The Maze Runner

Holy cow, people. This book was insane. I was completely riveted from page 1, something that rarely happens. Even with books I completely adore, it normally takes me a chapter or two to immerse myself in the world of the book. But with The Maze Runner, I was in that Box with Thomas. I was confused and uncomfortable and determined to make sense of the situation.

As the book went on, I, like Thomas, was completely perplexed and frustrated by the mystery of the Maze and why they were trapped in the Glade. But James Dashner had an uncanny ability to predict what I was going to ask, and then have Thomas ask that very question. For example, when they’re explaining that getting trapped in the Maze at night is a death sentence, I wondered if they’d attempted climbing the walls. Then Thomas asks, “Why don’t you just climb the walls?” So although I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how they were going to escape the Maze or why we were there, I was frustrated with the characters instead of at the characters.

The pacing of this book was excellent. While the action doesn’t really kick up until about 1/3 of the way into the book, I still felt my adrenaline pumping right away just because of the strangeness of the situation. There was suspense simply in not knowing why any of this was happening. Then, once Thomas gets his bearings a bit better, the real action picked up. So basically, I felt like I was having heart palpitations for the majority of this book. In a good way.

The characters were also well developed. While not every Glader was fully fleshed-out, the main ones all had their own personalities and layers. I felt like I knew these kids, and I found myself cheering for some and rolling my eyes with Thomas at others.

Even the dialogue, which I sometimes find really annoying in sci-fi/dystopian books when the author feels the need to throw in a bunch of made-up “future” slang, somehow felt natural in this book. Maybe it’s because Thomas draws attention to it almost immediately, saying it sounds weird and foreign. Since it’s acknowledged in the book, I accepted it and moved on. Eventually, it began to sound natural, to me and to Thomas.

Bottom line: I thought this book was amazing. It’s not for everyone. It’s got an extremely high “weird” factor. And the suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire book may not be what others are looking for. But for me, I completely and totally adored this book. I couldn’t put it down (literally. I read the whole thing in a day, something I was not planning on doing). It’s unlike anything else I’ve ever read. My only complaint is that my library doesn’t have Book 2 available RIGHT NOW.

The first hurdle I had to overcome was the odd language Dashner had created for the Gladers. I don't feel like it added anything to the plot, and after learning that they had only been Gladers for about 2 years, I couldn't understand how they had come to adopt such strange terms ("clunker", "shankface"). Thomas, though unable to remember much about his life prior to the Glade, managed to speak without the weird language nuances (at first) and as he began to adopt more of them, I found it harder to lose myself in the story; I spent a lot of time wondering why they were speaking so annoyingly childish.

Next came the frustrating secrecy about how the Glades functioned and why they had certain rules (like why only the Runners were allowed out in the Maze). I couldn't understand why someone wouldn't just explain things to Thomas be done with it; instead we were forced to listen to Thomas ask the same questions over and over, and listen to the same answer of "you'll find out eventually". I feel like withholding information was a tool used by Dashner to create suspense and conflict, and all it did was make for very slow pacing in many sections.

Speaking of slow pacing, the lack of character development made for an emotionless read which only added to my sense of Dashner drawing out the story. Dashner spent so much time telling me how Thomas felt, versus allowing me to experience how Thomas was feeling, that I had a hard time relating to him. Many of his reactions confused me and made it impossible for me to identify with him. I was also left extremely frustrated with Teresa's character. As the only female present in the majority of the novel, she should have been a well-developed and strong character. Instead, she is merely a "very pretty" face, brought in, I assume, to again add suspense and conflict. I didn't see the need for Teresa, and since Dashner spent no time developing her character, I was unable to identify with her either. At the end of the day, I just didn't care what happened to Thomas, Teresa, or any of the Gladers (except for maybe Chuck).

My biggest problem with The Maze Runner however, was definitely Dashner's completely underwhelming and disappointing solution to the Maze. Having Thomas conveniently remember bits and pieces, and then ultimately figure out everything (the way he did) after having only been in the Glades for about a week was the biggest cop-out I've ever read. I wanted to see Thomas overcome obstacles, and persevere through failure to come to conclusions on his own, using his intellect. I did not want it spoon-fed to him on a silver platter, virtually risk free. But, this ties in to the lack of character development, which seems to be Dashner's theme. So I guess I can't be too surprised by the completely unsatisfying conclusion to the Maze.

