Candor is a book that there was a lot of early buzz about. All over the the blogs and twitter there it was talk of this amazing new book. It then became a book that I had to have. I needed to learn more about this town and kind of person who would brainwash his own son just to have the perfect society. Reading the book I kept waiting for that WOW factor. The moment which would seal my love for Candor so that I could join the hordes in proclaiming its brilliance.

However, that was never to be. At least not for me. I really like the premise and the writing of this novel but I didn't like any of the characters. The adults were underdeveloped and you never really learned all that you wanted to about the origins of Candor. And Oscar. Well he was just plain annoying. I was expecting someone sympathetic. Someone who wanted to fight the good fight, that last bastion of freedom in a place where your every thought is programmed. But Ocsar isn't any of those things. He is selfish and greedy and really isn't all that much better than the father who created a town filled with brainwashed kids.

I really wanted to rave about this book but I just can't. I didn't see very much in the book to like. But that said I didn't hate it. I was intrigued and I kept reading to see how it all might pan out. I was shocked by the ending. It wasn't one that I had expected and so was a nice twist. So while I am not going to be jumping on the Candor bandwagon anytime soon I will be watching Pam Bachorz because I do want to see what she comes up with next. Bachorz is gifted at world building even if I didn't always like the world that I was in while reading her words. She's a gifted story teller and I hope that I can click better with her next book then I did with this one ( )

The town of Candor is ideal. The teens are obedient; they do their homework, help out around the house, and have very tame relationships. But Oscar, the son of Candor's founder, knows the secret; the teens are being controlled by subliminal messages in music. So he works to fight the system, recruiting new arrivals to free them for a price. When a new girl arrives, Oscar likes her too much to let her run away, so he creates special messages for her that help her fight the system while remaining in the town. His plan backfires when she discovers what he's been up to. Will he get caught, or remain Candor's perfect son? ( )

Merideth says: "This book has a killer premise -- at a planned community in Florida, subliminal messages turn everyone into mindless, well-behaved, health-food eating yuppies. However, the execution does not quite live up. Bachorz creates an interesting anti hero in Oscar, who will smuggle teens away -- for a price. However, she soon loses her way by adding a manic pixie dreamgirl love interest, who instantly convinces Oscar to change his ways. Add in some unnecessarily heavy handed badness on the part of Oscar's dad, and a promising book goes south." ( )

I loved the idea of a planned city where everyone is perfect due to subliminal messages. While the teenagers are perfect children for their parents, one happens to rebel quietly and right under the nose of the city's founder, and I love that Oscar Banks is the rebel and the city planner is his dad. It was wonderful to see all the ways Oscar was able to trick his dad, and you are just waiting for him to get caught. However, while this story had a great plot of Oscar rebelling against this perfect little society and then finally falling in love with Nia (a new resident of Candor) and wanting to help her escape becoming a product of his father's messages, I was rather frustrated with the romance aspect of the story.

Oscar and Nia meet and then suddenly, in my opinion, build this strong connection of love. Oscar becomes selfless in his care and desire to protect Nia. I loved this change of Oscar from him only helping other kids escape Candor through monetary compensation and then for doing it for love. However, this love between Oscar and Nia didn't feel genuine. It felt kind of flat to me. I couldn't really come to like Nia. I didn't think she deserved Oscar's protection and love. She was a character that was lacking substance.

Overall, I thought the story was good but it wasn't flawless. I saw so much more potential for the book and it left me with lingering questions. It wasn't a wholly satisfying read but it wasn't bad either. And plus, I though it was an original idea. ( )

Candor is a perfect town. Nobody hurts anyone, no one eats too much, everyone is always on time... because everyone hears the Messages hidden in Candor's ambient music. Oscar has learned to block the messages and he'll get you out... for a price. But when the lovely, feisty Nia comes to Candor, Oscar may have found his weak spot.

I couldn't put this novel down and I really enjoyed seeing Oscar's good-boy front and then the deviant underneath. I'd recommend it for fans of Uglies.

Read my full review on my blog: http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200... ( )