Independent Study: The Testing, Book 2 – A Gripping YA Thriller About Exposing a Murderous Dystopian Government

This is a fantastic follow-up to Ms. Charbonneau's The Testing! Ms. Charbonneau sucks you in immediately, and never lets you go. Her writing is wonderful; full of realistic descriptions that jump off the page, flowing words, and plenty of action and tension. The story picks shortly after the last book ended, and things are not as they seem. With Cia remembering the things that actually happened during the Testing, she's not sure who to trust, or who to turn to. Does she let Tomas in on her secret? Does she try to run? One thing is for sure, what Cia faces throughout this book is not what she expected at all. Ms. Charbonneau keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, and throws twist after twist at the reader, so they never know what to expect next. Just when you think you have it figured out...BAM! Plot twist that shakes things up.Cia is an extremely relatable character, and quite honestly one of my favorite main characters. She is smart, brave, does the right thing (even when certain people don't actually deserve it), and she thinks through things before making her decisions. She weighs the pros and cons of situations, never rushing into things. Cia slowly realizes that danger lurks everywhere and in everyone, and sometimes the only person you can trust is yourself. However, there are also times that people surprise you, and you find yourself trusting a person you thought was your enemy. Tomas isn't as present in this book, in favor of other new characters coming into the story, I do hope that in the next one, Graduation Day, he is in it a bit more. I definitely missed his character. There are many new characters, and just like Cia, as you're reading, you don't know who to trust or believe. Everyone has an agenda or a motive to be a potential enemy.The action in this novel is nonstop. I loved the Induction part of the novel because it provided some heart-pounding moments. However, the ending blew me away. I thought I had things figured out, but Ms. Charbonneau definitely threw me for a loop! It definitely sets things up for the last book in the series, and changes the events of the next book greatly. I can't wait to see where the story goes. I highly recommend checking this book out for those who were fans of the first novel. Happy reading :)

That was a short wait! I just finished The Testing a few months ago! That doesn’t happen to me often, but when it does I get overly excited.Despite what other reviewers have said, I don’t think this series is “just another dystopia.” What makes The Testing and Independent Study so great is Cia. Her intelligence, her cunning, and especially her desire for truth.So far, that has been enough to happily drive me through these books and what makes it set apart from The Hunger Games and Divergent. There is more political maneuvering and strategy than either of those books, and it gives Independent Study an added edginess and grittiness.You know when you’re reading about Cia’s experiences at Tosu that there’s always more at stake – a fact she can never shake herself. Just when she thinks she’s safe and can trust again, something happens that rips the veil of protection and well-being even further away.Independent Study was definitely a strong follow-up. I appreciated the change of scene, the distance from Tomas (oh he’s there, but more out of reach) and the shifting surprises that were well-timed and well-played.I’m hoping the final book takes a different turn because a few elements were similar from the first book in Independent Study. And, although they were reimagined, hitting that note again would definitely be tiresome.Having had my heart pummeled quite recently by Allegient, I can’t help but be wary of the third Testing book, Graduation Day.Will all my faves die? Will there be a realistic yet hopeful conclusion? Or will chaos and loss win the day?!?!The best part is, we don’t have to wait long to find out. Graduation Day is set to publish June 17. Of this year! Shocked? Me too!I’m not complaining and that’s for sure.OVERALL:I’m committed to see this series through. Not that I have had any trouble devouring the first two books. I’m simply cautious about how the final book in this thrilling dystopia will all play out. This killer sequel had me hooked from the get-go. Cia is everything you could want in a strong heroine, and with more cunning and cleverness than most. Independent Study was a very strong sequel, and I wait without patience for the conclusion of the series.

Short and Sweet:Independent Study is a fantastic, anxiety-producing sequel to The Testing. On the surface it may appear to be a bit less dramatic than it's predecessor, but the cast is so deliciously transparent in all their 'back-stabbing-murders-play-nice-and-go-to-college' glory that while it may be less violent, Independent Study is no less sinister. Joelle Charbonneau has once again created an intricate and tense game of political chess where one wrong move may end your life.To Elaborate...First of all, I have to proclaim my love for Cia. I would die a thousand deaths of anxiety if I were in the most basic testing situation in Ms. Charbonneau's world. As a result, I love that Cia is, in fact, scared at times. She has doubts and paralyzing moments of uncertainty. However, she overcomes it to do what she believes is right. Cia is a character experiencing complex and relatable emotions in an unimaginable world. As a result, Independent Study is 'unputdownable' and horrifyingly realistic in a way that draws you in and doesn't let you go!Independent Study begins with Cia in her freshmen year at the University in Tosu City. She and her fellow survivors remember nothing and are even (sort of) friends. Except that Cia is trying very hard to find a way to disregard the terrifying recordings she left herself before her memory was wiped. Is it possible that her friendly, easy going classmates were recently her deadly competition? Cia struggles with coming to terms with what lies beyond appearances and must depend heavily on her own intuition where those with ill intent hide behind friendly, helpful smiles and where even her boyfriend, Tomas, may not be who he says he is.Throughout the story, nearly everything is a test and figuring out the correct answer does not guarantee you won't be 'Redirected,' the official name for 'secretly murdered.' Eventually it becomes clear that she is being set up to fail as a result of some unknown event in her wiped past. As Cia races to figure out how to outmaneuver the treacherous plans laid for her, she encounters those who are working on a rebellion intended to end the Testing for good. And with her help they just may succeed....Very few books create an atmosphere so captivating that a 100 pages and an hour can fly by and feel like 10 minutes, but this one does exactly that. Independent Study will make your heart race as you devour the entire story in one eager, breathless sitting. I am so excited to continue this series. I highly recommend it to those with a love for dystopian reads!

