The Testing (The Testing Trilogy Book 1)

If you enjoyed the Hunger Games, I believe you will also enjoy this book. It's the first of a series by this author who usually writes mysteries. I found the book to be excellently written and very engaging. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to any adult or young adult (I'm an adult).

From the moment I began reading The Testing to the very last page, such a great book! Every page kept me intrigued and interested. Loved the characters...except for the ones I hated - but that was definitely the author's intent. Can't wait to get started on the next one!

If you liked Hunger Games or Divergent, you should enjoy The Testing. Lots of suspense and action. Charbonneau gets you hooked into this dystopian world with the characters in this book and all of the questions left unanswered. I'm already looking forward to the next one! It has a good ending, but leaves you wanting more.

I keep hearing people say that they're becoming burnt out on the dystopian genre... Well, let me tell you, Joelle Charbonneau's The Testing might just rekindle your love of the genre.

The Testing has been pitched as a must read for Hunger Games fans and does feel very similar... even the cover shares the same simplicity and a similar focal concept sure to catch the eye of HG fans. But I assure you, The Testing is not The Hunger Games. Charbonneau introduces readers to an entirely new dystopian society that, at least initially, feels quite safe, but turns out to have a much darker, sinister side than our heroine ever imagined.

The novel follows Cia, a mechanically gifted girl who has been chosen to participate in The Testing, which is a means of determining which individuals from various parts of the United Commonwealth will be able to continue their education at university and eventually become an important leader. Only a very small number of individuals are selected to compete in The Testing and most individuals know they will never be chosen, even if they dream of the honor. Cia hopes to be selected, like her father once was, but knows her chances are slim. When she learns that she, and three others from her district have earned a spot in the competition, she's amazed and incredibly proud - and is confused as to why her parents seem less than excited. Before she leaves for the capital, her father takes her aside and shares one of his deepest fears: that the testing is not the dream that it seems. He reveals to her that, while participants minds are wiped after they've completed the testing, he's been left with terrifying nightmares that he fears may be lingering memories rather than products of an overactive imagination. With this knowledge now lodged in her mind, Cia leaves for The Testing, anxious and guarded. She soon learns that her father was correct to fear The Testing and that she'll need to use everything in her to survive.

There is a romantic plot line within The Testing and, while it does contribute to the story, especially when considering the complications a romance can cause when an individual is unsure who can be trusted, it isn't the main focus of the novel. That is to say, this is not a love story, though it does contain one. In this way, it is much like The Hunger Games.

Some may wonder how like Cia is to THG's Katniss. While both heroines are strong and capable of taking care of themselves, Cia, in my opinion, is definitely more motivated by emotion than Katniss and is more naturally trusting and sympathetic. It always seemed to me that Katniss wasn't above manipulating or using others for her own gain when she knew they were emotionally attached to her (for example, Peeta); Cia, on the other hand, is more likely to be the one manipulated, not because she's weak, but because she feels deeply for others. There was never any point where I felt she was weak or unintelligent, though she does have weaknesses.

For the most part, The Testing had really great pacing and twists. Although, it did take me perhaps 50 pages or so to be completely hooked. It is around this point that Cia has reached the capital and has begun the testing... and then all hell breaks loose!

Whether you're a Hunger Games fan, a dystopian junkie, or just looking for a great, action packed read, The Testing is for you. Do not miss this book!

This book was definitely an amazing read! The first time I had heard of it; it was in comparison to the hunger games. Now, my problem with that is you can see the hunger games influence in this book; so I feel that this author stole from the hunger games a little bit (you'll understand when you read it). However, it was still an exciting adventure and filled with the kind of excitement that is very similar to the hunger games. I could not put this book down! I would definitely recommend this book to an avid reader like myself.

While reading this, i noticed that not only there are a couple of Hunger Games quotes, it goes way too fast. I feel like Joelle could have made me care for the characters, but i didn't. And it still left me some questions unanswered as: Why do they let the Testing Candidates die, when they need people to restore the planet?! Just, why? Not that i have any problem with people dying, because i love when they die (im weird). But thats not the point. Cia's and Tomas's relationship formed in a blink of an eye. Really... i just didnt like it. The book was OK. But it could have been better.

I love this kind of literature, and Charbonneau, the author, does dystopian very well. Her characters are believable and well-drawn. I can envision the society very well, due to good writing. I look forward to the next book in this series. Possibly everything works out almost too well for the main character, though.

A but reminiscent of the Hunger Games/Battle Royale. Premise was interesting and the plot twists weren't obvious from the get-go. I enjoyed the dystopian society presented in the books, but I don't often read first person narratives, so it was difficult to get into the book at first. I liked many of the supporting characters--much more than the protagonist, Cia, who got really annoying after awhile.

The premise of this book is absolutely compelling. The writing is so, so smart. Like, I was trying to keep up with some of the technological jargon at points. The pace is excellent.
It just really leaves yearning to know what happens next.

