Candor [Paperback]

Pam Bachorz (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 14, 2010

The picture-perfect new town of Candor, Florida, is attracting more and more new families, drawn by its postcard-like small-town feel, with white picket fences, spanking-new but old-fashioned-looking homes, and neighborliness.

But the parents are drawn by something else as well.  They know that in Candor their obstreperous teenagers will somehow become rewired - they'll learn to respect their elders, to do their chores, and enjoy their homework.  They'll give up the tattoos, metal music, and partying that have been driving their parents crazy.  They'll become every parent's dream.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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.
  

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: EgmontUSA; Reprint edition (December 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606841351
• ISBN-13: 978-1606841358
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #665,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Pam draws inspiration from the places she knows best: she wrote CANDOR while living in a Florida planned community, and set DROUGHT in the woods where she spent her summers as a child. She and her family currently live near Washington, DC. When she's not writing, reading, working or parenting, Pam likes to go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television.

As far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. Or maybe that's just what she's supposed to say.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A quick, but satisfying read October 5, 2009

By Sara VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Candor was a wonderful debut from author Pam Bachorz! Filled with suspense, secrets, and forbidden romance, Candor grabbed my attention right from the first chapter!

From the first time I heard about Candor, I was intrigued by the plot. Candor is The Stepford Wives taken to a whole new level! I could definitely see Candor being offered a movie deal in the future. It has all the elements of an amazing big screen hit! I also loved the ideas and questions that Candor raises about conformity and family relations. This novel seems to have a healthy balance of popular appeal as well as deeper meaning.

I'm always a little uncertain when I see books that have a main character that is not the same gender as the author. Perhaps it is unfair of me, but I tend to believe that when it comes to characters, a woman writing a male's point of view simply isn't believeable. Perhaps, that goes more for men writing a female's POV or maybe Pam Bachorz has a gift for understanding the minds of men, but I definitely saw Oscar as realistic.

The romance between Oscar and Nia was well written and fit the plot perfectly. Nia and Oscar are both such perfectly flawed characters - their relationship had just the right amount of passion and insecurity.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I really wanted to love this book but... November 19, 2009

By Irish of Ticket to anywhere

Format:Hardcover

Candor is a book that there was a lot of early buzz about. All over the the blogs and twitter there it was talk of this amazing new book. It then became a book that I had to have. I needed to learn more about this town and kind of person who would brainwash his own son just to have the perfect society. Reading the book I kept waiting for that WOW factor. The moment which would seal my love for Candor so that I could join the hordes in proclaiming its brilliance.

However, that was never to be. At least not for me. I really like the premise and the writing of this novel but I didn't like any of the characters. The adults were underdeveloped and you never really learned all that you wanted to about the origins of Candor. And Oscar. Well he was just plain annoying. I was expecting someone sympathetic. Someone who wanted to fight the good fight, that last bastion of freedom in a place where your every thought is programmed. But Ocsar isn't any of those things. He is selfish and greedy and really isn't all that much better than the father who created a town filled with brainwashed kids.

I really wanted to rave about this book but I just can't. I didn't see very much in the book to like. But that said I didn't hate it. I was intrigued and I kept reading to see how it all might pan out. I was shocked by the ending. It wasn't one that I had expected and so was a nice twist. So while I am not going to be jumping on the Candor bandwagon anytime soon I will be watching Pam Bachorz because I do want to see what she comes up with next. Bachorz is gifted at world building even if I didn't always like the world that I was in while reading her words. She's a gifted story teller and I hope that I can click better with her next book then I did with this one

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, fun read October 31, 2009

By A mom

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book and flew through it in a day. Right at the start, the author pulls you right in and doesn't let go until the end. I have to admit that I am a Stepford Wives fan, so that made me interested in the book from reading the jacket - but if you're not, don't let that stop you from getting it. It's fun for anyone who's up for a little rebellion, or doesn't want to have Martha Stewart organizing their closets. Very inventive, very good.