Very rarely do I come across a book that I would set aside everything just to read all day. This is one of them. I cannot wait for the third book to come out, and I have to wait until June!Cia's adventures in this book draw you in from the moment you start reading. Her anxieties, hopes, fears, and the cunning intelligence she has helps her to overcome and surpass many an obstacle.This was a very well written book. A large majority of Kindle edition books I have read make me very irritated with the amount of editing issues, but at times with this book I was actually looking for things to critic (and did not find) because I could not believe how well written it was; the amount of effort put into the editing makes this book a rarity on its own. The plots were woven together seamlessly, the characters (even minor ones) had depth and individualized personalities, etc etc.I could go on and on about how much I love this series, but let me leave with a note that if you decide the summary interests you even slightly, you will not be disappointed by this book. I will be recommending it to all my friends. If there was anything I could ask for in the series, it would not be a change to either the first or second book, it would be an earlier release date for the third book! :)Happy reading my fellow bookworms!

This was a good continuation of Cia's, albeit less action intensive. The challenges Cia faces continue to push her to think logically through every question and situation that arises. That said, it does fall prey to the second book syndrome in that it feels like part one of the end. The story advances but not by leaps and bounds. I do recommend reading though since it is a fun adventure to follow Cia in the dangerous day-to-day life she finds herself in. Just don't set your expectations too high.

Yet another fantastic book from the one and only author, Joelle Charbooneau.First off, I gave this book a four-star rating due to the slow progress in the first half of the book. Eventually, it picked up speed at an agreeable pace, but the beginning was just a bit slow. Our protagonist, Malencia Vale, was given a series of tasks and challenges -- which, she would almost always succeed in doing so. The heroine seemed superior and better in comparison to the other characters, which I get since she's the main character. But she always seemed so much better than others, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance in her successes."It is hard to imagine those first days when the earth quieted and people began to assess the damage. Corrupted rivers that caused illness or worse. Destroyed homes and a ground too contaminated for many plants to grow. A world filled with sorrow and fear. Instead of pulling closed the doors and cowering in the dark, people gathered here to pool their resources and restore hope.""...But all I see is grass deepening to a rich green. Trees stretching to the sunlight. Spring is ready to bloom, bringing with it another demonstration of how the conviction of a people to bring hope to the world can succeed."Overall, I loved the first and second book of the trilogy. It is an absolute recommendation for those whose interest is sparked by a dystopian world, where in settings like these, it is likely society would reunite to form hope and justice within others. Many Hunger Games fans --as I-- have found traces of traits in the book similar to the Hunger Games. The plot is great. The characters have a well-designed personality and backstory. In some parts of the book, you'd be left wondering what the main conflict is, which is another thing I love about this book.As for the audience that I think would be appropriate for reading The Testing trilogy, I definitely believe ages 12 and up is the most suitable. The book includes scenes with descriptive paragraphs of light gore/death and mild language.Like I had stated before, I love the book. I'm excited for the last book; Graduation Day!

This solid sequel to The Testing ramps up the stakes and dives deeper into the dystopian world of the United Commonwealth.If The Hunger Games went to college and majored in betrayal, this would be it.

