The Testing

by Joelle Charbonneau
published: Houghton Mifflin Books, 2013
pages: 336

Cia has dreamed of being chosen for the testing since she was a young child and now that she's graduating, her chance has finally come around.  Along with three others from her hometown, Cia travels to the capitol, Tuso City to begin testing.  What she doesn't know is just how dangerous and fatal the testing might become.  She has to decide who to trust, if anyone.  Her choices will dictate what happens not only to her but to others as well.  She must decide just what she is willing to do to pass the test. 

This book had the right amount of action and mystery that any dystopian novel should have.  However, it felt familiar to other books that are in the same genre.  Most notably, it felt very similar to The Hunger Games at times, which was sad because I really wanted this book to stand out on its own.  It definitely had the potential.  I did have fun trying to figure out where the cities were and which states they traveled through in the final section of the testing.

One aspect of the book I really enjoyed were the relationships formed between the characters.  Cia and a cast of intelligent, manipulative and cunning characters fight for twenty coveted spots in University.  This premise gives characters interesting motives and has me wondering about some motives that have not yet been revealed.  I especially like the Thomas/Cia and Michal/Cia relationship dynamics.  

This book takes the idea of getting into college to a whole new level.  The best of the best are the ones who go on to have important jobs in the government and roles in revitalizing the country.  The idea that the government is looking to restore the country using the best and the brightest is an idea that is unique to this series.

Joelle Charbonneau has begun a crazy journey with this first installment.  I cannot not wait to see how Cia and the others handle the fallout from the first book.

Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"The Testing is a chilling and devious dystopian thriller that all fans of The Hunger Games will simply devour.  Joelle Charbonneau writes with guts and nerve but also great compassion and heart.  Highly recommended."
     --Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of Rot & Ruin

"Trained  to rely on her wits, Cia must survive on her courage and trust her instincts, even when it means following her heart ever deeper into danger.  A surefire favorite for dystopian fans, The Testing crackles with suspense, passion and betrayal set against a scarred and brutal world."
     --Sophie Littlefield, author of Unforsaken