Independent Study - Joelle Charbonneau

Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau

Author:

Joelle Charbonneau

Pubished:

January 2013

Blurb on the back:

In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her home town sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her.

Review:

This book is part of my 2014 reading challenge.

So as you probably gathered from my previous post regarding the first part of this trilogy, I liked The Testing a lot. Joelle Charbonneau managed to capture my imagination with an innovative and new spin on the young adult dystopia novel. Suffice to say I was dying to find out what was going to happen to Cia Vale, the now incumbent Graduate and new university student of Tosu City University faces more trials and tribulations as she discovers more about the seedy underworld of the university.

Independent Study continues in the same vein of The Testing. Cia is face with more tests to prove that she has what it takes to survive the cut-throat world of the university. Her career choice is ignored and she is forced into a situation that she feels has been intentionally set up to make her fail so she will be "redirected." It details her struggle to survive and find people that she can trust to bring about change.

Now as I mentioned The Testing made me want to read this genre again. Independent Study while not as frantic and explosive as the first part of the trilogy, still maintains the world and adds to the disparity between the United Commonwealth Government and the University officials. 

It successfully held the interest in the world and quite frankly I cannot wait for the final part of the trilogy.

While not as good as The Testing it is still up there, I would liken it to Mockingjay at the moment, while good it rambles a bit. I am hoping that this is the weak part in the series, the lull before all hell breaks loose.

I can't wait for Graduation Day.

9 Out of 10.

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Author: 

Joelle Charbonneau

Published:

June 2013

Blurb on the Back:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Review:

This is one of the books on my 2014 reading challenge.

I have to admit starting this book I was worried. Over the last year or so I have read an awful lot of young adult Dystopia that has sprung up since the success of the Hunger Games franchise. A lot of the books were formulaic, following the same young girl, same dangerous situation, a love interest and an evil government hell bent on subduing the masses all with not a lot of substance. At first glance this book seemed like it was going to follow suit, however, Joelle Charbonneau has successfully crafted a society and a government that has a creepy and distinct "Dystopia." 

It is more brutal than Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, and the main character has more depth than the protagonist in Divergent by Veronica Roth both of which are both stellar examples of this genre. This is the Dystopia that distinguishes itself from the others just by the sheer quality of the writing and the plot pacing. 

The plot follows Malencia "Cia" Vale who is graduating school and hoping to be selected for "The Testing" which would allow her to attend university and escape the possibility of spending the rest of her life fixing tractors. What follows is a sinister testing process in which the 108 applicants are whittled down to just over 20 successful applicants. Cia must try to survive with her friend Tomas. 

The United Commonwealth where Cia lives does not seem to be a bad place to live, it is picking up the pieces of a shattered world, and actually doing it quite well. However the state and the education system are separate and it is the Leader of the university that provides the villain.

The book is brutal, People die both by their own hand and by our heroines. The final test shows the true colours of many of the testing candidates and Cia is a hell of a lot more modest and introspective than a lot of the heroines from other books. 

All in all this is one of the best in the genre. In fact I'd probably say that it is the best since the original Hunger Games book and it has reawakened my interest in the genre.

10 out of 10 

Peace out

Deejay.