A Review of The Testing, a satisfying dystopian

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Testing...an important mark of adulthood for a chosen few, this is something Cia has striven for all her life. To be tested for a spot at University, along with the other chosen from colonies around the country, is a great honor. Her father made it, but no one else from her colony has made it in the last decade, including a smarter older brother. When she does make it (and since you can tell from the synopsis that she does, I'm not considering this a spoiler), she finds out the Testing is a lot darker than she ever realized.

This book seemed almost to be a cross between The Hunger Games and Divergent, only probably not as amazingly written, but still really good--especially if you like those sorts of stories. It's set in a dystopian world long after nuclear strikes took out a good part of the country. The United Commonwealth is still focusing on revitalizing the land, and Cia's father is heavily involved in these revitalization efforts.

It's a dark story, and explores some heavy ideas, but I personally think it makes the book all the better. Some readers seem to wonder why a country would go to such extremes to test for the brightest minds, and why it would also waste so many of the didn't-quite-make-it bright minds. After all the country is still trying to repopulate. But I could see why it might make sense, especially to a country that as a whole, seems to still be suffering lingering effects of PTSD. It is a proven fact that going through extreme circumstances can really bring out someone's character; it is the ultimate test. And for a country who still has the mindset that their leaders need to be able to lead through the pressures of a nuclear war, I could see where their fears might have created this insane testing system.

But this is why we like to read dystopians, right? Because the characters will need to face terrible situations and overcome impossible hurdles, and throughout those experiences, grow into who they really are. They will probably discover they need to rebel against the system, and lead the way to change--but my guess is that part will wait for book two. Which I can't wait to read.

This digital copy of The Testing was given to me by NetGalley & Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in exchange for an honest review.



View all my reviews