Me on The Testing

Title: The Testing
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

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 the young 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, a 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.

The Testing is a curious book, at times subtle and at times obvious and clear in its lethality. It seems to be a look at what young people are capable of when pushed to their limits, at how intelligent they are when tested and wrong answers have dangerous results, at how far trust can go, and how sometimes the only person you can trust is yourself.

Cia is rather intelligent. She's curious and extremely cautious of the Testing, not unsure of what to expect but what could happen if a question is answered incorrectly. She doesn't want to offend anyone but she wants to, hopefully, stay alive, to keep those few she genuinely cares about safe. But the warnings from her father increase her suspicions, about her fellow candidates, about the doctors and instructors. How much can she trust anyone, even those she's close to? How far will her trust go? What if emotion gets in the way? Can she truly trust Tomas when she's been told no one can be trusted?

The book has a very clear dystopian setting. Outlying colonies and magistrates that observe and control, every action has a purpose, nothing is wasted. Everything is about the preservation of this world and its continued survival. But the past is shrouded is death and destruction, a past society is meant to learn from and never repeat. It's a world rebuilt from war and terror with new hope for the future. But why put the smartest and brightest teenagers through the Testing? Are leaders simply born, or are they only created through tests and pressure, through lies and betrayal?

Now, I will agree that there are parallels to The Hunger Games, the same can be said of most dystopian YA that's come out in the past few years. There is more of an emphasis on learning and knowledge and less on chance, more on intelligence with a focus on preserving the colonies and their way of life, but very much a 'the smartest and boldest and most cunning will come out alive' mentality. The Testing is to discover who will be the future leaders and teachers of their rebuilt world. But how close to the edge will it push Cia to question everything she's been told?

As I read this, something was missing, something was lacking. There is danger, there is deception, there is betrayal, but it didn't feel as immediate or as powerful as I was expecting. Perhaps it's because the Testing is like an exam, complete with papers and pencils. Perhaps it was Cia herself, quiet and non-threatening, cautious and not overtly rebellious or questioning. I'm still curious as to what will come next, but not necessarily excited.

(I acquired an advance copy of this title at ALA Midwinter.)

Me on Siege and Storm

Title: Siege and Storm
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Henry Holt (Macmillan imprint)

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t run for long. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her. Or she'll risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Siege and Storm is just as dark and dangerous as its predecessor, just as deadly and filled with impossible magics. But things are changing now, Alina is changing, the Darkling is changing, and no one knows what's coming. Or what Alina will become.

The world in this book felt icy cold and dangerous, with chilled whispers in the air and shadows curling around ankles. Even in the bright sun, there was an air of caution. Perhaps a sign of things to come. Things were never going to be easy for Alina.

In Shadow and Bone came discovery for Alina, discovery of her power and what it meant. Now comes growth, now comes what she's going to do with it, now comes deciding her place and taking a stand. But what will her actions be? Having such power distances herself from Mal, from the dream of a normal life, but she needs to stop the Darkling. Building her power and saving Ravka is key, but what will it turn her into? In the end, will Mal recognize her? Will she recognize herself? Was this all part of the Darkling's plan for the both of them?

The new side characters brought light and humour to a serious book. Sturmhond the privateer, and the twins Tamar and Tolya, they were different and entertaining, shrouded in their own kind of mystique, but still powerful and cunning when need be.

There were moments of action and moments of easing (in a sense), but there was always tension, always fear, always uncertainty. The ending will leave readers demanding the last book, not willing to wait until 2014.

(I acquired an advance copy of this title at ALA Midwinter.)

Me on Waiting on Wednesday (130)

Waiting on Wednesday is a bunch of weekly fun hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Title: The 100
Author: Kass Morgan
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette Book Group imprint)

From Goodreads:

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.

Whenever I hear of a movie or TV deal before I hear of the book, that isn't out yet, I get wary. I think I heard about this book and the upcoming TV series adaptation at the same time, but still, it's weird.

This has the potential to be good, and I hope it is good. I'm liking the influx of sci-fi in YA. I'm curious as to how the narration will go, if it'll be in one character's point of view or in multiple POVs. Or if there'll be an count of how many of the 100 are still alive at the start and end of the book.

Me on The 5th Wave

Title: The 5th Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin imprint)

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie is on the run from Them, the beings who only look human and roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. Cassie believes she will only stay alive if she stays alone, until she meets someone. This person may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother Sam, or saving herself, but she has to choose between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

The 5th Wave is a rather powerful and dangerous book, a look at what could happen to Earth and it's inhabitants if aliens do come with motives not so peaceful and pure. The world is shattered, millions are dead. The future for those left alive and on the run is bleak, but there are glimmers of hope. Some are still alive, still surviving, still fighting, still pushing to take back what was ripped from their hands.

It must be said that the summary of the book is misleading. It's not just about Cassie. Cassie's voice is crucial, vital, prominent, but it's not the one one. There are others who tell different sides of the same overarching story, others with different perspectives, different motives, different journeys. Different realizations. Different lessons. All the same story.

The human condition is a curious thing. We push and strive to survive, to stay on top. We don't seem to die away or stay down for long. We will fight for as long as we can, pushing through barriers, moving forward when it appears that all hope is lost.

Cassie is strong, she has immense courage and drive, but she is, in some ways, weak. Her love for her family, for her brother, both drives her and holds her back. Everything is for Sammy, but only as long as he's alive. His being alive is what fuels her.

I wonder if I've done this book any justice with this review. It's dark and twisted and complicated, dripping with death and secrets and lies. It's a very volatile and powerful book. It's not about the aliens, it's about the humans, it's about those who are still alive who have the strength to carry on fighting. They still have hopes for a future that doesn't smell like blood or fire or death. This book is about getting up and moving on, continuing that hard journey, and that kind of story transcends genre and connects with every single reader on a lever they never expected.

(I acquired an advance copy of this title at ALA Midwinter.)

Me on This Week's Book Week (53)

This Week's Book Week is rather similar to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews only with far more rambling and a less witty title. ;)

Spring is very much in full force out here. Everything's green and big and full of flowers. And the dandelion fluff is drifting through the air like springtime snow. Ick. I can only hope I don't get all stuffed up and sick.

So... my 6 weeks of antibiotics were up on Wednesday and I had an appointment with the doctor at the clinic. ... It was rather abrupt. The doctor looked at my finger and said I was done and asked a nurse to remove the PICC line. They've washed their hands of me. Basically, the 6 weeks were up, my bloodwork always came back fine with no abnormalities, my finger looked like it was healing. It's not completely better, some swelling comes and goes, I can't bend it without some discomfort. Apparently it's good enough for the clinic to say I'm done. I think my bloodwork was a big deciding factor, even at the start everything was normal. *sigh* We'll see. I see my family doctor next week, I'll ask what I should be doing now, if I need to go back on another round of oral antibiotics or wait until it blows up like a sausage again.

Wednesday was weird. I had a couple of nice e-mails early in the day (with some awesome stuff in them that you'll get to read soon) and then I went off to the outpatient clinic and was told I was done with my treatment and gently nudged out the door. It's nice having the PICC line out, though.

I was looking at my review schedule and July looks rather bereft. I might be filling it with books I haven't gotten the chance to read that have been out for months, books like For Darkness Shows the Stars or The Evolution of Mara Dyer. What books would you suggest?

Reviews this week will feature The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, and The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. :)

Borrowed from the library:
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Sever by Lauren DeStefano
Until I Die by Amy Plum (e-book)