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The Great Sugar War
by Benjamin Ellefson
Age Range: 7 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 6
Series: Land without Color
(book 2)
Paperback: 168 pages
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Would you be brave enough to battle against an army made of sugar?
For his twelfth birthday, Otto receive a little sailboat. On his maiden voyage he caught up in a terrible storm and lost at sea. When he rescues a lone man treading water in the middle of the ocean, he follows his directions to a strange land where all of the color has been drained from the land.
Otto soon realizes that he is smack dab in the middle of raging war between the Kingdom of Color and the Kingdom of Shapes. He tags along with the determined Colonel Droww and discovers the weird rules of war from the lazy grasshoppers and War Inspectors.
Then suddenly a new threat emerges. Sugar bubbles began to grow out of the ground across both kingdoms, giving rise to a terrible army of sugar soldiers that convert their enemies into more villains made of sugar. This is not just any war, it's a great sugar war!
With the both the armies of color and shapes decimated, it's up to Otto to save the day! He gathers a small band of heroes and searches for the true source of the new enemy. Together they must outsmart the war inspectors, battle the sugar soldiers, escape from the gnome factory, unite the two kingdoms, and teach the grasshoppers the importance of eating your vegetables.
Otto
When he receives a boat for his twelfth birthday, Otto sets sail for the afternoon on his maiden voyage. But when a storm hits, he is lost at sea for days. He soon rescues Colonel Droww and discovers the ironically named Kingdom of Color. Before he knows it, he is inducted into the Army of Color and participating in a great war against the Kingdom of Shapes. Otto soon discovers that war is not like he thought and has to use all of his wits to survive against the new army of sugar soldiers.
Aunt Nellie
Nellie Trailbender is an old woman living in the Grasshopper Fields who everyone affectionately calls "Aunt Nellie". An independent sole, she stays out of the long running military conflict between the Kingdom of Color and the Kingdom of Shapes. Instead, she uses her time to try to teach the stubborn grasshoppers to live in harmony with both colors and shapes. To think of the future and take care of yourself through preparedness.
Colonel Droww
Colonel Droww is the son of Will the Great, the hero of the Color Wars. He is determined to follow in his father's footsteps and be a great military leader. When war broke out, he raced to enlist in the army with his rival Colonel Grivelt. Now he leads his forces trying to defeat the enemy while attempting to become the youngest General in history.
The Mighty Lion
The Mighty Lion is the protector of the Red Berry Forest. Standing almost twice a tall as the average man, he is an huge beast with golden fur and thick brown mane. While is exterior is terrifying and vicious, inside he is a gentle soul who detests any person who would harm another. He uses his mighty roar to strike fear in the hearts of the wicked. Ever since his reign began, the Red Berry Forest has been a colorful lush paradise for all the woodland creatures.
Colonel Grivelt
Colonel Grivelt is an officer in the Army of Color. He is a giant bear who always wears a wide brimmed hat. Attending the military academy with Colonel Droww, he is always competing with his rival and trying to outdo him at every turn. He leads his forces in the war with the sole goal of become a General before Droww.
King Fabian
King Fabian is the heartbroken ruler of the Kingdom of Color. When he gave his queen a magnificent boat for her birthday, tragedy struck. Vile agents from his the Kingdom of Shapes struck and burned the boat at sea, killing all aboard including the queen. Now he rages a long war to seek vengeance and destroy the rival kingdom once and for all.
King Rhombus
King Rhombus is the ruler of the Kingdom of Shapes just south of the Grasshopper Fields. He lives in a gray, colorless land decorated with magnificent shapes. Through his reign, he has constructed a marvelous metropolis of shapes with towering sky-scrappers of intricate design. He has a long standing hatred of the Kingdom of Color and has spent much effort trying to convert the grasshoppers to the way of shapes. Now he is engaged in a full scale war against King Fabian.
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About the Illustrator
Kevin Cannon is a cartoonist most well known for the critically acclaimed nonfiction graphic novel “The Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy” (Hill & Wang, 2015) and the Eisner Award-nominated arctic adventure “Far Arden” (Top Shelf, 2009). City Pages named him Twin Cities’ Best Cartoonist in 2011. He also produces elaborate cartoon maps, which have appeared in The Appendix, The Star Tribune, The Riverfront Times, and The Miami New Times.
Cannon has also illustrated several children’s books, most notably “Ben and Lucy Play Pond Hockey” (Beavers Pond Press, 2010), and “The Gluten Glitch” (Beavers Pond Press, 2012).
A Minneapolis native, Cannon spends his free time camping, reading dusty books about arctic explorers, and listening to hockey games on the radio.
Jack Magnus
Reader's Favorite
The Great Sugar War is most highly recommended for children, preteens and those adults who still hunger for a bit of thought-provoking fantasy.
Aimee Ann
RedHeadedBookLover.com
The Great Sugar War is a stunning piece of fantasy fiction that is guaranteed to entertain, enthrall and enchant young readers from the very first page.
Marta Tandori
Reader's Favorite
The Great Sugar War is the perfect tale of good versus evil with colorful characters sure to engage, and a cliffhanger at the end that will have young readers eagerly clamoring for the next installment in the Land Without Color series.
Melissa Tanaka
Reader's Favorite
Ellefson is a master when it comes to world building, creating a complex universe of creativity and imagination that will have you hooked from beginning to end.
Gisela Dixon
Reader's Favorite
This is a great book for children and even young adults to read as it not only tells a thrilling and fun tale, but also conveys the message of hope under all circumstances, and the importance of courage and being true to oneself which is especially useful for young readers.
Anne-Marie Reynolds
Reader's Favorite
It isn't just a story; it presents young readers with challenges that they can learn from, a good idea because it gets kids thinking and teaches them how to solve problems.
Erik Weibel
ThisKidReviewsBooks.com
Ellefson has a great writing style, where you really connect with the characters.
