Two Chicks On Books: Blog Tour- GRADUATION DAY by Joelle Charbonneau and a Giveaway!

Today is kind of bittersweet. I have Joelle Charbonneau here with an awesome scene from Raffe's POV I Loved this series so much and I'm sad to see it end! It's one of my favorite series and even though it ended perfectly I want more. If you haven't read the books don't worry this scene won't spoil anything and also enter below to win the full set!
Haven't heard of GRADUATION DAY? Check it out!

Title: GRADUATION DAY (The Testing #3)

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Pub. Date: June 17, 2014

Pages: 304

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

In book three of the Testing series, the United Commonwealth wants to eliminate the rebel alliance fighting to destroy The Testing for good. Cia is ready to lead the charge, but will her lethal classmates follow her into battle?

She wants to put an end to the Testing

In a scarred and brutal future, The United Commonwealth teeters on the brink of all-out civil war. The rebel resistance plots against a government that rules with cruelty and cunning. Gifted student and Testing survivor, Cia Vale, vows to fight.

But she can't do it alone.

This is the chance to lead that Cia has trained for - but who will follow? Plunging through layers of danger and deception, Cia must risk the lives of those she loves--and gamble on the loyalty of her lethal classmates.

Who can Cia trust?

The stakes are higher than ever-lives of promise cut short or fulfilled; a future ruled by fear or hope--in the electrifying conclusion to Joelle Charbonneau's epic Testing trilogy. Ready or not…it's Graduation Day.

The Final Test is the Deadliest!

Now on to the scene from Raffe's POV!

Raffe (Independent Study version)

Induction Day.

After working for this moment for years, its no wonder that I am awake and ready earlier than everyone else. Standing in the hang out room next to the lit fireplace, I look around me at everything I always thought I wanted then down at the gold bracelet and the symbol smack in the center. The coiled spring sitting beneath the scales of justice. Why the coiled spring? Got me. After looking at the symbols the other students were given, I have to guess the administration assigned random designs hoping we could read into them something that fit us. Whatever. But the scales do mean something. Balanced scales to remind us that the government is supposed to seek justice for everyone. Yeah, right.

But despite the lack of meaning to me, the design is nice. Good composition. Whoever created the symbols is skilled. For a moment, I wonder if the symbol was fabricated by a male or female. Whether the artist always wanted to etch designs in metal or if they failed to make it into the University and reluctantly embraced a different life. Lucky them.

“Hey, Raffe.”

I turn as Damone strolls into the room and walks over to where I stand next to the fireplace. I smile. It never hurts to be nice to someone who thinks he’s your friend. “Ready to become an official University student?” I ask.

He shrugs his bony shoulders. The guy has always been skinny. Kind of like a snake, which would be a fitting symbol for his bracelet. The only real annoyance is that he’s taller than me. Looking up at Damone for any reason seems wrong.

“I’ve been ready for years. “ Damone leans against the fireplace and I imagine him setting his pants on fire. That makes my smile real as he continues talking, “If it weren’t for all these colony students they wouldn’t have to bother with the whole Induction process. They’d already know which students are capable of being successful. What a waste of time. It’s not like there was any doubt we’d get in. Right?”

“Sure.” There’s no point in reminding him that he would never have made it this far if it weren’t for his father’s influence or his Induction team’s abilities. Damone isn’t exactly a mental giant.

Damone looks over his shoulder to make sure no one is around and when he turns back to me I see calculation on his face. “We have a problem.”

“Us as in you and me?”

Damone shakes his head. “One of our classmates should never have been accepted to the University. Professor Holt wants assistance from loyal University students in removing her. She asked Griffin and I to help and I suggested to Griffin that we bring you in. It never hurts to do a favor for someone like Professor Holt and I think you’ll be as happy as I am to get rid of the colony brat.”

“Who?”

“The one who showed you and your team up a couple days ago. Cia Vale.”

Cia.

