Book Review: The Maze Runner

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 black. 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 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 they could remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, 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 arrives in the lift—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 maze that surrounds the Glade, they might be able to 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 just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

— From Goodreads

Cover Inspection:
This cover is deliciously ominous and easy to get lost in. The giant, ivy coated walls just made me want to dive into this book!

First Thoughts:
When the book opens and Thomas wakes up confused and in the dark, I felt for him. Still I wondered how he got there and why.

***

My Review:
To compare this story to a roller coaster ride would be inaccurate, since that implies a hill that must be climbed to reach the fast-paced parts. No, instead I would probably compare The Maze Runner to one of those fancy sports cars. You know the ones. 0 to 60 miles an hour in a matter of seconds? Strap yourself in my friends, this is a wild ride!

Anyone who has been reading my reviews for a decent amount of time knows that I want to love the characters I read about. If I’m to be invested in a story, those characters have to speak to me and make me a part of their struggle. It seems to me that James Dashner knew this when he was writing. Thomas and the other Gladers were written so well, that they literally became a part of my life in a matter of pages. I loved how different they all were! From the opinionated and gruff Alby, all the way down to sweet and innocent Chuck. They made me feel like I was a part of their world, and I had no problem getting into the story.

The Maze actually becomes its own entity in this story, and it is almost as though the walls are breathing. Since the reader is unable to see those who are actually behind the boys being trapped, it is the Maze itself that becomes the enemy. There were portions of this story that had me cringing! What crawls and writhes within the walls is literally terrifying, and I was on the edge of my seat as I read.

To those out there who might know picky readers, The Maze Runner is sure to be a hit. The writing is beautiful and descriptive, the characters are easy to connect to, and the story line is fast-paced. I will admit that there is a bit of violence. I think that is to be expected in a dystopian novel such as this. However I don’t think that it is anything most older readers would take issue with. It simply shows the lengths that the boys must go to in order to survive.

If you haven’t yet read this, run to your library and pick it up! The Scorch Trials, the second book in the series, is nearing release and you won’t want to fall behind.

Book Details
Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Random House (Delacorte Press)
Pages: Hardcover; 374
Source: Borrowed from library

Final Rating: 5 Keys to My Heart
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