Books like The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

Nestled in a bustling town is the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream & Candy Shoppe, where Mrs. White's sugary treats are anything but ordinary—rock candy that lifts you off the ground, jawbreakers that grant unbreakable strength, and chocolate balls that conceal a master of disguise. Four friends—Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon—stumble into the shop and quickly uncover the spell‑bound powers of each confection. While the friendly Mrs. White and the cheerful ice‑cream truck driver, Mr. Stott, lend their charms, a shadowy stranger in a dark overcoat and fedora joins the lineup, hinting that all these “magicians” are after more than just sweets. Soon the children realize that the magical recruits are hunting a legendary hidden treasure that could fall into the wrong hands. With time running out, the quartet must decide whom to trust and race to secure the relic before the ensuing war erupts.

First publish date: 2007