The Testing: What If the Tests are Deadly?

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau 

Why did I read it?

Because Miss Karen compared it to a combination of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent...nuf said. 

What happened?

Cia Vale has always wanted to attend The University. To be counted among the chosen few destined to rebuild the war-scarred world left after the Seven Stages War. She loves her family, and she has been successful helping her father and brothers revitalize the land surrounding her small colony. But, she has always hoped against hope that she would be chosen for The Testing upon graduation.

The Testing is the first step toward attending The University. Officials from Tosu City evaluate the merits of each school graduate, and invite the elite to participate in a series of tests. These tests determine who has true leadership potential and should therefore move onto The University. While no one has been chosen from her colony in many years, Cia is elated when she and three other graduates are chosen from her colony.

But, Cia's happiness quickly turns to concern when her father shares some of his worries. All Testing candidates do have their memories erased at the conclusion of the tests. But, Cia's father warns her that his fragmented memories and nightmares of The Testing contain unspeakable horror, death, and Testing candidates pitted against each other. With her expectations set on edge, Cia leaves all that she knows behind and heads toward whatever horror or honor The Testing contains...

What did I like or not like?

This book is really, really readable. You are immediately drawn into the characters and the world that Charbonneau has created. Just like Miss Karen promised, this book does contain similar elements to The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent. But, it is definitely its own story, complete with great characters, chilling action and consequences, and mystery.

Like most Young Adult novels published at this time, this one is the beginning of a series, and I'm definitely going to need to keep reading this story.

Insurgent: Can Pain Lead to Strength?

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Why did I read it?

Because Divergent was awesome, and I couldn't resist reading it anymore =D

What happened?

SPOILER ALERT

Triss didn't have a choice, but it doesn't mean she doesn't regret killing Will. Why couldn't she just have shot him in the hand? There wasn't anything she could do to stop them, but why did her parents have to sacrifice themselves for her? How can she move on without them?

But move on she must. She and Tobias might have been able to stop the Erudite plot, but there is no telling what might be coming next. With Abnegation all but destroyed, the other three factions have to choice their side, and several of them have close ties to Erudite. Where can she and the other outcasts find safety?

Perhaps its with the factionless, those banished, exiled, or kicked out from their chosen faction. But despite what many said, the factionless aren't as helpless as they might have appeared. In fact, they might have been planning something. But what?

There are also the rumors that Triss has heard. Maybe the Erudite attack on Abnegation might have been about much more than a simple government takeover. It might have been about secrets that could rock their entire world.

What did I like or not like?

As far as Dystopian novels go, this series is one of my favorites. The society is brought to the point of destruction, and yet the characters are still led by values and convictions. The plot and action keep you interested throughout the novel, and the questions that the characters ask in their make-believe circumstances apply to all of our lives today. Ultimately, the book ponders the idea of who we are; what we choose to do, or what we have to do. 

Concerning TeenBookWorms

In my promotion, I mentioned that we would be doing Shrinky Dinks the last Monday in May. But, it turns out that we were very closed as it was Memorial Day. So, we ended programs that one week early, and my programs don't start until June 18th. So today, I'm going to tell you a little bit about our TeenBookWorms group.

Basically, this is a group for high school students who love to read. We choose one book a month, read it, and then I come up with some discussion questions (or borrow them from another reading club) and we chat about it. Some of the time, we might get a little side tracked with upcoming movies (especially with The Hunger Games and The Avengers), or crazy Youtube videos. But, we always have a great time, and we always chat about literary stuff.

Another cool part about the group is that you as the teens pick the book. We pick our titles a few months out so we aren't surprised, and I might have some suggestions if you get stuck. But ultimately, you get to decide what you would like to read.

So far we've read: The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Germ by Robert Liparulo, and Stravaganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman.

At our last meeting, we lined up the books we're going to be reading through the summer as well.
June 26, 4-5pm Wonderstuck by Brian Selznick
July 24, 4-5pm The Maze Runner by James Dashner
August 28, 4-5pm Illusion by Frank Peretti

If any of our upcoming books sound awesome to you, read it, and come chat with us :) If they don't sound interesting at all, then pop by anyways and tell us what we should read next hehe.

Divergent: Could Thinking for Yourself Get You Killed?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Why did I read it?

Dystopian novels are huge right now, so we decided to read this book for TeenBookWorms. We meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4-5pm, to discuss a book together.

What happened?

After a devestating war ravaged the planet, survivors created factions that focused on a particular virtue to combat the evil that caused the war. Those who said the war was caused by deception formed Candor (the honest), those who blamed selfishness formed Abnegation (the selfless), those who blamed cowardness formed Dauntless (the brave), those who blamed anger formed Amity (the peaceful), and those who blamed ignorance formed Erudite (the intelligent).

Many years after the establishment of this seemingly perfect society, Beatrice Prior will choose which faction she will join just like every other sixteen-year-old in Chicago. For most, a simulation will definitively tell them which faction will be the best fit for them. But, for Beatrice, her choices in the simulation are inconclusive, and that can mean only one thing; that she is divergent.

While no one will tell her exactly what that means, she is told repeatedly that it is dangerous and could get her killed. Fantastic! As if surviving initiation in her chosen faction isn't going to cause enough problems for her.


What did I like or not like?


Veronica is only 22 years old and this is her debut novel, but it is amazing! She does a great job imagining a world where society members are split by personality, and how focusing on one virtue can mess us up instead of help us.

The initiation process that Beatrice has to endure provides a great mix of excitement, adventure, discoveries and a little bit of romance. But, beneath it all, there is something more sinister that Beatrice can't put her finger on, and it is this undercurrent that eventually rears its ulgy head and threatens to topple the system her entire society is built on.

P.S. There is some violence (this is a Dystopian novel) and some brief sexually-themed discussions.