What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Unfortunately, I do not remember any names from the book. It starts with a young boy (preteen or younger) who is kind of poor and roaming about this city. The city has a military but it also has this elite force that is far better trained in physical combat and everyone is weary of them. The boy wants to get into training to be one of these people but can't figure out how. He is at a library reading something like military history and a forbidding man questions him about his understanding of the book. The boy impresses him, and the man turns out to be a general or something and gets him a spot in the tryouts for the training school. He passes and goes off to live at the training school and excels right away. He and his friends end up finding a secret passageway/room where all the weapons are kept. They do a lot of training every day and it makes them all stronger, and the last thing I remember is they all go to this workshop and learn how to make a bow from scratch, then are turned loose in the woods to survive on their on for a day or so.

When did you read it?
Author female or male?
Remember the cover?
Standalone?

I started it probably 2 years ago but didn't finish. I really don't remember any details which sucks

Dawn of Wonder
Book two still hasn't come out which really sucks.

Thank you!

Kayla, sounds like you found your book. Can you confirm, please? (Sometimes people say thank-you to mean thanks for responding or trying to help.)

Yes, this is the book. I changed the title to solved.

Great, thanks Kayla.