Top Ten Underrated Books on Goodreads (under 2000 ratings)

So I haven't done a Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish in AGES, but I just had to jump in on this week's topic, which is:

Top 10 Books that have under 2000 ratings in Goodreads

If you'd like to participate in this bloghop, jump on over to The Broke and the Bookish and link up!


NOTE: Okay full disclosure, I may have cheated and a few of these have just slightly over 2K ratings, but not by much!

Also this is more like 20 books, but oh well!


Middle Grade

I have been on a middle grade kick lately. Anyone else know of some great underrated MG reads?

  

 

Words With Wings - Nikki Grimes
I loved this novella-in-verse so much that I had to name-drop it a few times in my latest WIP.  :oD

Heaven - Angela Johnson

Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond - Brenda Woods

Mia's Optiscope - Natalie Rose

Honorable Mentions  (these were "classics" in my house growing up):
The Fairy Rebel - Lynne Reid Banks
The Search for Delicious - Natalie Babbit



Memoir

For fans of Eat, Pray, Love and Wild: some people have normal "midlife crises" some might even might pick up a new hobby like sailing. Most people don't put their life on the line and their new hobby to the test by sailing halfway across the world! I loved this trans-Pacific sailing adventure complete with close-calls and bonus tropical marine biology tidbits for the marine bio geeks like me.

Call Me Captain - Susan Scott





Science Fiction

All of these are really gorgeous and thought-provoking and well, sci-fi FTW!

        

  

  

Ardulum - J.S. Fields
This is probably my favorite sci-fi book of all time! Neek is an exile from her home planet -- shunned because of her rejection of her people's religion. When she meets a child strangely reminiscent of her people's gods, her whole world (and the rest of the galaxy) is thrown into chaos.

Beyond the Red - Ava Jae
(okay kind of cheating because it's a pretty new release, which would account for fewer ratings. But I'm putting it on there anyway because it's one of my favorite reads of 2016)

Bounders - Monica Tesler
(ditto above comment)

Starglass - Phoebe North

Salvage - Alexandra Duncan

Tin Star - Cecil Castelucci

The Galaxy Game - Karen Lord


Young Adult / New Adult  --- Fantasy & Realistic

Umm... so the only reason I can think that these don't have more ratings is that they are relatively new?? Here we have gorgeous historical of Malcolm X's days before the X, an incredibly immersive and artistic urban fantasy, a super hottt ballet/post-ballet story, a fantastically creepy yet fun Australian fantasy, a high fantasy with a beautifully wrought magic system, and a contemporary about a mixed-race school club that launches a movement.

     

X - Ilyasah Shabazz & Kekla Magoon

Second Position - Katherine Locke

Shadowshaper - Daniel José Older

Isla's Inheritance - Cassandra Page

Magic's Stealing - Stephanie Flint

The Latte Rebellion - Sarah Jamila Stevenson


Terrifying Reads

Okay. I'm going to go ahead and admit that I am a COMPLETE scaredy-cat and I can't really handle books like this that are incredibly terrfying. BUT it was a really good book. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly:

Damage Done - Amanda Panitch

And a couple others in my Soon-To-Read Stack that I've heard GREAT things about but don't have many ratings yet:

This Side of Home - Renee Watson

All American Boys - Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely


What about you? What are some of your favorite, yet underrated books?

Introducing *The Query Lab* -- A Monthly Query Critique Giveaway!

The Query Lab: Monthly Query Critiques
image: holdentrils

So I'm starting a new feature on this blog that I think some of you will like!
Once a month I'm going to open up ...

The Query Lab

Query + 1st 10 Page Critique Giveaway!


{ note: this is not the giveaway entry post }

{ CHECK HERE }{ for latest giveaway opening }

Maybe you feel like your query equation just isn't quite right. Maybe you need a little help injecting some more chemistry into your query. Either way, once a month, I'm here to help! At the beginning of each month, I'll open a one-week entry window, at the end of which I'll randomly select winners and critique their queries and the 1st 10 pages of their manuscripts!

So fun, right?! Or at least somewhat painful, yet kinda helpful?! ... That's what I thought too!

Here's how it will work:

• Entry Window
  I'll announce a theme (see below) and a one week entry window each month. Typically the one-week window will end on the First Friday of each month. For now (until I can figure out Rafflecopter) entries will be made via blog comment.
  
