diff --git a/fedireads/tests/test_connector_abstract.py b/fedireads/tests/test_connector_abstract.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..536f5ab3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/tests/test_connector_abstract.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+''' testing book data connectors '''
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from fedireads import models
+from fedireads.connectors.abstract_connector import Mapping,\
+        update_from_mappings
+
+
+class FedireadsConnector(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(title='Example Edition')
+
+
+    def test_create_mapping(self):
+        mapping = Mapping('isbn')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.local_field, 'isbn')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.remote_field, 'isbn')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.model, None)
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.formatter('bb'), 'bb')
+
+
+    def test_create_mapping_with_remote(self):
+        mapping = Mapping('isbn', remote_field='isbn13')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.local_field, 'isbn')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.remote_field, 'isbn13')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.model, None)
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.formatter('bb'), 'bb')
+
+
+    def test_create_mapping_with_formatter(self):
+        formatter = lambda x: 'aa' + x
+        mapping = Mapping('isbn', formatter=formatter)
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.local_field, 'isbn')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.remote_field, 'isbn')
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.formatter, formatter)
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.model, None)
+        self.assertEqual(mapping.formatter('bb'), 'aabb')
+
+
+    def test_update_from_mappings(self):
+        data = {
+            'title': 'Unused title',
+            'isbn_10': '1234567890',
+            'isbn_13': 'blahhh',
+            'blah': 'bip',
+            'format': 'hardcover',
+            'series': ['one', 'two'],
+        }
+        mappings = [
+            Mapping('isbn_10'),
+            Mapping('blah'),# not present on self.book
+            Mapping('physical_format', remote_field='format'),
+            Mapping('series', formatter=lambda x: x[0]),
+        ]
+        book = update_from_mappings(self.book, data, mappings)
+        self.assertEqual(book.title, 'Example Edition')
+        self.assertEqual(book.isbn_10, '1234567890')
+        self.assertEqual(book.isbn_13, None)
+        self.assertEqual(book.physical_format, 'hardcover')
+        self.assertEqual(book.series, 'one')