REVIEW: The Maze Runner by James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he s not alone. When the lift s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade a large, open expanse surrounded 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 the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
About the Author
James Dashner was born and raised in a small town in Georgia. His love of books and writing made him dream of being an author someday, and he still can't believe it's true.
You can visit him online at www.the13threality.com or jamesdashner.blogspot.com.
Check out Simon & Schuster's "Author Revealed" to learn more about the author through their revealing questions.
My Thoughts
A teen boy, Thomas, awakens to find himself entering a glade filled with other teen boys and surrounded by a maze. Soon after he learns that the boys are captives, spending their lives attempting to escape the maze. The next day a girl arrives (something that has never happened before in the glade), and she carries a message for the boys: Everything is going to change. And so it does...
Thomas is a good boy. He has conviction and strength, even in the face of incredible odds and with the suspicions of the other boys weighing on him. They don't trust him, and since neither Thomas nor the other boys remember their pasts before the maze, Thomas doesn't trust himself. But soon the struggle to find their way out of the maze becomes a priority, and Thomas and the girl seem to be integral pieces in this puzzle.
I enjoyed this story. The more I read from this genre, the more I realize that my favorite areas are dystopian, post-apocalyptic and horror. Fun, fun, fun!
This one wasn't as "fun" as many of them, but still very enjoyable and satisfying and it left me curious to see where book two will pick up. Plus I read this in a week, which is unusual for me. I usually take at least two weeks to read a book. If you like YA dystopian, give this one a try.
My Rating: 8 out of 10
