The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a work of fiction comparable to The Hunger Games.  This book is about a group of boys stuck in a large expanse surrounded by immense walls.  Behind those walls is a vast maze.  This book is about their struggle to solve the maze and escape.


The book begins with a boy who is moving upward in what he classifies as a sort of elevator.  Much to the boy's bewilderment, the only thing he can remember about his life is his name, Thomas.  When the "elevator" reaches its endpoint, it opens up, and Thomas is introduced to a large group of boys who call themselves the Gladers.  Much like Thomas, the Gladers don't know where they are or how they got there, and the only thing they can remember about themselves are their first names.

Through the next little while, Thomas is introduced to his new home, a place the Gladers call the Glade.  He learns that they are surrounded by a huge maze.  The Gladers seem sure that if they escape the maze, they will be able to go home, wherever that is.  However, the maze is looking more like it is impossible to solve each day.  Thomas also learns that each month, a new boy is sent up.  No girls have ever come.

The next day, however, the Gladers here an alarm going off.  This is the signal that a new person is coming up.  Stunned, the Gladers rush over to the elevator.  A few minutes later, it opens up and the Gladers look down to see a girl.  Not only this, she looks to be dead.  The Gladers hoist her out and lay her on the ground.  Suddenly, the girl's eyes open and she says, "Everything is going to change."  And I can tell you firsthand that everything did change.

This book was amazing.  Once I started reading, I couldn't stop.  It has so many twists and turns in it that it's nearly impossible not to feel constant suspense.  I compare this book to The Hunger Games for a couple of reasons.  The first reason is that both books have an "arena."  We all know what that is in The Hunger Games, and in this book, it's the Glade.  Also, later in this book, you will realize that these boys were sent to the Glade because of their society, just like how in The Hunger Games the society is responsible for the games.  By the end of the book, it is quite clear to see that it is only the first in a series.  There are still a ton of unanswered questions that make me want to read all of the other books.

In conclusion, this book was incredible.  Just a fair warning, though, it did freak me out a little bit.  I hope everyone will read this awesome book!  A