Recommended Read: The Testing

I am an avid reader. I've loved books for as long as I can remember. As a 7th grade English and World Geography teacher, I am always on the hunt for new books to put in my classroom library or read aloud to my students. You would be surprised how much teenagers enjoy being read to. 

We usually read The Giver by Lois Lowry sometime at the beginning of the school year. This is an original Utopian/Dystopian novel. I have also been in love with Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (part of the Shadow Children series) for a long time. Another dystopian novel. Another favorite book of mine is The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, a dystopian novel. This year I finished reading Divergent by Veronica Roth and began reading the sequel Insurgent. These are also dystopian novels. 

Do you see a theme? Dystopian novels are so hot right now with The Hunger Games series gaining popularity in books and film right now. Ender's Game and Divergent are also creating films. I love this tragic world novel where everything is supposed to work perfectly, but doesn't. I also, almost never, read adult literature. Young adult lit is quick and keeps me in touch with what my students do and can read. 

To my surprise, I was walking around Sam's Club picking up supplies for Owen's birthday party when I came across a hardcover book called The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. First of all, I'm all about getting hardcover books cheap. Second, it claimed that if I loved The Hunger Games I would devour this book...and I did!

So I'm doing my first recommended read post for this book. I'm setting it up kind of like Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and I think I am going to have my 7th graders do this in their reading notebooks this year as well. 

Title: The Testing

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Copyright Date: 2013

Genre/Format: Science Fiction/Dystopia

Summary: The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a wasteland. An elite group, several students chosen from each colony, will be able to have a chance to get a college education and help rebuild the planet if they can pass The Testing. 

Cia Vale has waited her whole life to be chosen as a Testing candidate. She is proud, but can feel her brother's disappointment in not becoming a Testing candidate himself. Before Cia leaves, possibly to never see her family again, her father’s explains his "memories" of The Testing and offers a word of advice to his daughter, "Trust No One."
She believes that she can trust childhood friend, Tomas, but is he really who he seems? Can she really trust anyone?

What I Think: I love how the author takes something we all take for granted, a higher education, and turns it into a competition for the best and brightest. Cia seems like a tough cookie who is resourceful and has a good head on her shoulders, but we are also able to see a vulnerable side to her as well. I like that she is a strong female character and reminds me of Katniss from Hunger Games. She is constantly questioning the Commonwealth and that curiosity helps her have an edge in the book. 

I was surprised to find that the Testing is not what it appears at first, or rather, is not what most people believe it is. It is interesting to hear the rationale of the Commonwealth on students who don't pass individual tests. Why would you want to continue to sacrifice so many citizens who can be of service to rebuilding the planet?

Snatch of Text: "My father said to trust no one. But looking back into Tomas's serious gray eyes, I decide to ignore that advice this one time. If it is a mistake, it is my mistake. The consequences will be mine to live with. 

'There's a camera hidden in the skimmer. I spotted two more in the cabin.'

'Are you sure?'

I nod. 

A lock of hair falls over his forehead as he looks toward the skimmer. 'I don't understand. Why would someone be watching us now?'

'Because,' I say. 'The Testing has already begun.'" (pg.58) 

Reason for Selecting this Snatch of Text: I believe this is the moment where Cia makes a life changing decision. She deliberately goes against the advice that her father gives her and trusts Tomas. She realizes that this is her decision and she will need to deal with the consequences of that choice. I believe this is where we see both sides of the character. She is strong-willed and willing to make her own choices and deal with the repercussions  but she is also compassionate and sensitive. She feels a desire to help others, but also to rely on someone and be connected. I believe this piece of text provides a bit of foreshadowing for the rest of the novel. 

Rating: 4 stars

Happy Reading!