  
• I will pick 1-3 winners (as my time allows) and 1 runner-up
  
  
• Winners will receive a Query & 1st 10 Page critique from me.
  (Feedback received privately via email, Google Docs, or the platform of their choice)
  
  
• Runners-Up will receive a publicly posted Query-only Critique from me on the blog.
  Runners-up will only be selected from those who previously agreed to a public critique. Though "public" the author may opt to have their entry posted anonymously, with their name and any other personal information removed.
  
  
• My Critique Style
  Know that this will be a critique of your work. I give constructive feeeback, but I don't tend to overly sugar-coat things. Okay maybe a little more than the Query Shark ;o) I usually have a lot of comments, and for some, the amount of commentary might feel a bit overwhelming. But also hopefully helpful! I want to help you improve your query!
  
  
  Check out my previous public critiques:  #1 - YA Urban Fantasy || #2 - MG Fantasy
  
• Genres Accepted
  I'm most experienced with YA and MG Contemporary, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy (and a bit of Historical & Thriller). I also read some Adult in those genres as well. If you write outside those genres, I'd still be happy to give feedback on how well your query is working for me as a query. Just be aware that I may not be well read enough in your genre to point out any issues in the query related to genre conventions and tropes.
  
  
  The only genre I would ask you not to send is erotica. I have no experience with reading or writing that and likewise would not be able to post the entry on my blog in the event that you were a runner-up, since I don't have an 18 and over restriction on my blog. Sorry about that!!
  
• Theme / Focus Schedule
  Each month, I will open to submissions based on a genre theme or other focus that is sometimes (though not always), tied to an upcoming contest which writers are preparing for.
  
• That's it! Any questions, don't hesistate to ask!
  (you can catch me on Twitter at: @carissaataylor)
  
  
  
  (Note: Please do not comment on this post to enter the monthly giveaway, as I won't be monitoring it. I will post a separate entry post each month when the window has opened!)

Review-cipes: Contemporary & Historical YA

Here are some tasty teasers of a few contemporaries I've read over the past few months. I know I mostly focus on YA sci-fi and fantasy on this blog, but I love realistic too, and in fact my next WIP is a MG contemporary!


Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - by Becky Albertalli

You may have heard me and 5 million other people fangirling over this 2015 debut author's book on Twitter. Yes it is really that good.

The recipe ... for an adorable disaster:

2 not-so-openly-gay boys meet via Tumblr (but not in person) and fall in crush
... Someone finds out
Add: Blackmail + Oreos + Waffle House = Gah!
Twist: They go to the. same. High. School.

It was love at first reblog, 
...but will they ever find each other in real life?



Brown Girl Dreaming - by Jacqueline Woodson

In case you can't tell by all the awards on the cover, this is a really, really, really good book.  It's a semi-autobiographical MG novel-in-verse. It's hard to explain it and do it any justice. You really must read it.

The recipe ... for an imagination loosed:

Girl born just removed from the time of struggle
Memories flowing through bloodlines, through places.
Ohio. South Carolina. Brooklyn, New York.
A poem of life.
A journey to be free ... to dream.
And to write.






Speak - by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is more than a decade old now, but I've just gotten around to reading it, and wow. It deals with tough subject matter (the after-effects of rape) in a very compelling and thought-provoking way.

The recipe ... for voice:

Loud, silent tangle of thoughts/feelings/emotions.
Ostracism.
Loss.
Friends both false and true.
Hands to art: pencil, brush, clay.
No one knows the hurt she's held inside, until she
Speaks.



Have you read any of these? What did you think? Any other recommendations for fans of these books?

COVER REVEAL: Chameleon - by KT Hanna

It's heeeeeeere! KT Hanna's new YA sci-fi CHAMELEON has a cover (designed by the awesome S.P. McConnell) and is now available for pre-order!!

You want to see it don't you?

I thought so. 

Well, you will ... very soon.

Want to know what it's about first?

Well all right then! Here's a little about the book from the author herself!

Take it away KT!

This day has been a long time coming, and I won't usually toot my own horn, but I had to share the cover of my upcoming book with everyone!

Chameleon (The Domino Project #1) is a YA futuristic science fiction story. It's set in the wasteland of earth after a meteor shower devastates landmasses, makes seas rise, introduces the psionic gene into the human race, damages the atmosphere, and gives the gift of an alien parasite to the world.

