Tags
Dystopian, Graduation Day, Independent Study, Joelle Charboneau, The Testing, YA fiction, Young adult literature
Finally, a book that knocked my socks off and made me stay awake until the wee hours of the morning reading! This book is the full package – dystopian, action, adventure, a little romance (but not too much to annoy guy readers), strong and smart female narrator, with an author whose writing sucks you into her world! Independent Study is the second book in The Testing trilogy, and fans of The Hunger Games will love it! Where Katniss is an expert in survival techniques, Cia has a brilliant mind.
I really enjoyed The Testing, but I have to say that Independent Study may be even better.
In Independent Study (2014) by Joelle Charbonneau, Cia has survived the testing and begins her studies at the University. The faculty in charge of the school and testing program are suspicious of Cia based on some actions in the testing (she took her bracelet off, etc) and attempt to overload her to the point of forcing her to fail. Failure=death. Of course Cia is too smart and strong to allow that to happen.
Trust issues abound! Even though Cia is in love with Tomas, she is not sure if she can fully trust him. As a matter of fact, Cia does not know if she can trust anyone. Will is once again in Cia’s life, and even though she knows she cannot trust him, he will serve a purpose. One of Cia’s allies, Michal, makes a huge mistake by placing faith in an important person, almost to Cia’s detriment.
Cia wins the respect of the President of the Commonwealth and lands an internship in the President’s office. Cia believes the President to be the most powerful person in the country. But is she? Also a surprise character returns at the end of the book…one whom, I’m sure, will play a big role in Graduation Day, the third book in the trilogy which will be published on June 17, 2014. At least now maybe Cia will be able to finally trust someone? We’ll see! I can’t wait!