The Candy Smash (The Lemonade War series)

Reach for this book when your child starts noticing the 'who likes whom' whispers in the classroom or struggles with the line between curiosity and privacy. In this fourth installment of the Lemonade War series, Jessie is determined to break a big story for the school newspaper by exposing secret crushes just in time for Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, her brother Evan is desperate to keep his own feelings hidden. The story masterfully balances the lighthearted fun of a school mystery with deep emotional questions about trust, the ethics of journalism, and the vulnerability that comes with growing up. It is a perfect choice for children navigating the socially complex years of upper elementary school, offering a safe space to discuss how our actions can unintentionally hurt the people we care about most.