The goodreads blurb is as follows:

After Sai's newly awoken psionic power accidentally destroys her apartment complex, she’s thrown into an intensive training program. The only grades are pass or die.

Surviving means proving her continued existence isn't a mistake--a task her new mentor, Bastian, takes personally. Her abilities place her in the GNW Enforcer division, which partners her with Domino 12, who is eerily human for an alien-parasite and psionic hybrid. When her assassination duties are revealed, Sai understands the real reason for her training.

On a mission to dispatch a dangerous Exiled scientist, she uncovers truths she never thought possible. Sai is unsure who to trust as her next mission might be her last, and a double agent seems to be manipulating both sides.

Without further ado - here is the cover, by the amazingly talented S.P. McConnell.

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It's finally here

Isn't it GORGEOUS!?!?!

Sit back and bask in this for a moment.

It's available for preorder for a special price of $2.99

About the Author

KT Hanna has a love for words so extreme, a single word can spark entire worlds.

Born in Australia, she met her husband in a computer game, moved to the U.S.A. and went into culture shock. Bonus? Not as many creatures specifically out to kill you.

When she's not writing, she freelance edits for Chimera Editing, interns for a NYC Agency, and chases her daughter, husband, corgi, and cat. No, she doesn't sleep. She is entirely powered by the number 2, caffeine, and beef jerky.

Note: Still searching for her Tardis

Celebration!

To celebrate, we're giving away 2 x $10 Amazon e-gift cards (open to anyone who can receive and use an Amazon e-card) Just click on as many options as you like and enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Recommendation: Salvage

I haven't posted a full-on book review in awhile, but I just had to for this one, you guys, because this:

SALVAGE was one of my favorite reads of 2014, and perhaps of all time.

by Alexandra Duncan

Pages: 528

Age: 14+

Goodreads Summary: 

Ava, a teenage girl living aboard the male-dominated, conservative deep space merchant ship Parastrata, faces betrayal, banishment, and death. Taking her fate into her own hands, she flees to the Gyre, a floating continent of garbage and scrap in the Pacific Ocean.

My Review:

Breathtakingly, achingly beautiful, this is literary science fiction at its best. I said it on twitter, but I'll say it again here: if you are a fan of FIREFLY or THE HANDMAID'S TALE, you should probably drop everything and read this book right now.

As reviewers on both Amazon and Goodreads have noted, Duncan is a master world-builder. From the close, rigid, puritan culture of the spaceship on which Ava is born; to the rag-tag jumble of community adrift on the Gyre; to the gritty, colorful streets of future Mumbai -- each setting was crafted with an attention to detail that is simply astounding. Some people had a hard time with the manner of speaking on the MC's homeship. It is a little hard to get used to, but please, please don't let that deter you from reading this book. It gets easier to understand, I promise!

The characters are complex, each deeply motivated (again, Duncan is a master at this), and endearing. Ava is a heroine to root for from page one. She's plucky despite being born to an oppressive society, and it's beautiful to watch her both grow into and rail against the freedom she suddenly finds herself in.

The book is on the long side for typical YA. The plot meanders, but this serves to leave more room for deep character development and lush worldbuilding. Some of Ava's dialect/jargon can be difficult to understand at first. But like I said, do not let this deter you!! 

SALVAGE is a stunning, thought-provoking work of literary sci-fi that will linger with you long after you finish the last page.

Perfect for Fans of:

Crewel by Gennifer Albin, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, and Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

Other Reviews:

Check out these other reviews on Nerdist,  Strange Horizons, Nerdophiles, and Christina Reads YA 

Isla's Inheritance by Cassandra Page -- Book Blitz + Giveaway!

Need a fantastically fun urban fantasy for your Halloween reading pleasure? Look no further! I just finished ISLA'S INHERITANCE, and it is a perfect blend of fae & spookiness, in the vein of Melissa Marr. Full review to come. In the meantime, check out the Goodreads description, a teaser excerpt, and the giveaway below!


Isla's Inheritance
by Cassandra Page
Released: October 9th, 2014,
Turquoise Morning Press

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy, Fae

Goodreads Summary

Isla was content to let her father keep his secrets, but now she can’t stand the touch of iron and her dreams are developing a life of their own. She must discover the truth — before it’s too late.

