Independent Study is the second of three books in Joelle Charbonneau's series The Testing. This book complements the horror of Cia's experience during Testing and prepares her for her final, non-sanctioned test in Graduation Day. It functions very much like a linchpin, revealing plot from the earlier book in hindsight and foreshadowing the next book. Basically, Cia succeeds in school so well that she's approached by Michael Gallen, a representative among the rebellion, in order to work as a double agent in President Collindar's office. She keeps her reputation clear in the light, but secretly Cia is combing every interaction for evidence of Dr. Barnes' murderous initiatives called "redirections." When she does find evidence, she gives it to Gallen who delivers it to his superior in the Debate Chamber. Unfortunately Symon turns on Gallen, killing him, and unwittingly revealing the whole scheme to Cia who learns that Dr. Barnes established the rebellion to weed out disloyalty and keep nosy minds occupied.
Power and reputation play pivotal roles in this narrative. Cia has been raised and indoctrinated in a new type of society which rewards competition above justice. In fact, her rival for the internship, Damone, tries to kill Cia to take her place with the president. In such a system the goal is always to gain more power, but this has unfortunate consequences when one reaches the top, like Dr. Barnes. He has no accountability and no where higher to set his sights, so he starts abusing his power out of desperation. The competition no longer satisfies him because he has obtained the pinnacle of accomplishment.
Cia is forced to make some compromising decisions. She has the benefit of her memories, thanks to her brother's transit communicator. The shock and horror of the Testing remains in the back of Cia's mind at all times, giving her the proper orientation to interpret the government correctly, in response to those events. Her peers do not have this advantage, this perspective, so one could say that Cia's success is the direct result of her suffering. She suffered and is allowed to remember it, giving her the correct motivation to succeded in light of what she's already paid. She does not desire to participate in a society which willingly inflicts punishment upon children, so she determines to find a way to oppose the cause, surreptitiously.