This book is a strange read that is slightly creepy and gory in some parts. I found it fascinating and was hooked from the first page to the last one. It is a deep mystery that has suspense and adventure that keeps you reading on. The idea of the maze like this is pretty smart, it is also unnerving for some people who don't like scary futuristic stories. I loved it because of that though, I love some gory stories set in the future because it gives me insight to what might actually happen.

The maze runner is about Thomas, who wakes up in an elevator with no memory of anything except his first name. When the lift opens, he finds himself in the Glade, an open expanse surrounded by giant stone walls. Every morning, the walls open into a giant maze that shifts ever time the door opens. At night, the doors are shut tight. Every 30 days, a new boy arrives, so Thomas is excepted. But the next day, a girl arrives, the first girl ever. But more surprising is the message she brings with her. Thomas might be more important than he thinks, only if he can unlock the secrets in his own mind.

The characters are great. They are described quite well and they are all very different. With their own personalities, this make the book even better. I thought the idea of a giant maze with dark secrets was really good. This book is such a great read and the next two are even better.

Who wouldn't be freaked out if you woke up in the middle of a maze filled with boys and didn't remember who you were?? The mystery of this book kept me hooked from beginning to end. The strange secrets of the maze and who created it are simply fascinating! The rest of the series is filled with even more mysteries and suspense ! If you liked the Hunger Games you'll love this book too! Just try not to get too attached to the characters, you don't know what will happen!

The Maze Runner is such a good book! This novel is simlar to the Hunger Games, and it contains the concept of a different world. Although it was a little boring and slow in the beginning, it quickly got better and became one of my favorite books. It forced you to keep reading, because every page had something surprising and interesting incorporated into the story.

If you like books about different worlds, adventures, and even some scary parts, this is definitely the book to read. It is so different than any other book I have read, and the whole idea behind it is thrilling.

The main character, Thomas, arrives in a new place with no memory of his previous life, he only knows his name. He is trapped in a place called "The Glade" with a bunch of other boys, and together they have to find a way out so they can go back home.

There are two other novels in the series called "The Scorch Trials" and "The Death Cure." I can't wait to read them! Read this book today!

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Genre: YA Thriller

Where I got it: ODLC (the library’s e-book collection)

One sentence: Thomas wakes up with no memory of his past in a community of teens inside a giant maze, but as soon as he gets there, things start to change in the maze and in Thomas, as he realizes he might hold the secrets to finally escaping the maze.

Themes: Secrets, loss of memory, suspense, mystery, post-apocalyptic

Main character: I felt like there was very little characterization for the main characters, Thomas and Teresa. I couldn’t really connect with them beyond imagining what I personally would feel in the situations they were in. Thomas had Gary-Stu qualities; he showed up having no idea where he was, magically knew he wanted to be a runner, broke all the rules, became a runner anyway and earlier than anyone before, and ending up leading the entire group.

Secondary characters: I found that I liked some of the secondary characters like Newt, Minho and Chuck better than Thomas or Teresa, simply because they had more depth. They had faults that I could connect with and were interesting to read.

Writing style: A little dry. Sometimes I knew there was an intense moment and I just couldn’t get into it because of the writing. I like how Dashner came up with new slang for the Gladers because it really expanded the world and reflected the fact that they had been so separated from the rest of the world that their vocabulary had evolved differently.

Plot: This is what really drew me into the story. I loved the idea of the maze and how Dashner wove in the post-apocalyptic bits. The only part that really disappointed me was the ending (see section below). It probably should have just cut off when they left the maze.

Best scene: Where Thomas, Minho and Alby spend the night in the maze

Positives: Plot, suspense, gasp-worthy epiphanies, setting, mysteries of the maze

Negatives: Characterization, some dry writing, ending.