Seventeen-year-old Isla Blackman only agrees to participate in a Halloween party séance because Dominic, an old crush, wants to. She is sure nothing will happen when they try to contact the spirit of her mother. But the séance receives a chilling reply.

SHE IS NOT DEAD.

Isla doesn’t want to upset her father by prying into the family history he never discusses. When the mysterious and unearthly Jack offers to help her discover the truth, Isla must master her new abilities to protect her loved ones from enemies she never knew existed.

Isla's Inheritance is Available Now from:

Amazon | Smashwords

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 gift card at Amazon or Barnes & Noble – winner’s choice (open internationally.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An exerpt from the book

“I’m not sure which is worse,” I whispered to Hamish, stroking his fur, “believing I killed my mother, or believing she abandoned me…and Dad lied about it.” Hamish didn’t answer. He was already asleep. “Well, you’re no use.”

Against all odds, the steady rhythm of Hamish’s breathing lulled me into a doze. It seemed like no time had passed when I awoke to a change in light: my father’s large frame was in the doorway, blocking the light.

“Isla? Are you awake?” His voice was tentative.

“Yes.” I sat up, rubbing my eyes. Hamish grumbled a protest.

“Can I turn the light on?”

“Sure.”

I blinked and stared at my father. He looked dishevelled and his eyes were wide, like he’d seen a ghost. He was holding the gift bag he’d given me on my birthday. “You left this at the restaurant the other week, when you went out for dessert with that boy,” he said, his voice strained.

As confused and resentful as I was feeling right now, I still loved him, and his appearance worried me. “Dad, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said. He was an even worse liar than Sarah. He came into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “Here.” He tried to hand me the bag. Vomit burned the back of my throat, and I flinched back.

He saw the flinch, and his face grew even more drawn. “Isla, take it.” There was an urgency in his tone that I neither understood nor liked.

“No. Dad, what’s going on? You’re freaking me out.”

He looked around the room. “Do you have any of my work in here?”

The question confused me. I felt my cheeks warm. “Um, I’m not sure.” The answer was no. Pretty much every piece of ironwork he’d given me was in the shed. The rest I’d given away to friends.

“Here.” He upended the gift bag. The heavy iron circlet tumbled into my lap.

My stomach twisted with nausea so severe I clenched my teeth, afraid I’d throw up. Where the iron touched my thighs through the denim of my jeans it felt ice-cold, and yet it burned at the same time. I gasped, shoving it away from me and onto the floor. It singed my hand.

“What the hell are you doing?” I jumped to my feet. Hamish leapt up too, yapping.

Dad said nothing but the look on his face was wild, despairing.

“You’re crazy,” I cried, fleeing the room.

“Isla, wait,” Dad yelled after me. But I ran, snatching my bag from the hallway before rushing out the front door. I ignored the bite of tiny rocks on the soles of my feet. I had to get away from him, from everything.

About the Author

Cassandra Page is a mother, author, editor and geek. She lives in Canberra, Australia’s bush capital, with her son and two Cairn Terriers. She has a serious coffee addiction and a tattoo of a cat — which is ironic, as she’s allergic to cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she engages in geekery, from Doctor Who to AD&D. Because who said you need to grow up?

Author Websites:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads

You can purchase Isla's Inheritance from:

Amazon | Smashwords

Review-cipes: If I Stay, The Sky is Everywhere, Sean Griswold's Head

Well dear readers, it has been far too long. But between the new baby (I'm a MOM! It's craaazy! He's 200% adorable and also does not sleep) and editing my latest MS, I just haven't been able to devote my time to the blog. However, with FARLIGHT about to launch into the world, I hope to be able to dedicate more time to it in the very near future.

Needless to say, it's high time I updated you all on some of my favorite recent reads!

(actually I read most of these during my book-a-day stint back in February when my little one wouldn't sleep unless I was walking him up and down the hall in a baby carrier. But that is another story.)

So, here come my mini review-cipes, Contemporary Edition.

    aka ... if you liked TFIOS ... read these!

If I Stay -- by Gayle Foreman

*Yes you must read this book before you see the movie.
  ... Hurry.*

Uncover:

A gifted cellist
Life, love, unravelling
A chance to stay.

