Candor

Candor, Florida is where wealthy families take their children that make trouble. Candor transforms those children into perfect, Yale bound students, and these children always respect their parents, always do their chores, and never get into trouble…Ever.

Campbell Banks built Candor into what it is; he created the technology that makes not just these kids, but also these parents, into what they are. It only takes a week, sometimes two if their strong, to fully make the change from a troubled teen to a Candor kid. That is unless Oscar Banks steps in, if the bank accounts big enough and the kids want out bad enough, he can make it happen.

On the outside, Oscar is the perfect Candor kid, he’s his father’s clone, but on the inside and to show more those select few, there’s the truth: Oscar knows how to block his father’s Messages, he knows how to keep them from turning, how to keep them normal. Then Nia shows up. Nia is different for Oscar, there’s something about her that attracts him, that makes him want to forget everything and stop being careful, something about her that makes him want to leave Candor.

There were parts of Candor that I didn’t really understand, like how Nia and Oscar could talk to each other briefly, a few times and then be in love with one another. Or like how Oscar’s father could never suspect a thing. But despite not buying how quickly their relationship came about, I found that I absolutely adored them! The moments they had were so sweet (like the “museum”, read it and you’ll understand) and they actually seemed so genuine with one another, like they saw the true parts of each other.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised this year by how well the writing has been in debut authors, and Candor was no different. It was very well written, and the characters were developed so well, especially for a short novel. The last few chapters were so exciting and engrossing, that even when my body was saying “go to bed,” I couldn’t put it down.

This was also the first book in a long while to bring a tear to my eye (nothing since The Siren by Kiera Cass has managed to do that). During those last few chapters, I had my ideas on what was going to happen, but when they were proven wrong and it was over, I found a tear in my eye and frantically flipping the acknowledgment pages and the back pages for something else, anything else.

I don’t know for sure if there’s going to be a sequel, but apparently there are Messages hidden in Candor, because I am hoping to revisit Oscar, Nia, and the town of Candor again. show less

Candor is a dystopian novel, although not in the conventional sense. Instead of the whole nation, or even a big city, Candor is a beautiful small town in rural Florida, where everything is beautiful and perfect. A utopia where everyone is good and healthy. It's so perfect, because the Mayor - the narrator's father - has brainwashed all who live in the town. Including his own son, Oscar. However, Oscar is very aware of the Messages, and only nominally follows them... Until he then meets a newcomer who changes his entire view of the world. Oscar has to do his best to protect this girl he loves. Hopefully.

This is the best dystopian novel I have read recently. It is a book I wish could be made into a film, because it has that quality. I show more feel the characters are quite interesting, with their own raison d'etres - their true selves coming out occasionally. The plot is well paced and ramps up and slows down when needed. Candor Town is beautifully described, sounding like the perfect exurb.

Bachorz's writing evoked all the emotions in me, and then thoroughly ruined them with great aplomb. Bittersweet, is the emotional direction of the book.

I'm sure everyone would love to stay in Candor - if they can afford it with more than their money. show less

In Candor, Florida, everyone is perfect: there are no crimes, no addictions, nothing but peaceful perfection. People move there willingly to escape, giving up their free will to the Messages that keep them in line.

Why I picked it up: the premise was horrifying yet oddly believable - what parent wouldn't want their teen to be obedient? What teen wouldn't want to belong and have everyone like them?

Why I finished it: Oscar, the main character, intrigued me - he fought against and abhorred the system that kept everyone a prisoner but used that same corrupt system to influence others.

Who I'd give it to: anyone who's ever rebelled against authority.

Favorite moment: when Nia, Oscar's love interest, accuses him of "raping his girlfriends' show more minds." Truer words were never spoken. show less

In the town of Candor, Oscar Banks is the archetypal good teen. But Oscar has a secret. He knows that his father controls all of the residents of Candor through subliminal messaging in the local sound systems. Further, Oscar has learned to resist these messages himself and help worthy others to escape Candor. New girl Nia is a self-described Artist and beautiful. Oscar falls for her and is torn between wanting to help her escape and keep her --with him-- in Candor. The turmoil and final result nearly destroys all that Oscar is.

