The Maze Runner

Summary: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is empty. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s door’s open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.

The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the mazy that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home...wherever that may be. But It’s looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.

And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets within his own mind.

Review: Wow. This book kind of blew my mind. The plot in this book was brilliantly paced. Once the plot really got going I could not read this book fast enough. I skipped over words and often found myself reading ahead. That is why is makes it even more powerful when I say I knew what was going to happen and was still shocked, mortified, excited, happy, and heartbroken by the end of the book. For the last 200 pages or so I sat on the edge of my seat with a small knot of tension growing in my stomach as events unfolded in front of me. Dashner makes unrealistic things seem very possible. This book begs to be made into a movie. A very creepy movie, but a great one nonetheless.

Thomas was a likable character, though sometimes I found him annoying, which made him all the more real. I grew attached to several characters in this book mainly Newt, Minho, and Chuck. I liked watching Thomas evolve as a character. By the end of the book, you wouldn’t think that the Thomas in the end is the same Thomas you met in the beginning. He develops into a smart, caring, curious, and charismatic leader quite naturally. The bond between him and Teresa seems very natural, not at all weird or forced.

Now for criticism. The book was slow getting off to a start. The plot was brilliant! The description and wording never really stuck in my mind. I wanted to read as fast as I could to see what happened, which is not a bad thing. However, I didn’t really want to digest and absorb every word.

Overall, it was a great book. You should all read it!

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Reviews from the pros:

“Dashner knows how to spin a tale and make the unbelievable realistic. Hard to put down, this is clearly just a first installment, and it will leave readers dying to find out what happens next.”-Kirkus Reviews

“A fast-paced narrative...Dashner’s suspenseful adventure will keep readers guesting until the very end.”-Publishers’ Weekly

“The tantalizing hints of a ravaged world outside make for a gripping reading.”-Booklist

Happy Reading Everyone!

-She Who Reads A Lot