The Testing

[Kelly]

I gave it four stars for the fun of reading it, but it was not a super strong plot. The author didn't build a rationale for why the government had to pit so few people against each other for an education. After all, the more educated people trying to make a difference, the better, right? Why just 20 accepted applications? Strange.

[Jenni]

My students are really excited about this particular book. Since Hunger Games, Divergent, the Selection, etc. are all very popular, I knew this one would be a hit with my patrons. I don't have a budget for my library, but I was able to get a free copy of this book, and it hasn't spent more than five minutes on the shelf since then!

[Emily]

I just finished listening to this book on audio and was pleasantly surprised that this kept my attention. There are so many books being compared to The Hunger Games nowadays that I was a little wary of this one. But I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Jess]

It's hard not to compare this book to The Hunger Games and Divergent. This would be a great book to give to kids who want more like those two series, or who just love dystopian fiction in general. I wasn't too impressed by the story itself. I liked the first half where I felt the author was building off teen's anxiety over testing, competition, and how it can impact their lives. But the second half felt a lot like the Hunger Games and I lost interest.

[Bethany]

I read this one last week and absolutely loved it! I was a little skeptical because I've read so many dystopian books claiming to be the next Hunger Games, and they rarely stand up to the comparison. One of the qualities that set The Testing apart was the author's ability to create realistic, interesting, likable (and hate-able) characters, none of whom were purely good or bad. She also did a great job of building suspense, which kept me turning the pages late into the night. The conclusion was satisfying yet it also left me wanting to dive right into Independent Study, the second book in the trilogy. I downloaded it as soon as I finished and can't wait to get started reading!

[Jmrunninglib]

I liked this book, but thought it could have been a little stronger. I predicted many of the outcomes throughout. I think it will be an easy sell to those fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games. When I order this for my library I will make sure to order the other books in the trilogy. Like I said I didn't think it was a strong story line everywhere, but it did set the tone for the next book and leave you wanting more.