This books works on many levels: a thought-provoking commentary on the issue of public good (how far would we go to create a 'perfect' society?), a suspenseful chiller (will Nia escape? Will Oscar be discovered?) show more and a thoughtful love story (do you love someone because of or despite your differences?) Girls will read it for the love story, guys for the adventure, and all will benefit from the issues contained within. show less

Candor is a great example of "be careful what you wish for." Parents wishing that their children would adhere to strict standards of behavior would be wise to read this book and see just what a community of like minded people could turn into. Candor sounds like a great idea, use subliminal messages to mold people into what they "should" be. Drug problems, violence, crime, smoking, overeating, and all of our other societal vices are carefully eliminated in Candor. As a result everything should be perfect, right? Not so much, as we dig deeper into Candor we find out the dangers of losing your free will. Creativity is stifled, fun is rare, and since no one thinks for themselves there are no new ideas or inventions. As a reader I rooted for show more Oscar throughout the book even though I found his character unlikeable at times. He is the ultimate survivor and recognizes a hard truth, you can't save everyone. Oscar spends his time looking out for himself and helping kids who can pay him, until he meets Nia. Oscars transformation when he gets to know Nia is interesting to watch, he must work extra hard to overcome the messages and his own fear of getting into trouble. Nia becomes the most important person in his life and he struggles to help even at his own expense. The end is heartbreaking and I selfishly hope for a sequel so I can spend more time rooting for Oscar. show less

Candor is the perfect city where perfect teens live perfect lives and make their perfect parents proud. Oscar knows why – his father, the founder, developed technology that makes even the most rebellious teens conform. Oscar gets kids out…for a price. Then he meets Nia, an artist and a rebel, and he finds himself smitten. Oscar wants to change – he wants to save Nia, whether that means getting her out or hiding her in plain sight. But the powers that be are stronger than even Oscar realized, and soon he is asking himself what sacrifices he is willing to make for love. Candor is a terrifying, heartbreaking, slightly insane story that clearly resonates a Stepford vibe and keeps the reader guessing through the last page. If you’re show more looking for a chilling sci-fi, this is your book. show less

Although this is a dystopian book, it’s different because it’s tucked inside the world we know. Candor students work to get into Yale and other Candor-approved universities and Candor families leave town for vacation. I think this facet of the story added a level of creepiness, to think that this could be happening in the here and now. There were certain things about how the town was run that I didn’t understand logistically, but I do my best to read all dystopian stories in a state of suspended disbelief, so the setting worked for me.
Other than a few (somewhat) minor plot points, this isn’t a predictable story that’s been done time and again. Just as things seem to be going in one direction, there’s a corkscrew turn and show more suddenly the story is headed in a different direction. These surprises keep the story exciting and fresh. There are probably a lot of people disappointed with the ending, but I think that the ending illuminates just how much Oscar changes because of Nia. Nia’s effect on Oscar is also interesting because it seems to be the first time since his mom left that he allows himself to really care about another person.
This is the first book I’ve read that has made me fully aware that I’m reading through the eyes of a parent. I think if I had read this book when I was in high school, I probably would have been disgusted by the idea of parents wanting to brainwash their children into submission. As a parent, this concept is absurd to me and if someone came to me thinking of this as a possibility for their child I’d be outraged; yet another part of me would understand where the desire came from, because even the every day challenges of raising kids is tiring. But I’d never choose to have any child, any person I love to be subjected to the messages like the citizens of Candor are. The parents in this book allow Candor to strip away anything unique in their children, and in doing so they’re robbing themselves of the opportunity to really know their kids. Because this book forced me to think about parenting in a completely different way, I think I’ll always remember it. Though the details of the story may fade, the core of it will forever be in my mind. show less