Guest Review: Candor by Pam Bachorz

Title: Candor

Author: Pam Bachorz

Publisher: Egmont Books

Publication Date: 2 Aug 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape Candor, Florida before they're transformed into cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

The town of Candor is absolutely perfect, there is no vandalism, no trouble, everyone behaves impeccably. Yet Candor is not what it seems to be; there are encrypted messages hidden in the music, used to control people. Oscar Banks is the owners son, he know how to stop the messages but something is holding him back. When, a new girl Nia Silva, arrives in town, Oscars life changes, he needs to finally make that decision: does he let her become another perfect citizen controlled by the music or does he risk everything to let her be herself.

The story is focused around Oscar and Nia, deceiving everyone around them into believing that they too are controlled by the messages embedded into the music, in the hope that they can save their identity and escape from the grasp that the messages In Candor have them locked in.Nia is my favorite character as she is reckless and daring. She does what is necessary to be free of the controlling messages. She is courageous and has the inner strength to survive Candor. Although there is also a sensitive side to Nia and she accepts Oscar for who he really is rather than the 'perfect' drone he portrayed.

My favorite part of the book was when Nia and Oscar went outside by the pool. They were finally open and honest with each other, reveling the truth about themselves and deepening their relationship. Confiding in each other as they haven't been able to with anyone else. Enabling them to forget their worries for a short time and life in the moment. However, I have to say that the ending really spoiled the whole story for me. I really would have liked to see an alternative ending. I also found Sherman rather annoying but I think if he hadn't been portrayed in this fashion the book may not have been so interesting.

This book is definitely worth reading even if the ending wasn't to my personal liking. I found it interesting and exciting throughout but really would have preferred an alternative ending.