Series: The Testing, #1
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publish Date: June 4th, 2013
Source: Review Copy
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – Started out as “just okay”, but quickly hit its stride. A must read!

About the book: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? 

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. 

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one. 

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust. -Goodreads

Thoughts: Well, that’s two for two. So far, my BEA reads this far have been absolutely fantastic. I had heard a little buzz about The Testing, so when I heard Joelle Charbonneau (doesn’t she have a fantastic name?!) was signing at BEA, I had no choice but to show up, and I’m so glad I did.

Now, to be fair, it’s nearly impossible not to compare this book to The Hunger Games, as the underlying concept is the same–but I don’t think that’s a point against the book. If you’re looking for a book with the same feeling as THG, this should be your first stop. The Testing has some pretty brutal moments throughout, based around the whims of a futuristic society. Initially, some of the BIG moments didn’t really have the emotional impact that they could have, but the further I got into the story, the more it grabbed me. And there were even a few developments that I definitely didn’t see coming!

I really enjoyed how Joelle Charbonneau developed her characters–there were quite a few to remember once The Testing started, but the way Cia interaccted with her competition made them all standout in just the right way. Cia herself was exactly what she needed to be to carry this story, both strong and unsure. I’m dying to see how the events of The Testing carry through for her to the next book.

I already have an ARC of book two sitting on my bookshelf, and I am absolutely dying to read it. I need to know what happens next! Right now. I’m trying to hold off on reading it because then the wait until book three (I’m assuming this series will have more than two books) would be unbearable. A day later and I’m still obsessing about this book though, so I give myself about two weeks before I crack and pickup Independent Study.

Purchase The Testing
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Second Opinions:
@Bloody Bookaholic
@Ink Skies
@Fantastical Writings