An amazing read . . . thought provoking and made me eager to know what is coming next from this brilliant author.’ It is truly crushing when a book you have anticipated ends up being a disappointment. I really enjoyed Vox, the previous release from this author and I liked her brand of contemporary dystopia; close to current society. What she finds there makes Elena question everything. Because this world is about perfection - and that comes at a terrible price. This terrifyingly possible novel by Christina Dalcher is a work of fiction, however, the themes and ideas highlighted in this work run parallel with the early movement of American Eugenics which strived to improve the genetic quality of the American population, and the later similar movements in Nazi Germany. Through stories told by Elena’s Oma, who grew up in Nazi Germany, and through Elena’s own journey to rescue her daughter, the reader soon learns more and more about the similarities in this fictional world to those of the American Eugenics Movement and Nazi Germany.

Now everyone must undergo routine tests for their quotient, Q, and any children who don't measure up are placed into new government schools. Instead, teachers can focus on the gifted. I liked the ending, was a very different one from the one I was expecting. Not all neatly tied into a happily ever after scenario. A very interesting, thought provoking read? Can it happen here? Again or have we learned our lesson? Somehow I doubt it. Elena is happily married to Malcolm, who is the man that is in charge in the new tier system in the country. Every month, everyone has to undergo a number of tests to determine their Q. The “Q” is a quotient that is based on every metric: genetics, IQ, social status, past history, etc. Depending on the Q number, people are split into three different tiers: Schools that are so far away parents are unable to visit more than once a month and even if they did want to visit more frequently they are penalised and lose Q points. And for that matter, why are they so far away? Elena has heard it’s because of cost but is that really the case?

It is mentioned that the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities and those that suffer with mental health issues are specifically targeted groups of society under this new and oppressive mandate. But, not giving them any voice or representation past a single token lesbian character, who has no role within the context of the story, I found to be shameful. When one of Elena’s daughters fails the tests and is sent with the yellow bus, Elena makes the choice of failing the test herself on purpose, only to join her daughter. The things she is about to see and experience are worse than you could ever imagine! The first Friday of every month every person of school or working age is given a test that will calculate or recalculate their "Quotient" or "Q". Today is the second testing day of the school year. Elena's daughter, Anne is very confident and has no worries about testing. But Elena's nine-year-old daughter, Freddie is extremely anxious about the test. A high Q means a secure future. A low Q means a student's choices are very limited. I didn’t get to the part where you actually find out what the secret is, but I can probably guess based on the fact that the organization behind all of this is called “The Genics Institute”)

I received an uncorrected proof copy of Q (titled Master Class in the US), in exchange for an honest review. Elena Fairchild is a teacher in a futuristic world where her own children are in the school system. Her husband Malcolm works for the department of education and is instrumental in overseeing change. The current system uses a standard measurement to evaluate the potential of students called the Quotient (Q). It is a standardized test score where each student's progress is calculated and measured. Those achieving high Q’s attend top tier schools with rewarding futures, and those with the lowest tests Q’s are sent to a federal boarding school. I’ve read a few books now about the eugenics movement so while I was slightly familiar with this, the underlying truth to the story is what actually held my attention and scared the bejesus out of me. The horrific idea of this and the way that the author weaved her story with real historical events was absolutely brilliant.Thank you again to the publisher, Harper Collins, for sending me a free copy of Q and giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts on it, particularly after my 1 star review of VOX. I am sad to be giving this one the same. It features the same bland, first person POV, from a mother of a nuclear family. Highly educated and very middle class. No deviation at all, to the point that they could have been the same character.