[R] Independent Study, by: Joelle Charbonneau

Independent Study
(The Testing #2)
by: Joelle Charbonneau

★★★★☆

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 hometown 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.

my thoughts

I don't know what caused me to wait so much to write this review, maybe because I was busy or maybe because I didn't know what to write. Thinking now, I don't know what to write. Reading other reviews, I agree with most of them that says this isn't that awesome sequel we were waiting. I was hoping for more and certainly, I didn't received what I expect.

“Because sometimes the best leaders are the ones who have no interest in leading. Those are often the ones who are most interested in doing what is right, not what is popular.”

The story continues a little bit after it left us. Now the students that passed the Testing are in the University grounds studying for one last test that will defined in which area of study they must go. As we know, Cia fit almost perfect in Bio-Engineering, but the unexpect change of course... she got into Goverment Studies which was way far of her favorite choice. Cia begins to suspect until finding something more disturbing, her memories of the Testing. Now, she must make more decisions in who to trust and how to act in front of others that must be watching her. Plus, the rebellion is very near. What she will do?

“It takes a lot of courage to choose to do nothing when you aren’t certain of the outcome.”

I like some parts of the books, like the iniciation progress to be inside of Goverment Studies. Cia was so brave and smart that I don't know what I would do in her place, maybe drop and cry a river on the floor. But other parts were plain boring, like I did took some spaces apart from the book because I didn't want to keep reading it. Finally when I finish it, I wanted more. If you like the first book, this will be a totally down for you, but do NOT give up and keep trying.