Candor by Pam Bachorz

Oscar Banks is a business man, like his father. He finds new, rich, rebellious clients who move to the idyllic town of Candor (which he father built from the ground up) and helps them escape before the become brainwashed. Because Oscar Banks has figured out the secret to Candor-that their are thousands of subliminal messages in speakers surrounding and inside the city giving instruction on how to be model citizens. "Respectful space in every place". Oscar has figured out how to create these messages himself by watching (covertly) his father and puts counter messages into CDs which he distributes to clients and himself (like his one CD that he made so he wouldn't forget he had a brother).

So when Nia moves with her orange can of spray paint ("Keep Candor beautiful") and skateboard, she seems like the perfect client for Oscar. But there's something about her that makes Oscar want her to stay. Plus, she doesn't believe a thing he tells her about the Messages. So he gives her a CD with Messages urging her to stay and not tell their secret (what secret? you'll have to read the book!).

A story about what crosses a moral line, love, and fighting to be yourself in a world of conformity, this is a brilliant novel. I was up all night reading it. It's fast-paced and suspenseful. I was turning the pages so fast that I had to go back at times and fill myself in on what I rushed over to get to the next part. The characters are solid and Oscar's fight to save Nia is genuine and heart-breaking. This isn't a skip down the lane, happily ever kind of book. And even though I was sad and angry about things in this book, those things made the book more real and that much more devastating.

I definitely say, if you haven't, go pick this book up now! It's a short read that will make you think and leave you finding your breath at the end.

Rating: 5.0

You also may like:
Feed by M.T. Anderson
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
(I highly, highly recommend both of these books)

And if you want to learn more about the town of Candor, Florida go here: http://www.candorfl.com

Happy Reading!