNicoll took me on a journey that pulled me in and left me thoughtful and growing along with the main character.

I really enjoyed the unique format this was written in. We find ourselves ping-ponging between the present-day courtroom and the flashbacks of the 41 hours Sunny spent at Paradise Manor. At first it was difficult to decipher between where Sunny's journal entries ended and the flashbacks began, but after the first few I figured it out. I do wish there was a better division between the two, I think it would have been more helpful to the reader.

From the acknowledgements in the back, it seems that McNicoll really did her research before she wrote this book and integrated some experiences of her own. I like seeing that an author did their homework.

Honestly, this reminded me of one of those kinds of books you read from your school library in Elementary (4th grade+) or Junior High. I think this could be a useful title in those venues as it isn't inappropriate in the least and contains a storyline that provides mystery and education in one. No steamy romance scenes, either.

If you're looking for a light read that doesn't necessarily provide a deep storyline, then I would recommend this book. Like I said, it didn't take me on any grand adventure, but it did leave me thoughtful. 4 stars for this one.

[Megan (The Book Babe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.

From the cover, I thought that this was going to be some kind of paranormal. Even the title, Crush. Candy. Corpse. hints that there's going to be some made up creatures. I'm not sure what my final classification will be, but without a doubt, there was no paranormal activity in this one.

It was actually kind of a mystery-- did Sunny or didn't she kill Helen? It wasn't what I was expecting at all.

I actually liked Sunny-- I feel like she made a lot of bad decisions, and that she definitely could have done better for herself than Donny, but she's a teenager. We're prone to screwing up. I loved her interactions with the old folks-- she was very patient with them, and she did her absolute best to please them all.

I liked Cole too, but I felt like he could have had some more development. For half of the book I was trying to figure out where he went and all, so I was really surprised by the ending, to say the least. I wish that we had gotten to see more of him, and more development on his part.

My favorite part of this story was definitely the flashbacks, though. I love it when books have a present/past kind of thing going on. It gives me better insight into the characters, then and now.

All in all, I enjoyed Crush. Candy. Corpse., but I feel like the characters could have had more development. It's a quick read that's definitely worth a look, though.