The Maze Runner by James Dashner
by Jenners • 06/07/2012 • 3.5 Stars, D Authors, Dystopia, M Titles, Young Adult • 41 Comments
The Maze Runner by James DashnerPublisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009
Pages: 384
Genre: Fiction, Dystopia, YA
Where I Got It: Downloaded it from the library to my Kindle
Why I Read It: I’ve been seeing this book mentioned around the blogosphere for a few years and, once again, I got sucked in by the premise of a cool-sounding dystopia
My Rating: 4 stars
Book Description
Thomas, a teenager with almost no memory of his past, wakes up on day in a dark elevator that lets him out in a strange world called the Glade. Populated only by other teenage boys, the Glade is a self-sufficient community (with farming and livestock) that is enclosed within gigantic walls that close each night. During the day, the walls open to reveal what seems to be an endless maze, patrolled by deadly creatures called Grievers. Understandably, Thomas is confused and confounded by this new world he finds himself in. As he tries to find out what is happening, he discovers that some of the Gladers have been there for two years, with a new boy arriving each month. But the day after Thomas arrives, something unprecedented happens—a teenage girl who appears to be dead arrives in the elevator clutching a note in her hands that says “This is the last one.” Soon after her arrival, things begin to change, and the Gladers must fight for their lives and discover the secrets of the maze before it is too late.
My Thoughts
In some ways, it seems like the terms “YA” and “Dystopia” are becoming synonymous. And, even though I often struggle with YA books, I keep finding myself getting sucked into dystopic trilogies. Starting with The Hunger Games and moving to the Chaos Walking trilogy, I can’t seem to quit these types of books for some reason. I just find the premises so intriguing, and I have to find out what happens next.
This series was no exception. Once again, we have our YA hero up against bizarre challenges that are often deadly. As in The Hunger Games, kids die—often in grotesque and disturbing ways. Unlike The Hunger Games, the kids don’t kill each other (mostly), but must work together to survive, figure out how to escape the maze and discover what is going on in their strange new reality. Dashner does a good job of providing enough “clues” and hints about what might be going on to keep the reader intrigued, and he keeps the chapters short and moving along. Almost every chapter ends with a mini-cliffhanger.
As in most YA books, the language is kept relatively simple and with a focus on the action. To keep things “clean” for a younger audience, Dashner has the Gladers adopt their own slang in place of curse words, calling each other “shuck faces” and “klunks.” For the most part, it seems to work, even though I kept substituting the obvious curse word on my own. (I guess I’m a little jaded).
Still, when I reached the end of the first book, I knew I was going to have to continue on with the second book, The Scorch Trials. Apparently, I am a dystopic-loving teen deep in my heart as I can’t seem to quit these types of books. (My reviews for the second and third books will be posted over the next two days. If you keep reading them, you can see my opinions about this series deteriorate until I end up basically hating on James Dashner.)
What are other bloggers saying about this book? You can find out at the Book Blogs Search Engine.
I had this one on my wish list for awhile and then read a few negative reviews about books 2&3 that I took it off! Looks like that was a good choice.
Well, the first book was pretty good but I wouldn’t go further. Resist the urge.
I have heard good things about this first book so it is one of the ones I’ve brought home from school this summer. Now off to see your reviews of the other two.
I haven’t yet read past Hunger Games and still want to read the Chaos Walking series. I’m horrible horrible at series because I have so many books lined up that I’m forever saying I want to read. I’ve never read past book one in Harry Potter, the Golden Compass, Girl with Dragon Tattoo; I can go on but I won’t. Janet Evanovich’s Plum was the only ever I was able to read more than a couple!
What … you didn’t continue on with Harry Potter? Now that is just blasphemy!! : )
OH, but you will LOVE this: I’m reading HP1 again and have the second one READY! I intend to read them all THIS YEAR. Am I forgiven?
(guess what else I did! I bought The Stand in audio! eek)
I will forgive you if you finish all of HP. And jeez … The Stand on audio? How long is that … 45 hours!?
I’m glad you’re reviewing these. I read the first book, but I wasn’t dying to read the rest of the series. Your review of second book has made me think I made the right choice.