Ending: A little disappointing after a good rest of the book. Probably could have waited until the next book, just because it was so different from what the rest of the book had been.

Verdict: A good, suspenseful read. The few flaws did not distract me too much from the great plot. I will definitely read the next book.

Rating: 7.6 / 10

This is probably my favorite book I've read so far this year. It's so different than recent books I've read and I love that the protagonist is a guy and yet I still really identify with him. Sometimes I think there are less YA books out there that capture the attention of both male and female audiences but The Maze Runner really nails it.

This book is all about mystery and the psychological effects of not knowing anything - who you are or where you are and which one is worse?. In many cases in fiction, the main character doesn't know exactly what's going on, but the reader is given hints and we can predict a little of what can happen next. James Dashner doesn't do this at all, and it's amazing. I was kept in the dark just like Thomas and was just as confused by all the unhelpful answers he received when he asked the boys in the Glade the questions I also wanted to ask.

Another great thing about this book is that all the characters are so unique - they all have completely different personalities and quirks that made each one stand out so even though there are many, I was never confused about who was speaking. Each character had his own tone and dialect that I could pick out as being definably theirs. (By the way, the made-up slang James Dashner created for these characters is hilarious!)

This book was like a puzzle and I was desperately reading so I could find the next piece. I barely put this book down and read until the wee hours of the morning just to finish it. This book is a great ride full of psychological twists and turns and I recommend it to everyone!

Reader reviewed by darklightkid

As the novel starts, a teenage boy named Thomas is riding a strange elevator up to a place called the Glade. Thomas steps out into a strange world, armed only with his name as he is unable to remember anything else. The first interesting thing about the Glade is that it's entirely populated with teenage boys. The second interesting thing is that it's surrounded on all sides by a deadly Maze. The third interesting thing is that the walls around the openings to the Maze shut every night at sunset and don't reopen till sunrise. If anyone is left outside, they are as good as dead, thanks to the dreaded creatures known as Grievers that stalk the Maze at night.

Thomas makes a quick friend - young Chuck, who until Thomas' arrival was the most recent Newbie, or Greenbean, in the Glade. He makes a quick enemy, too - Gally, who has major anger issues and will do anything to get rid of him. He forms a tenuous, terse semi-friendship with some of the Maze's top rankers - Alby, a black guy who serves as the de facto leader; Newt, Alby's second-in-command; and Minho, an Asian who is the official leader (having been in the Glade two years, longer than any of the other inhabitants) but often is out in the Maze looking for a way out, as he is the chief of an elite squadron known as the Runners.

But immediately the day after Thomas shows up, he is followed by another - a rarity because new arrivals only come in once a month; a double rarity because this time the new arrival is a girl; a triple rarity because she comes with a cryptic message: "Everything is going to change."

And change it does. All the normal rules of the Maze are broken as the Gladers make a mad dash to try and figure out how they will escape - if in fact it's even possible.

This is a novel that should come with a government health warning: "Do not read if you have high blood pressure, recent injuries, or pregnancy. It is one of the wildest literary roller-coaster rides you will ever read. Before reading, please ensure you have signed the waiver form I20CK [a totally random code btw] in triplicate, absolving the publishers and author in case of accidental heart failure or other illness."

Do not miss it, whatever you do. Also keep an eye out for copies of the sequel, "The Scorch Trials."

Reader reviewed by Carly

I loved this book! It was a little slow in the beginning but after you get past that, it is so good! There are twists and turns all the time and you will not believe what happens in the end. I can't wait for the sequal, I'm sure it will be just as good as this book if not better!!!

Reader reviewed by GBC

Thomas wakes up in an elevator.  He has no idea how he got there, only remembering his name.  Thomas finds himself in a very strange place.  Basically he is in a large courtyard in the center of an even larger maze.  Daily runners are sent out to map the maze, but must be back by nightfall.  At dark, the gates close and strange beings roam the maze, being left out overnight is certain death.

However, things change after Thomas's arrival.  The next day the first, only, and last girl comes up the elevator.  She bears a note saying that no more supplies will be coming.  Things begin to change in the Maze and Thomas, and the others, realize it is now or never.