Candor

Bachorz, P. (2009). Candor. New York, NY: Egmont USA.
Interest level: Grades 6+
Reading level: 3+

Oscar Banks is a model son who lives in the model city of Candor, Florida which his father created. Oscar can do no wrong- he gets perfect grades, is the perfect boyfriend and is the poster child for all that Candor stands for. Families pay a hefty price to move to Candor, but what they don’t realize is that they have given up more than just money. Everything the residents of Candor do is influenced by the subliminal messages that Oscar’s father has playing throughout the town.  Oscar, however, has figured out how to bypass the brainwashing and is all to happy to share it with new teens who want to escape the town- if they have enough money to pay him. Then rebellious Nia moves in and Oscar falls for her, wanting to help her to save her from the brainwashing rather than for money. Will Oscar and Nia be able to escape Candor without being caught? Or will they end up in the Listening Room, with memories of each other erased forever?

This was a fast and compelling read. Most readers will be to young to have knowledge of the Stepford Wives (google it, kids!), which this book bears resemblance to, but they may have heard of Celebration, FL, the perfect community which Disney built. This book is sure to spark many conversations about morals what it means when we strive for sameness. The ending seems to be set up for a sequel, but Bachorz has said that wasn’t her intention. Hopefully she’ll write one anyway.