Also, I think the whole 'perfect image' thing Oscar had going on for him let him get away with a couple of his pranks a little too easily - but, I digress. The plot could have been developed more, like what happens to the kids that escape Candor. There were only a few points in the novel where I wanted to give the book 4.5 stars. Another thing I like about this book is that I know most teenage guys my age who don't read as much would probably pick this book up, it has a cool cover, easy writing, and an interesting plot. Candor provided an interesting take on something most people don't read about too often: brainwashing, which was actually pretty cool, in a strange, creepy way. I came to like him after about fifty pages though. I liked all of the characters - at first I didn't like Oscar too much (hello, even his name is sorta unappealing). The writing was simple and easy to follow, which made the complicated premise easy to understand. But what happens when Nia, a strong-headed, rebellious girl comes to Candor and challenges Oscar with the question: should he save the girl and let her return to a normal life, or save her for himself and keep her close with him? Regardless, his decision changes his life already abnormal life forever. Oscar has even made a counter - business in order to smuggle the rich kids out of Candor, and get them back to regular society. Oscar knows the big secret of Candor - that his father, the head of the town, is brainwashing everyone with subliminal messages in order to keep them perfectly orderly and rule-abiding.

He is perfect in every way - he gets perfect grades, is the perfect boyfriend, and is the epitome of what every child in Candor should be. 'Candor' is about Oscar Banks, the model son who lives in the model town of Candor, Florida. Or maybe that's just what she's supposed to say. Reluctantly.Īs far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. When she's not writing, working or parenting, Pam likes to read books not aimed at her age group, go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television. Pam, who lived in Florida when she wrote CANDOR, currently lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband and their son. Her mother is not happy that Pam's degrees are stored under her bed.

Pam attended college in Boston and finally decided she was finished after earning four degrees: a BS in Journalism, a BA in Environmental Science, a Masters in Library Science and an MBA. With a little persuasion she will belt out tunes from 'The Music Man' and 'The Fantasticks', but she knows better than to play cello in public anymore. Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, where she participated in every possible performance group and assiduously avoided any threat of athletic activity, unless it involved wearing sequined headpieces and treading water.

Candor by Pam Bachorz