I rub the spot on my arm where I was burned. It’s healed now, but I still bare the scar. The medical team could make it fade, but I want to keep it. A reminder of what happens when you rely on anyone but yourself. My Induction team, which included Damone’s best friend, Griffin, was so damn cocky. And when things went to hell it was Cia that stopped to help me. She shouldn’t have. It cost her team time and could have cost them winning, something she didn’t seem to care about. I don’t understand colony kids. But I certainly plan to.

“You’re good with the girls.” Damone gives me a sly smile that make me want to deck him. “I figure you have a better shot of getting close to her than Griffin and I do. I think she might even have a crush on you already. Why else would she come back to treat your burn?”

Why else would she?

“I heard she has a boyfriend.” Actually, I know she does. I asked around about the duo from Five Lakes.

“I’m sure that’s never stopped you before,” Damone grins.

No one ever accused Damone of having class. That’s for sure. Still, I’m intrigued. “Why is Professor Holt so threatened by Cia?”

Damone shrugs again. “She didn’t say and I don’t care. Having one less colony student around, especially one that thinks she’s better than everyone else is good enough reason for me. And I’m happy to have Professor Holt owe me when test time rolls around. What do you say? It’s not like she’s hard to look at. Griffin and I will watch where she goes and who she talks to. Between the three of us, we can get Professor Holt the information she needs to redirect that Five Lakes Colony wannabe out of this place. What do you think? Are you in?”

I hear footsteps in the hall and voices coming from the stairs telling me people are heading out of their rooms for the ceremony. Induction will begin shortly, which means we have to get outside and in our designated positions soon. But I can tell from the intensity of Damone’s stare that he won’t wait until later for an answer.

I catch a glimpse of long dark hair in the middle of a group of students passing by and I take a step toward the door so I can watch as Cia walks toward the dining hall. Probably to grab a snack with the rest of them before the festivities begin. Yeah – Damone isn’t right about much, but looking at Cia isn’t a hardship. She’s pretty and acts like she doesn’t know it with makes her even more attractive. High cheekbones. Slightly upturned nose and lightly tanned skin. But as pretty as her face is, it’s her dark eyes that caught my interest when I told her she didn’t have to come back to help me and she responded “Yes, I did.” Serious. Kind. Determined. Sad. And in the middle of all of that, secrets. Lots and lots of secrets.

Cia. A girl from Five Lakes. A girl who Professor Holt has targeted, which means Cia’s secrets are important. How important? Will they give me the answers I’m searching for?”

“Sure. I’m in,” I say. “I’ll start as soon as the ceremony is over.”

“Great.” Damone slaps me on the shoulder and grins. “I told Griffin you’d do it. You’re one of us.”

No, I’m not. But I don’t dispute his belief as we walk out into the sunshine and lineup for the ceremony that makes our University student status official. I’m no longer like Damone and Griffin. Or maybe I am. Because as I Professor Holt clips my new silver and gold bracelet on my arm, I understand that the scales on the symbol aren’t really balanced. They tilt in the direction of whoever is in power. Those are the people who can demand answers and action. They are the ones that know everyone’s secrets. I plan on being one of them.

Loved this! Thanks Joelle!

About Joelle:

Ever since I can remember I loved telling stories. As I grew up, I started performing those stories on the stage. Creating vivid characters and singing wonderfully complex songs were my passion. I graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance and then continued onto DePaul University for my Masters Degree in Opera Performance. From there I went onto perform across the Chicagoland area in a variety of Operas, Operettas and Musicals. I also started teaching acting classes and private voice lessons to pass my passion along to the next generation.

Not exactly the path you’d expect a writer to take.

I’d never dreamed of writing a novel. But I loved to read. Then one day I had an idea and I started to write. I found my passion for creating characters lived on the page as well as the stage. It is my hope that the characters I’ve created resonate with you and make you smile.

I still teach voice lessons and sing for the occasional professional event. But the rest of my time is spent with my husband and son while dreaming up new and interesting stories. I hope that someday I hear yours.

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