Review of "Candor"

"Candor fixes everything."

     In Pam Bachorz's Candor, perfection is the new norm. The small town of Candor, Florida may appear to be a glimpse into America's idyllic history, but it has a dark secret. There is a reason the kids are happy, obedient, helpful, and studious. There's a reason families who move in never leave. And there is a reason music is played in every building, every minute of every day. Lurking behind the beautiful tunes are subliminal Messages that change the way residents' brains work--forcing them to focus on schoolwork, family, and whatever else the town founder thinks will improve Candor's perfect image. No one who moves to Candor emerges unscathed--not without help. Meet Oscar Banks, model teenager and secret rebel. For a fee, he'll help new residents fight the Messages and escape the town. But when a girl with a can of spray paint challenges the status quo, what started as business suddenly becomes personal--and very, very dangerous.

     The story of Oscar Banks is very much set in a dystopia. What's unique about it, though, is that it is also set in the real world. While Candor itself may be fictional, the land beyond its borders can by found on any map. Even if the science behind the mind-control isn't entirely believable, it's just close enough to possible to be chilling. Oscar fancies himself better than everyone else in town, calculating every action to better cement his public persona. As long as everyone thinks of him as a model citizen, he is free to run his little escape racket without interference. This altar ego serves a duel purpose by fleshing out the story's backdrop even as it reveals Oscar's deep-set arrogance.

     And yes, Oscar is arrogant. He writes off those who have already succumbed to the Messages as worthless, and only provides his services to newcomers with access to cash. While this is partially due to the impracticality of trying to save everyone, it is also a result of an entire lifetime of hiding his free will. In the end, he simply isn't that likeable. However, Nia--the skateboarding graffiti artist who steals his heart--is just what he needs. The only problem is that Nia can't stay in Candor if she wants to be free of the Messages. In order to save the one person he cares about, Oscar will have to give her up. And therein lies the central conflict.

     While the core of the premise is certainly delicious, it contains one simple problem. Nia and Oscar, while quite similar personality-wise, are quickly ensnared in a deadly game of insta-love. Despite spending a good deal of time together, our heroes never seem to really get to know each other, which makes the near-immediate use of the word "love" seem sadly cheap. On the other hand, the romance contributes greatly to the plot, so it is definitely not a waste. And it leads to some spectacular fights, plus a twist near the end that is sure to leave every reader suitably stunned.

     Since Candor is based off the "ideal" small town, it follows that there isn't much in the way of flag-raising content happening within its borders. If characters curse, it's relatively minor. If a couple decides to get physical, they do it out of sight and mostly away from the pages. The majority of violence is either prevented or made difficult by Messages, so that isn't too much of a problem, either. Still, Oscar has a few less-than-clean thoughts about Nia and the other girls in town, often wishing Candor's dress code was a little less modest. However, nothing is exceptionally vulgar.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a tale about taking control of one's own life. Oscar is an intriguing, if unlikeable, character living in a disturbingly realistic world where free will is little more than a cruel illusion. Nia is a bright spot in his otherwise dull universe, and he must choose whether to save her or keep her to himself as long as he can. Candor features a terrifyingly believable setting, a lovely premise, and an interesting central conflict to balance out the underperforming cast and romance. While it's not perfect, Pam Bachorz's novel is fairly solid and ends with a bang that is worth putting up with the insta-love. It deserves three stars.