She survived. But what did she lose? And will she stay?

If you Love If: The Fault in our Stars - John Green, The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson, Pivot Point - Kasie West

The Sky is Everywhere -- by Jandy Nelson

Piece together:

The ache of a little sister, left behind
Music, roses, streets littered with poetry
Love: old and new and everything inbetween.

When Lennie's sister died suddenly, she realized she'd always been the shadow. Now, she must figure out how to move on, alone.

Similar Reads: If I Stay - Gayle Foreman, The Fault in our Stars - John Green, Saving June - Hannah Harrington


Sean Griswold's Head -- Lindsay Leavitt

Combine:

Girl more-than-a-little pissed at the fam
Guy-crazy BFF
Focus objects, crushes, bikes, betrayal

Guy she's always known. But not really. That she's stalking him? That's her guidance counselor's fault. Need a focus object? Look no further than Sean Griswold's Head.

In the same vein: Catching Jordan - Miranda Kenneally, Along for the Ride - Sarah Dessen, Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? 
Any other book recommendations for fans of these great reads?

Review-cipes: Pivot Point, Transparent, Arclight

It's high time I updated you all on some of my favorite recent reads!
Like last time I did "Review-cipes," I seem to be amassing a collection of new sci-fi favorites.


Pivot Point -- by Kasie West

Splice:

1 supergirl seer
2 potential futures
A single choice

Juxtapose: a life in Normal, or one safe with the other Supers in the walls of the Compound, either way there's a chance for love, but both paths seem to lead to the same devastating end.

Parallel Pathways: Clarity by Kim Harrington, Parallel by Lauren Miller, Transparent by Natalie Whipple

Transparent -- by Natalie Whipple

Blend:

1 invisible girl, born to a life of crime
A controlling, Vegas-crook of a father
A chance for a new life

She's trying to start over as a "normal" (super-powered) high-schooler in Arizona, but what will happen when she finds out she's not as invisible as she thinks?

Similar Superbooks: Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan, Pivot Point by Kasie West, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White


Arclight -- Josin McQuein

Entomb:

A girl with no past
The boy whose father died to save her
A dome of light

And beyond it? ... 
Everything fades to black. 


Other Post-Apoc Thrillers: In the After by Demetria Lunetta (PS: LOVE), Enclave by Ann Aguirre, Taken by Erin Bowman

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? 
Any other book recommendations for fans of these great reads?

Review-cipes: Crewel, Glow & Scarlet

Having had zero time lately for full-on reviews, I decided to give you, dear readers, a quick reading update in the form of book recipes:



Crewel -- by Gennifer Albin

Spin:

1 thread Mad Men
2 skeins Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale
A snippet of quiet determination

Weave together in a tapestry of intrigue and subversion, where young women have power over the very fabric of the world ... but not over their own lives. 

Similar Warps & Wefts: Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Wither by Lauren DeStefano, Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi




Glow -- by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Synthesize:

2 at-odds starships en route to a new planet
1 vial of genetically induced infertility
A questioning of religiosity and reproductive ethics

Add: A healthy dose of action, a heroine questioning her "match," and a dash of agrarian, a dot of art.



Related Flavors: Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, Divergent by Veronica Roth
Similar Themes: Bumped, by Megan McCafferty, Wither by Lauren DeStefano, Matched by Allie Condie



Scarlet -- Marissa Meyer

Pack in a Basket:

Red hooded sweatshirt
Farm goods to trade
Grandma's Lunar secrets
Brainwashing skills

Warning: This combination may attract Wolf and/or Malcolm Reynolds-esque Captain -- both of which will inevitably make life more complicated for you. 


Similarly Tasty Snacks: Cinder by Marissa Meyer ( ...you have read this already, yes??), Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Fire by Kristin Cashore


Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? 

Any other ingredients to toss in the review mix?

Any other book recommendations with similar flavors to these?

