Teens respect their elders, do their chores, and enjoy homework . . . because they’re controlled by subliminal messages.Oscar Banks, the son of the town’s founder, is the model of perfection: class president, top student, shining example. But it’s only a disguise. Unlike all the other Candor teens, he knows about the Messages, and he fights them with his own counterprogramming.Only Oscar knows how to get kids out of Candor — for a price.When Nia moves into town, Oscar is smitten by her tart attitude and ability to see through his perfect-boy front. He can’t stand to see her changed by the Messages. Now he must decide to help Nia escape Candor and lose her forever, or keep her close and risk exposure.