First published 2014
Cia Vale made it through The Testing alive. So did Tomas, the boy she loves. Both earned their place at the University, where Cia trains to lead the United Commonwealth. The government wiped her memories of the brutal testing process, leaving her with gaps she cannot ignore. Something terrible happened, and the officials who smile at her are hiding it. Cia begins studying subjects the government has banned. She digs into the Commonwealth's buried history while navigating classes with students who may not be allies. Each discovery reveals how far the leadership will go to maintain control. The people chosen to protect citizens have become their greatest threat. As Cia uncovers the truth, she realizes her education is another form of testing, and failure means more than bad grades.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, young-adult, academic
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, unreliable-narrator
Setting: United Commonwealth
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Kindle Edition · Hmh Books for Young Readers