The Testing, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2013
344
Sixteen-year-old Malencia (Cia) Vale is chosen to participate in The Testing to attend the University; however, Cia is fearful when she figures out her friends who do not pass The Testing are disappearing. 100,000 first printing.
Review:
Cia is a girl from a small colony who is chosen to go, not by choice, to compete for a spot at the only university in her country, located in Tosu City. Only the best and brightest are chosen for the honor.
The plot does somewhat resemble the Hunger Games, but I can assure you that the author has created a fully fleshed-out world that stands on its own without a reliance on the structure of Panem. The imagery is vivid, and the scenes are very intense. Once she arrives at Tosu City there are no real lulls in the action. It’s a one sitting type of read.
The book is extremely well written with realistic dialogue and flowing sentences. Plot structure is solid with a multitude of elements to appeal to lovers of dystopian, romance, and survival stories. The characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, but the fact that they were not can be directly attributed to the situations in which they find themselves in. Cia simply does not have time to get to know her fellow university candidates in much detail.
Speaking of Cia, she is a great character who enters the story somewhat sheltered but not naive. She learns quickly, and she is not easily pushed around by those in charge. This is a refreshing change from many dystopias.
Overall, it’s a fun and quick read that will leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.
Content Warning:
Violence, Brief Sexual Situations
