The Candy Shop War

Confections that grant superpowers are a recurring motif throughout the novel and relate to the theme of Magical Youth. Both Mrs. White and Stott are capable of creating powerful effects through sweets. Mrs. White runs a candy shop, and Stott drives an ice cream truck, both with the intent of luring children. Nothing lures children more effectively than the promise of sweet treats. However, that lure is amplified by the effect that the confections have on the Blue Falcons.

Each different treat transforms them into a superhero. Moon Rocks allow them to defy gravity. Shock Bits allow them to shoot electricity from their fingers. Ironhides make Nate impervious to injury. Peak Performance gives Summer the speed and reflexes of an Olympic athlete. Brain Feed allows Pigeon to speak to animals. Mirror Mints let Trevor cross dimensions and travel through mirrors. Any one of those abilities would be enough for a superhero, but the children get to combine them to experience invincibility in several different ways. The feeling grows addictive. Nate himself admits that it isn’t simply the taste of the treats that makes him do Mrs.