The Maze Runner

Via

The Maze Runner by James Dashner was recommended to me some time ago by a friend but it took me a long time to remember that I was supposed to read it. Looking for something suspenseful and easy, I borrowed it from the library.

Good Read’s Synopsis: "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"

What I Thought: Oh boy, I liked this one! Yes, it’s in the Young Adult genre. Please don’t let that deter you from reading a good, nail-biting story. It’s the first in a series of three and I’m so sad that I’m #2 on the hold list for the second one. Of course, the parallels between this and Hunger Games have to be drawn. They are essentially both dystopian fiction dealing with children placed in unimaginable situations. I liked Hunger Games more but Maze Runner holds its own with no trouble. Dashner does a great job developing characters without them knowing anything about themselves. Plot twists abound too. Almost every chapter ended with a DUN DUN DUN (say it out loud, ominously) moment. Can’t wait to pick up the next one!

Rating: * * * *