Pam Bachorz came up with the idea of writing "Candor" while living
in Celebration, Florida, the perfect new town built by the Walt
Disney Company. Something about its perfection made her uneasy and
prompted her thought, "What if...?" which led to her subversive
teen take on the traditional sci-fi trope. You can visit her online
at www.pambachorz.com. Visit the community of Candor, Florida
online at www.candorfl.com.
"
Debut novelist Bachorz delivers a dystopian novel that takes place
in the present, giving the genre a fresh twist. In the town of
Candor, conformity is law; negative emotions are banished; and
residents are fed a steady diet of subliminal Messages--Respectful
space in every place. Avoid physical contact--that dull any impulse
toward creativity, rebellion or even sexual desire. Oscar Banks,
the son of Candor's founder, leads a double life. Secretly, he's
the town's biggest rebel--he illegally shuttles kids to freedom
before the Messages can take hold (for a price)--while on the
surface he's 'the model Candor boy.... Proof that the Messages
work.' But when Oscar falls for the new girl, Nia, he's forced to
rethink his entire identity. Some of the premise is difficult to
swallow, such as that within days, residents of Candor become so
addicted to the Messages that even a few hours without them could
mean death. But Bachorz needs this high-stakes bit to justify why
kids can't simply run away. On the whole, it's a compelling story
that quickly becomes a page-turner. Be prepared for a chilling
ending. --Publishers Weekly-- "Journal" (7/20/2009 12:00:00 AM)
Teens of the idyllic town of Candor, Florida dutifully complete
their chores and unquestioningly respect their elders--thanks to
the subliminal messages piped throughout the village. Oscar Banks,
the teenage son of the town's founder, is in on the secret and has
been using his own specially designed Messages to lead a quiet
revolution against his father's control by helping teens flee. When
Oscar's attachment to his newest client, the pierced and punky Nia,
threatens to blow his cover of the perfect son, Oscar is forced to
choose between a comfortable existence and escape. Bachorz's
gripping debut calls forth all the creepy and sinister elements of
The Giver (BCCB 4/93) or The Stepford Wives, but it is nuanced
enough to avoid sounding like yet another science-fiction sermon
against conformity. Oscar's narration is especially deft at adding
a layer of humanity to the control-freak stereotype of his father
while he presents his own complex, if entirely selfish,
motivations: not really a noble warrior fighting against an immoral
tyrant, Oscar is instead a self-serving kid trying to get his
grieving father's attention and often engaging in the very same
behavior he is railing against. The technology of the Messages is
clearly explained and not overly complicated, while the constant
threat of Oscar's discovery, along with a rather hot romance and
some key chase scenes, will keep readers turning the pages. True to
the genre, the disturbing conclusion leaves plenty of unanswered
questions, which will make this title an ideal choice for book
clubs. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books--
"Journal" (11/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)
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