Oh yes .. here is your comment. You totally made the right call.
well I’m not sure what that means for the series if you hate the author–I’ll stay tuned . . .
It means “Book 1 is OK but stop after that.” : )
So glad that you reviewed this- I just finished a Kindle sample of it last night and was on the fence about whether or not to buy it. Hearing you liked it makes me feel more confident! (although it does make me CRAAAAAZY when authors make up words for their books. Seriously. Just stick with English- we get that its the future and that you are clever. Grrr.)
Well, like I said, the first book is pretty decent but the whole series isn’t worth it. If you can quit at one (or switch to library versions and not buy them if you feel you have to get the whole story) then I say go for it.
I’m hit or miss with these types of books. Some go straight to hell after the first book, and some hold their own. I spewed a very loud laugh when I heard that you ended up hating the author!!! Haha! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Oh yeah … I’m pretty peeved. I’m going to do some ranting in my review of book three.
This one has been on my list for a long time. I just don’t know why so many dystopian novels have to be part of a series. I want a really good, standalone novel because book 2 and book 3 are RARELY as good as the first book.
I agree!! I really feel it is for monetary reasons — not artistic ones.
I’m glad you’ve warned us in advance that things went downhill for you as you continued the series. The first one sounds quite good.
What do you think it says about our young people today that this seems to be the predominate genre in YA literature now?
To me, it says perhaps they don’t expect much out of the future.
I read very few book of this genre, but your review makes me want to read it. I think I have this somewhere. I’ll have to look for it.
I keep getting sucked into these books despite my best efforts. And there are so many out there.
In my review, I said that reading even this first one is like reading Kafka’s The Trial–there will be no satisfaction. So I didn’t go on, and now I feel vindicated to see that you say it doesn’t pay.
You got it totally right. There was no payoff … I’ll write about that in detail in my review of the third book. You are totally vindicated!
Hmm I bet I would like it. I have definitely heard this name thrown around a lot too
This book is pretty good. But it goes downhill fast in the next two books. Be warned!
I’ve heard this first book is good!
It is. But the series goes steadily downhill unfortunately.
This is a genre I’ve read little from, but you make it sound so appealing. Excellent review!
I’m a sucker for this genre for some reason. But I know I’m not alone!
This has become my favorite type of book since I started blogging. YA Dystopia is just sooo….engaging? entertaining? fun? I don’t know, insert positive adjective here.
Isn’t it funny to call something that is usually about a horrible horrible world “fun”? But there you go!
Awwww, shucks. I just bought a small set of this, based on a glowing student review, for my classroom book clubs. I was going to read it this weekend. I think I’ll still read it, but to be honest, I’ve not found a trilogy that I read to the end in a long time, including Hunger Games and Chaos Walking. I can see why people enjoy them, but I’ve had my own fill of fun after the one book.
Long live the stand-alone, single volume novel!!!
Hear ye! Hear ye! I wish authors could stop at just one. The first is usually the best anyway. This series gets really annoying for reasons I shall reveal in my review of the third book. Still, the YAs might just eat it up.
I think the fake curse words are funny. I don’t swear….don’t even think them in my head when I am mad….but, I would do the same thing you did and “fix” the words in my head.
It was hard not too! I felt like such a degenerate.
I thought the next book in the series was so disappointing that I didn’t even read the 3rd. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!!!
I am amazed. For me, the second book was OK but the third book annoyed me to no end. Be glad you didn’t go the distance.
I know just what you mean which is why I’ve promised myself NO MORE series …… though of course there is always an exception to the rule.
Anyway, great review. And I love the fact that you have come to the realisation that at heart you are a dystopic-loving teen.
I wonder what that says about me that I’m a dystopic-loving teen at heart? : )
I’ve been sluggish to start this series because I’ve heard how awful the series turns out. But so many readers rave about the first book that I feel a need to give it a shot. Really looking forward to your perspectives on the last two books in the trilogy!
The first book is pretty good but the series ended on such a sour note for me that I’m mad at the whole thing and wish I’d never read them at all.