What if the only way to succeed would be to fight for one’s life?
In the book, The Testing, the main characters, Cia and her friends, have to go through a mysterious and dangerous process and series of test to tell if they are ready to attend the University. This is their only chance at college education and a rewarding career.
Loyalty, trust and survival are three motifs in The Testing that the author, Joelle Charbonneau, best represents the theme that not everything and everyone are what they seem to be.
First, survival helps to convey the book’s warning not to rely on others in order to succeed. Survival is a huge part in this novel. One minute everything is perfect and the next the main characters are fighting to stay alive.
The narrator states, “The Testing is no longer filled with excitement for the opportunity to help the Commonwealth rebuild. The Testing is now about staying alive.”
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The testing wasn’t how any of the students thought it was going to be. They believed that it would just be paper test but it turned out they also had a survival test. Which helps portray the theme that nothing is as it seems.
Additionally the theme that certain things can only be earned not bought, is exhibited through the motif of trust.
Cia was told by her father to only trust some people because not everyone is trustworthy.
For example the narrator states, "Be smart. Be safe. Trust your friends... If you can..."
Cia has to be careful even though she may have friends she can’t trust them fully. Everyone is fighting for a spot and they would do anything to get it even if that means betraying your friends.
Finally, loyalty displays the theme, don’t betray a person who is loyal to