Mundie Moms

Monday, September 28, 2009

Review of CANDOR by Pam Bachorz.


Title: CANDOR
Author: Pam Bachorz
Publisher: Egmont USA
Release Date: September 22, 2009
5 out of 5 Stars

First, I cannot say enough about this book, so forgive the Gushing Factor right away or you'll never finish reading this post.

Second, I admit to loving books about a utopian/dystopian, Stepford-esque society. It's a bias. So I'll throw it out there.

Third, wait, you're still with me? Okay, here comes the review part. Pam Bachorz introduces her snarky male protagonist on page one. We meet Oscar Banks. The son of the founder of Candor, FL. He is the Boy Who Can Do No Wrong. And he doesn't. Well, or so it seems especially to all the adults involved including his famous father.

Except in this perfect planned community, where everything from the lawns to your children to your marriage is perfect, Oscar has learned to work against the system. You see in Candor, everyone is conditioned to eat the right food, to study, to not litter, to be perfect through subliminal messages piped in through speakers that are everywhere.

But not Oscar. He's learned how to de-program the messages. And he'll share this finding with any newcomer who has the money to pay him. Generous to a fault. Unfortunately, one day a girl named Nia shows up. A spunky, skateboarding artist who is just like all the other children when they first move to Candor - she's rebellious and never does the right thing. But Oscar really wants to help her. More so than the others and so he does.

What builds from there is a romantic plot filled with twists and turns that leave you elated and heart broken and rooting for Oscar and Nia to make it. As I read along, I kept thinking of some of the great utopian novels I read when I was in school - 1984, Gulliver's Travels and even Logan's Run.

I was reminded of why even in this day and age, we search for that type of perfection. Why the concept was used a few years ago in creating just such a community in Celebration, FL minus the brainwashing, of course.

So the reality of Candor exists even today. We're not far away from the concept. And it's scary. As Bachorz warns through Oscar and his research, there are serious side effects. The homogenization of America is just not what is at the core of the Melting Pot our Founding Fathers envisioned. And yet, in pockets all over America, we seek just that.

I won't spoil the ending. I'll just say that the last 40-50 pages left me literally breathless and when I turned the last page, it all made sense. My hats off to Pam Bachorz for creating truly a masterpiece. I am recommending this for all who love impossible love, seek perfection or run from it, long for a good thrilling plot and most of all one heck of a compassionate, sympathetic male character. Oscar Banks, I'm still cheering for you.

Scholastic Children's Books Review Site

I'm sure you're wondering why there's Children's book reviews on a YA site. Well, since many of us are also moms, we thought it would be nice to throw in some Children's Book reviews every now and then as well. You can check out all of our Scholastic Reviews and other favorite Children's Books here:
http://keepreadingtoyourchild.blogspot.com/

Mundane Monday #1

We've decided we're going to start brighting everyone's Mondays with some our favorite quotes from the MI series.


Sorry, that's not a quote. *laughing* I know each of us pictures Jace a bit different, but some of us picture him like this. We'd like to know who you picture as Jace? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Jace
- "Romanian? That's impressive, not many people speak it.
Sebastian - Do you?
Jace - "Not really. My Romanian is pretty much limited to useful phrases like, 'Are these snakes poisonous?' and 'But, you're much too young to be a police officer."
- City of Glass

Review of Wake & Fade by Lisa McMann



WAKE:
Ever since she was eight years old, high school student Janie Hannagan has been uncontrollably drawn into other people's dreams, but it is not until she befriends an elderly nursing home patient and becomes involved with an enigmatic fellow-student that she discovers her true power.

WOW!!! This had me turning pages until the end and I totally did NOT except that big plot twist to happen. I wasn't excepting to feel such emotion over some of the events that took place though. Lisa McMann did a wonderful job with pulling me into this story about two totally broken down, lonely teenagers and that have liked each other for some time now, and are now finding out that they're the only ones who can help each other.

I love how both Janie and Cabe are the only ones who can help each other and heal each other. Even more, I really liked how their relationship also wasn't one of ease. Both of them have been through hell and Janie has kept a secret that she gets sucked into other people's dreams and it's not until she's sucked into Cabe's dream where he's killing someone and then kissing her, does she realize she needs and wants to help him. He wants her to help her as well.

In each of her dreams the dreamers turn to her and ask her to help them. Between Cabe and Miss Stubin they are able to help Janie figure out her dreams. There's a whole new set of twists and turns that she must deal with and that her and Cabe must come to terms with.

This was a quick read and I liked the story line a lot and the characters. Plus I like a story that makes me feel all emotional over it and yes, I cried over a J and C scene. It was a very, very sweet scene and no, I won't give it away. It's one that he's crying in too. I will warn to those sensitive to language, there is some language in here.

I gave this book 4 stars and I'm looking forward to reading Fade next.


FADE:
SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.
For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.
Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.
Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....


I found Fade had a lot of sweet moments between Cabel and Janie *sigh* and was more suspenseful and as it moved quicker than the Wake. I found that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Cabel and Janie find themselves working together on a case for school while also working through their relationship. The case is one that is a bit of shocker as they're trying to find a teacher who pries on students and the some things happen in the party scene may be a bit much for some readers. It's not too graphic, but the content is there.

There's a lot of things that both Janie and Cabel have to deal with from their pasts and what Janie finds out about her ability in being a dream catcher. I really liked seeing them grow more together as the two of them finally realize they have someone in their lives who really loves them. Cabel worries a lot about Janie, as each dream is starting to have an effect on her. Together they learn what the cost of being a dream catcher is on Janie.

There was more suspense and that, along with reading more about Cabel and Janie kept me turning pages. I will admit, there was once scene between the two of them had my crying. It was so sweet. For those sensitive to language, there is still some language in the book. Over all I really liked the story line. I gave this 4 stars

Please be sure to share with us your reviews of Wake and Fade here:
http://mundiemoms.freeforums.org/our-book-reviews-f75.html

Is it next year yet? I'm dying to read Gone.

Join us next month when we chat with Lisa!!

Manuscript for Clockwork Angel complete

This is so exciting! Cassie Twittered this morning that-
cassieclareManuscript of The Clockwork Angel complete at 115,000 words. Someday I will learn to write short books. Not today, apparently.


If you're not on Twitter, come follow all your favorite authors like Cassandra, Kami Garcia, Sarah Rees Brennan, Carrie Ryan, Lisa McMann and many more. You can also follow us and other favorite sites.

Banned Book Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read

The ALA (American Library Association) hosts an annual event each year celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.

Since we all LOVE to read, we fill it's important to help spread the message.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm


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