Candor Review

Title: Candor
Author: Pam Bachorz
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Published Date: September 2009
Pages: 256
Synopsis:

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town
where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way
to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them
all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved
teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages
to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to
get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape
Candor, Florida before they're transformed into
cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor,
and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles. 

Review: 

Oh my god. What in the world was that ending?!?! *SCREAMS* *FLIPS THROUGH THE BOOK FOR SECRET MESSAGES AND PAGES* WHERE IS THE ENDING?!

Lol, I’m sorry but I just had to rant about the ending…I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but the ending leaves a huge gaping hole and just makes you drop your jaw because it transitions way too smoothly into it and doesn’t leave any tantalizing hints or emotions.

Candor is not only a dystopian society book, but a scary and horrifying revelation of what really happens when parents want their children to be perfect and mold them into the perfect child image. I really praise Bachorz for developing the characters really well, not into sobbing or happy characters, but what they really are …mindless robots. Also, there was one incident when Oscar’s father vide tapes Oscar, which is right on target with the "police" parents, how they look through your computer history or call you every time to see where you are. In Candor, the line between caring and policing is blurred as parents want their children to become perfect, while being emotionless. I love the premise of the novel and the plot because it is a science-fiction but it has a theme of what really constitutes perfect that affects every teens, as we all know, parents want to monitor the teenage life, worrying they’ll do all sorts of drugs and gang violence. Sometimes, the writing fell flat contrasting to the action of the book, but otherwise I really did love this unique idea of what it really means to be a “caring” parent.

The character development, or more like how much I liked the characters, wasn’t that great for me. I didn’t really look forward to the romance between Nia and Oscar. It just felt flat to me, nothing interesting or bittersweet about it. It was way too much of a “love at first sight” and I wanted to see more of teenage angst of love, which in turn would contrast them from the other emotionless teens. I also really didn’t like Nia at all in the beginning. Even though I know she’s supposed to be rebellious and a bit mean, but I felt like even in the relation she was way too controlling and was telling what Oscar should do. However, I did like Oscar, even though he was mean too. How he really cares for Nia and also his troubled past with his mom makes me sympathize him and root for him throughout the book.

The unique plot of molding the perfect child shows the horrifying and scary perspectives of being a “caring and loving” parent. This is not only a dystopian world where we really can't relate to (unless someone traveled in the future and told us this really happens), but has an underlying message in it.

Plot: 4.5/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Cover: 3.5/5

I like the cover and it really is a good depction of the book, with the orange spray paint. I also think the model for this really does represent Oscar. Aesthetically, it isn’t that great though and wouldn’t be luring me to buy the book.

Overall: 4/5

This book is a combination of both science fiction, but with a twist of emotions and a Message to parents (You are what you read. Lol). There are some times I wanted to strangle both Oscar and Nia to shake some kindness into them, but their mean personality really makes them different from the perfect teens robots parents expect their children to be. I really hope there is a sequel because the ending was begging for one. If you want a quick read and not a big fan for science fiction, this book is for you.

The Maze Runner Review

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Published Date: October 2009
Publisher: Random House
Price: Amazon ($9.93)
Synopsis:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is black. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as they could remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the maze after dark.
The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl springs up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might be able to find their way home . . . wherever that may be. But it’s looking more and more as if the maze is unsolvable.
And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

Review:

Hunger Games + Lord of Flies = An exhilarating, page-turning, jaw-dropping journey into a realm of hope, disappointment, adventure, and the search for happiness

…in other words The Maze Runner!

The Maze Runner’s integration of the scientific manipulation of the boys and their ability to create a society without adults create a unique and thrilling premise. The terror and dread of the lives of the Gladers are portrayed with much detail as Dashner creates suspense at every chapter. When Dashner introduces the girl, Teresa, carrying a deadly note with an aura of foreboding, it actually scared me and kept me up at night, imagining the terror of the incident. How the girl suddenly rises up as if she’s a puppet and declares ominously that “things will change”. Every morning, doom awaits Thomas, as he understands the horror of the Grievers and experiences it and learns how trapped he is within the maze. The suspense and the stifling fear creates a horrifying tale as you root for the Gladers and want to rip the Creators apart (Lol, ok, I’m not evil. I just can’t stand the boys suffering any more!) Also, the letter at the ending just left you there speechless and you had to retrace a few steps back in the book to get it. When I finally got what really happened, I had to shake the book to see if any secret pages came flying out.

However, I had some pet peeves while reading the book. For example, sometimes I felt that Thomas was an impatient whining boy who thought his opinions were the most important. I also thought Thomas’s hate towards Gally was baseless and wasn’t developed enough to turn the readers against Gally too. In addition, the budding romance between Teresa and Thomas didn’t fit into the suspense and the dystopian world and wasn't integrated well. Maybe, it was to juxtapose all the doom and disaster, but I had to turn my head a little and read it through my peripheral vision as I skimmed through some of the lovey-dovey parts.

I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel, The Scorch Trials, to come out and find out what is really out there in the real world and what awaits the Gladers. 

Plot: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

Cover: 3/5

This isn’t what I really imagined the maze to be like, but the trapped and menacing feelings with the spikes are created well. However, the lush green background just felt out of place with the darkness pervading in the book.

Overall: 4.5/5

If you liked the Hunger Games or any dystopian world or just need a book to keep you up all night, The Maze Runner is for you. The suspense and the mystery keeps you pondering what is really happening as the boys are manipulated. Also, the characters and their fears are developed satisfactorily as you want to go smack the Creators some sense.