Book Review: A Penny's Worth

Novel: A Penny's Worth Author: A. M. Hooper Release Date: 15 Jan 2013 Publisher: Prose By Design, LLC Genre: YA Romantic Thriller Pages: 250 His kisses are passionate. His romance is flawless. The last thing 17 year old Emmaline expected was for her perfect boyfriend, Cephas, to kidnap her. Now she'll have to outsmart and outrun those closest to her in this fast- paced adventure of insubordination and torrid love.  Friends will become foes and trust will gave way to bitter lies as Emmaline tries to save innocent lives which may perish at the hand of Cephas's crooked boss. With a posse of lethal hit men hot on her trail, Emmaline must decide whether unraveling the truth is worth enduring the betrayal, destruction, and deceit that stand in her way. Cephas Bourdon is trouble, but maybe she could kiss him again . . . just one more time. It couldn't hurt.   (Goodreads)

Quick Look

In this romantic thriller, readers will hitch a ride with 17 year-old Emmaline as she goes from girlfriend of the high school basketball star to a hostage at the center of a high-speed chase. Her captor? A criminal mastermind ... and the boy she'd thought loved her.

Full Review

For the first few chapters, A Penny's Worth appears to be a contemporary romance - Emmaline is finishing up her senior year, complete with all its typical and relatable teenage drama. But after a few chapters the tone of the story shifts when she's taken hostage by her new boyfriend Cephas. From there, the latter half of the novel shifts to a complex sequence of dramatic chase scenes, tense moments at gunpoint, ever-changing loyalties, and ever-shifting uncertainty about whether to trust her head or her heart.

Throughout the story Emmaline struggles with her attraction to guys that are wrong for her (read: abusive). Initially, she stands up for herself, shutting down at least one suitor that's been physically harming her. But she   gets confused when the abuse from another guy turns psychological. I can't say I fully agreed with or understood some of the decisions Emmaline makes in this book. That said, kudos to the author, who has decided to tackle some pretty serious subject matter that so many novels leave unquestioned!!

I do wish that the protagonist had a bit more agency in her decision making. She had shining moments, but was often not privy to the plans of her allies and therefore had less agency in the latter parts of the story.

Overall, this was a thought-provoking, fast-paced read. It will certainly keep you guessing! Plus there's a scene with a fascinating discussion on U.S. agricultural policies -- a subject near and dear to my heart!!

Recommended for fans of:  Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris, or Morgan Rice's Arena One


Book Soundtrack: I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift

Favorite Quotes:

"What are you saying?" he asked, eyeing me suspiciously. I couldn't believe I'd been dating such an idiot.

"Maybe that's all you need: someone to remind you of your capabilities every now and then."

"I wasn't sure I could ever love him again. At least not out loud."


Want more book suggestions? See my other Book Recommendations.

Need some more convincing? Check out reviews of A Penny's Worth on Amazon, at Goodreads and from Wordpaintings Unlimited.




You can buy A Penny's Worth from these sites:

   

Book Recommendation: Candor

Pam Bachorz
Pages: 272
Ages: 14+

Oscar Banks is perfect. Straight A's, community service advocate, all-around model citizen. Just like every other high schooler in Candor.  Which is why a slot in the model community is in such demand by parents of troubled teens. 

What people don't know is that in Candor, you are what you hear.




Candor is definitely one of my favorite recent reads. In the vein of Megan McCafferty's Bumped, it's one of those books that gets under your skin. Primarily, I was drawn in by the premise: a planned community where teens are brainwashed by the town founder through subliminal messaging.  The founder's son, meanwhile, spends his days and nights trying to fight the brainwashing with messages of his own ... while making somewhat shady business deals on the side. I will say that I would have loved to see the concept and the relationships developed quite a bit further. I know there's no sequel, but I would have liked one! I felt like the book ended just when I wanted more. 

Candor was a fast-paced read. Nearly impossible to put down (I technically did, but only because I had to get off an airplane)! The characters were well-layered, and I found it fascinating to watch them struggle to bend the 'Messages' to their own free will. 

Sometimes it was difficult to like the characters: Oscar - arrogant, underhanded, and selfish. Nia (love interest) - somewhat standard quirky-artist type, rebellious, promiscuous ... and then of course the brainwashed masses of Candor High. But the fact that they were difficult to like made them all the more real, and re-emphasized the extent to which they were products of their own environment. 

Books like Candor:

Similar mind-games themes: Maze Runner by James Dashner, Insignia by S.J. Kincaid, Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore, Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Similar voice: Feed by MT Anderson, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Want more book suggestions? See my other Book Recommendations.

Need some more convincing? Check out reviews of Candor from Don't Take my Books Away, Lucid Conspiracy, and Eating YA Books.