Test

March 10, 2008
Sleator (House of Stairs
; Hell Phone
) misses the mark with a dystopian near-future thriller that takes the doctrine of “No Child Left Behind” doctrine to extremes. The eponymous test (it “not only left kids, it got rid of them”) is the all-important XCAS, and to prepare for it, students learn nothing except how to take tests; however, those who fail it cannot go to college and are barred from high-paying jobs. These have-nots are literally stuck in traffic, spinning their wheels for hours before they can reach any useful destination. Luckily Ann Forrest, the feisty heroine, can walk to and from school. When her do-gooder father, a home health aid, aggravates Mr. Warren, the mega-rich owner of the housing project where Mr. Forrest works, the Warrens send a minion on a motorcycle to attack Ann. Meanwhile Ann discovers that the Warrens also own the company that publishes the XCAS. Coincidences pile up and overload the plot: Lep, a Thai immigrant who works for the Warrens, has proof of their corruption and will do anything for Ann, who is also his classmate; a newspaper reporter just happens to witness Ann’s attack; etc. Stiffly executed and obvious in its conclusions, this is more premise than story. Ages 12-up.

July 1, 2008
Gr 7-9-In the (seemingly) not-so-distant future, the divide between the rich and the poor is greater than ever, with the wealthy having private helicopters and mansions, and the poor stuck in endless traffic and living in projects. Standardized tests determine which kids will be allowed to go to college and have a decent life. Ann's father works for Warren, the slumlord who owns the projects; when he tries to get the residents to rebel, Tony, the building manager, threatens Ann. Warren also owns the company that publishes the tests and has connections in Washington. Lep, a Thai immigrant, is asked to do illegal and dangerous things for Tony in exchange for the test answers. When Lep and Ann discover how much corruption is behind the tests, they decide to take action, thus putting their lives in danger. While the characters are somewhat flat and the writing is often repetitious, the plot is fact paced with short chapters that end in cliff-hangers, allowing the book to be a good read for moderately reluctant readers. Teens will be able to draw comparisons to contemporary society's shift toward standardized testing and ecological concerns, and are sure to appreciate the spoofs on NCLB. Although the novel wraps up too neatly, it still may be an inspiration for teens wishing to change their political/social environment."Marie C. Hansen, New York Public Library"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2008
Seventeen-year-old Anns future will be determined by a high-school exit test. If she passes the XCAS, she will graduate from high school, go to college, and be granted opportunities for a better life. If she fails, she will join the masses struggling to survive the citys squalor. Needless to say, the XCAS is Anns primary focus until the day a menacing man on a motorcyclewith a strange logo follows her home from school. When a boyat school appears wearing a shirt with that same logo and is too frightened to speak with her, Ann is compelled to find out what or who is behind the logo, and why she is being followed. As she digs deeper, Ann is led right back to the XCAS. Part mystery, part action thriller, part romance, this is also a mild dystopian story with the requisite environmental and political overtones. Although it may lack the necessary depth and literary sophistication to engage older teens, its fast pace and unique blend of genres holds attraction for younger teen readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)