I read great reviews and was intrigued (and at the same time, concerned) by the comparisons to The Hunger Games-- a strong female heroine in a society that challenges their youth in a test of mental and physical strength in a post-war world. All these elements were strikingly similar yet they were rearranged in a new and compelling way. The book is well-written, the plot is well-developed and the characters, especially Cia, are multi-dimensional. A great summer read. Right up there with 5th Wave. Looking forward to the sequel!

I really enjoyed this novel, and finished it on one rainy Sunday. As other reviewers have said, it has a lot of similarities to the Hunger Games and the Divergent series. However, it has unique elements that I enjoyed, and I've already ordered the second and third books.

Started off excellent. Then turned dark. To much killing and for really stupid reasons. A good run at Divergent and the hunger games but didn't make the grade. I myself didn't like the story. to much gore and killing.

I really enjoyed this book and it's sequel "Independent Study". It's surprisingly graphic for a young adult book. There are many aspects of the book that mimic Hunger Games, but it was different enough to have a good story on it's own. If you enjoy dystopian society young adult books then I would highly recommend it.

Fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner trilogies will enjoy this book and the sequels as much if not more. Very well written and fast paced, The Testing is set in the very popular Dystopian future. Choices will be made, friendships made and destroyed, and trust not easily earned. What could be a glimpse into our future is brought to chilling, exciting, and thought provoking life. Very easy read, that will keep you turning the pages and begging for more.

I love how Cia and Tomas' relationship unfolds after a while. I also love how these could be two real people and how the world could actually be this way when the governments strike. Scratch all of that, I just love the book! Can't wait to read the second one!

Written for YA.....VERY YA. The idea for the story had potential to be great, but the writing was so terrible that it was hard to keep reading. Zero character development, I don't feel like I know who any of the characters are. This book was a very disappointing and dry read.

Well written with a great plot and diverse characters. It's one of my new favorites and I quickly read the sequel, which was just as interesting. I just wish the series was complete so I know what happens to these characters!

The Testing was well written, however it was too similar to The Hunger Games and Divergent. I understand taking inspiration from other books in the same genre but the parallels are too many to just be coincidence. One of the characters even has the same name as a Divergent character. I REALLY wanted to love this series, and I did like it. I was just looking for something more original.

This book had me from the very beginning! A pleasant mix of The Hunger Games and Divergent Novels, but with a tale of its own!
Cia, and her thoughts, her actions had me thinking and questioning the thoughts and actions of others also throughout the book! I loved it!

*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***

The story was dark, creepy and engrossing. You know what else was dark, creepy, engrossing,original several years ago and EXACTLY LIKE THIS BOOK? The Hunger Games. I can't believe more has not been made of the fact that this book is an exact knock-off of The Hunger Games. To say, "If you liked the Hunger Games then you will like this," is like saying, "If you liked water yesterday then you will like it today, because it's water again." Veronica Roth should be angry, too, because there's even a little bit of Insurgent in here.

Let me mention some of the blatant knock-offs:

- dystopian society, check
- new world order broken up into colonies (districts, factions, whatever we're calling them now), check
- teenage girl with poor family, check
- teenage girl with conflicting feelings about her mother, check
- tentative teenage romance with a boy who has been a friend forever, check
- dark "competition" that pits kids against one another, check
- kids dying gruesomely because of this competition, check
- "symbols" of your section worn on your body (in this case, more jewelry), check
- killer mutts (mutants) threatening contestants, check
- chapter heading fonts are literally the same as the blocky font used for the title of The Hunger Games (I am not making this up)

And the list goes on.

I was amazed. As I got further and further into the book, more and more blatant the similarities were. I understand that dystopian fiction today is as popular as vampire fiction was about 8 years ago, but if there are no new ideas to be found, move on to a new genre. Or change this one up a little.

I gave it two stars because it kept my attention, but I just explained why. I kept reading in disbelief.

The beginning was allot like the hunger games and I was thinking... great. But only the beginning reminded me of of the hunger game. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to trading the 2nd one.

When I first purchased this, I was a little hesitant. It seemed so... Hunger Gamesish, which itself was so Battle Royaleish. However, I had seen several good reviews and was feeling confident that I could at least enjoy the book enough to finish it. Surprisingly, it was one of the better dystopian books I've read from the new rush of them. Cia is a strong female character who thinks hard. She is both a leader and a do-er. She doesn't stand by and wait for boys to rescue her, she charges ahead, sometimes to her advantage and sometimes to her detriment.

I was a little put off by the unnecessary romance in the book, especially as the romance could easily have been changed to a strong friendship instead with no loss of plot. Mainly because I felt Cia's choice of a romantic hero wasn't smart enough for her!

The story is really in many ways two stories stitched together. Her time taking smaller tests and her time for the practical exam. Both are good, but I preferred the time where she was living with the other students. It felt more original.

Overall, a good book.

I really enjoyed the beginning book of this series. I am a fan of the post apocalyptic genre and this didn't disappoint! Sort of a combo of The Hunger Games and Divergent. Can't wait to read the next book, Independent Study

Yes, it resembles the Hunger Games and Divergent. But it is really well written, the characters are interesting, the story and premise are different and it keeps you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it and bought the second one right away.