So many dystopian YA books these days are simply… out there They all keep trying to raise the bar as far as shock value, dire situations, action, intensity and romance. Gone are the days when the dystopian novel focused on the political or personal outcomes of a deranged society. I remember the horror I felt in my belief that the simple life depicted in 1984 by George Orwell – which presented a world where all hope was lost - might actually happen. There was very little fanfare and barely any action, but the book delivered in what it intended to do. That being said…The Testing series by Joelle Charbonneau and INDEPENDENT STUDY, the second book in the dystopian tale, is one that I can highly recommend with no reservations. This dystopian rings true and sits comfortably among 1984, the Article 5 series by Kristen Simmons and, yes, even The Hunger Games. Oddly enough, fans of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling may also take interest in The Testing and INDEPENDENT STUDY – at least when it comes to the manner in how the author tells her story. The flow and ebb of the story – which is largely based in a school setting both similar to our own and even more dangerous than the creature-filled landscapes both inside and out of Hogwarts – puts the characters through “tests” or trials in an almost serial-esque way. Chapter by chapter, the story twists and turns in different ways as the main character, Cia, explores her world and takes each test. Really, the closest I have ever felt while reading (as far as story style) was while I was reading Harry Potter…But this is Harry Potter toward the end of the series, kids. The body count is high, and the odds are not in the student’s favor. Humanity and morality is a big focus of the plot, and the characters don’t always do what we would consider the “right” thing. In a world where competition is the name of the game and failing is the difference between life or death, we see what different people might do when “put to the test”.I highly respect Cia as a character. She comes from a small town where respect and teamwork is instilled in all children. This shows in how she tackles each test. While, at times, she seems to be the only truly intelligent and most “humane” person in her school of supposed intellects, we really only see a small sect of a very large community. INDEPENDENT STUDY also shows us that Cia isn’t the only one around who is questioning the processes that the University imposes.While the first novel may have been a more fast-paced thriller, we received very few answers about the goings-on in Cia’s “intellect reigns” society. But in INDEPENDENT STUDY we get to see much more about the politics of her world as well as more of the suspense that made The Testing so good. While the world-building may slow down the plot a bit, INDEPENDENT STUDY gives us a much larger picture of the what’s and how’s of the world itself. I really do love good political drama. Plus, we get to explore the streets of Tosu City and the lands surrounding the area. So much has been hidden from the reader up until now, and even more questions arise because of what we discover.I am so impatient to see where Joelle takes her story in book 3, GRADUATION DAY.Luckily, we won’t have too long to wait to find out.

Independent study takes place right after the ending of book one. The book is every as thrilling as book one.Great storyline, great characters and Cias drive to get to the bottom of it all and to do the right thing.A solid 5 stars.....and here's hoping book 3 is as exciting. (I am sure it will be.

Ich fand den ersten Band schon sehr spannend und der zweite hat mich nicht enttäuscht.Die Welt ist (im Gegensatz zu Büchern wie Divergent) schlüssig und logisch aufgebaut. Warum die Welt so geworden ist wie sie jetzt ist, warum The Testing so funktioniert wie es eben funktioniert und warum die Menschen in diesem Buch diese und jene Wertevorstellung haben (will hier nichts spoilern)- passt alles. Finde alles wirklich nachvollziehbar und es wirkt als hätte die Autorin lange daran gesessen, geschichtliche Details und Feinheiten im System auszuarbeiten. Wirklich gelungen.Zum Hauptcharakter: Cia ist bis jetzt mein Lieblingscharakter aus all den Büchern, die ich je gelesen habe. Sie nervt mich nicht. Sie macht keinen Zickenaufstand, ist nicht dumm oder macht wirklich nervige Sachen (wie z.B. jemandem vertrauen, dem der Leser schon gleich ansieht, dass mit dem etwas nicht stimmen kann). Ich kann aber auch verstehen, wenn man sie nicht mag, schließlich ist das wirklich etwas sehr subjektives und es gibt nicht DIE Protagonistin, die jeder mag.Zur Handlung an sich (keine Sorge, ohne Spoiler):Ich habe das Buch geradezu verschlungen. Es gab eigentlich kein Kapitel, das sich irgendwie in die Länge gezogen hat. Das Buch war voll mit überraschenden Momenten und Wendungen. Ich hab nur manchmal den Überblick über die Namen verloren, also merkt sie euch besser gleich. Man war eigentlich immer damit beschäftigt, zu überlegen ob die und die Person Cia schaden will oder nicht. Es ist auch sehr schön, dass es keine so schwarz-weiß-Moral gibt, sondern auch die Personen, die man mag, Dinge "falsch" machen.Zur Kaufentscheidung: Ich kann natürlich nicht garantieren, dass euch das Buch gefällt, aber vielleicht gefällt es ja Leuten die einen ähnlichen Geschmack haben wie ich: Ich war Fan der Hungerspiele, habe aber den letzten Band nicht gelesen, weil ich leider für den Typ in der Dreiecksbeziehung war, der am Ende leer ausgegangen ist. Divergent fand ich ein furchtbar oberflächliches Buch mit unlogischer Hintergrundwelt. Die Delirium-Trilogie hingegen fand ich wundervoll und das sind unangefochten meine Lieblingsbücher. Also wer sich mit dem Meinungsbild identifizieren kann, der sollte The Testing auf jeden Fall versuchen!Ich liebe das Buch und werde mir auf jeden Fall den letzten Band bestellen!

Muy buena, del tipo de juegos del hambre pero con una trama que a mi me parece mas convincente. Es apasionante de leer.

Très bon livre je recommande, ce livre est le deuxième de la trilogie et répond à mes attentes.Il est arrivé en parfait état

Great dystopian trilogy.If you liked hunger games or divergent, you will love this series.I absolutely reccomend it, I couldn't put down the book!!!