“Graduation Day.”

From Joelle Charbonneau’s The Testing.

Since most of the world has been destroyed by war, contamination, and destruction, civilization looks to children to lead the country out of their despair; the best teen students are chosen to take part in The Testing where the most brilliant can be found, attend college, and then given jobs in the government, helping to make a positive change.  Despite her father’s involvement in the local government, Cia’s father is not thrilled with her selection to participate in The Testing.  Cia is ecstatic to be chosen and is eager to travel to the city to begin, that is, until her father gives her the ominous parting advice to trust no one.  Along with Cia, another local boy Tomas is also chosen to partake in The Testing, and she is very glad to have a familiar face to join her, especially after her father’s warning.  However, when Cia and Tomas begin The Testing, they are both plunged into a world far more intense and dangerous world than they could have ever expected, where life and death literally hangs in the balance for the students.  While Tomas’ presence does provide some comfort to her, Cia is confused by his behavior towards her, which seems to be growing more romantic, further complicating Cia’s desire to heed her father’s warning as she tries to pass The Testing.  Cia quickly turns from the innocent girl she arrived as to one of many competitors desperately trying to survive.

The first book in this dystopian young adult trilogy is mysterious, heartbreaking, and thrilling, creating a steady foundation for the rest of the following books.  Charbonneau does well to create a world that is unique, but similar enough to the reader’s world to be chillingly familiar.  The Testing is a page-turning read that easily draws readers into the story.