The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau Review

"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."

The Testing is a combination of the Divergent Trilogy and The Hunger Games Trilogy. The Testing is worth reading while we wait for the next book of Divergent and next movie of The Hunger Games to be released. (I predict The Testing might be the next Hunger Games, if people are really interested. But there's a good chance most people aren't interested into seeing The Testing become the next great movie.) The Testing involves history and testing, but there's a fair amount of action (murder, killings, attempted murders, bombs, dogs, mutation, what else is there to name?)

The Testing is amazing, with all the nasty and hot stuff combined into one delicious package. The Testing is definitely worth reading, especially to the YA audience and the NA audience. With a fast moving plot and killer conflict, The Testing is guarantee to delight everyone (except probably some of the older folks, after all they usually don't like violence). The writing is addicting and sounds like a bomb, threatening to explode all its secrets in your face.

The beginning of The Testing eases the readers into the plot. We are placed in the area where it was once called The Great Lakes. Some parts of the story takes place in Chicago (Oh, here's the chunk of Divergent). Cia Vale is part of the graduating class at her city. There's few of them, and even fewer are chosen to be part of The Testing. (And of course, Cia is part of them.)

The Testing's ending is awesome. I wish I could spoil everything and tell all its secrets, but I can't. There's no clear enemy for Cia, but she's determined to find the truth. (Reminds us of Cold Case, huh? Find the Truth? That quote from Cold Case?) 

Cia is intelligent, but sometimes she has to take her father's advice. (But she didn't). Her father is a seasoned victim of The Testing, so he know exactly what happened, even if he was brain wiped. Cia (ha, Central Intelligence Agency. Sorry, small joke.) is sometimes a little slow, but she's quite intelligent. She's Erudite, Dauntless, and Amity, whenever the situation arises. 

Tomas is dangerous. That's what I think, Cia. Stay far, far away from him.

Rating: Five out of Five