Thomas wakes up in a lift with no memory of anything regarding his previous life. He knows his name and how to speak, but virtually nothing else. He’s stranded, until the lift doors open and he’s greeted by a group of boys who have similarly lost their memory. All of these kids eke out a life in a place called the Glade, farming, cooking, and doing their best to solve the ever-changing maze that lurks just outside, without getting killed by the Grievers, machines designed to kill kids. The gates open in the morning and close at sunset; any kid left outside at night is guaranteed to die in the morning. The day after Thomas’s arrival, the first girl is found in the box, and she is suspiciously familiar. Can Thomas solve the maze as the end game engages?
This book is a great read. It’s going to be hard for me to back up and explain why, but I’ll give it a shot. Perhaps the foremost reason is how amazingly suspenseful it is. There is a sense of dread lurking over the entire book. Thomas is tossed into this strange world with no knowledge of it at all, and as we learn what the boys know, we also learn that nothing is as it seems. This is even more pronounced when things start to go wrong. I had no idea what was going to happen next or how the boys (and girl) were going to solve the maze, or even if they were going to be able to do so. There was no way I was going to stop reading this book. Besides that, I adore dystopias, and while this is another variant of the fight-for-your-life scenario, it has plenty of individualism to spice it up. The wiped memories, the larger picture that is only available at the end of the book, and the maze itself and the reasons behind it were all fascinating.
Of course, such a book wouldn’t be so great if it didn’t have characters to care about. We have to care whether or not these kids die, and luckily Dashner pulls this off just beautifully. Thomas is a great kid. He’s perplexed, he’s unhappy, but he’s smart as a whip and determined to succeed. He’s not a perfect wonder boy, but he’s loyal, tenacious, and a true friend. I also thought his role in the greater plot was excellently planned and made his position a lot shakier than I’d expected. The other kids, while not center stage, are also characters to cheer for.
This is a YA book, but I had very few moments when I was aware that its projected audience was younger than me. I did take a while to get used to the fact that the boys are frequently called “kids”. I haven’t referred to anyone as a kid in quite some time, and somehow I don’t remember coming across this in other YA. Saying that I’m not sure how else to refer to the group, so I suppose it is more natural. That was really the only strange moment; otherwise I was as absorbed in this novel as a thirteen-year-old would be. There is similarly the fact that this book is totally clean; it’s as though these boys have no sexual urges whatsoever, and even when a girl arrives their reactions are subdued. To be honest, I don’t think a romantic entanglement would have been out of place, but the story works extremely well just as it is, so this is more of an observation than a criticism.
I highly, highly recommend this YA dystopia. The Maze Runner is a breathtaking work of truly addictive fiction and I am waiting with huge amounts of anticipation for the next book.
I have heard “kid” use quite a lot in regular conversation, but it always seems to me that the children referred to are much younger. zi’ll have to see when I read it, which I’m planning to do this month.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..A Change In Altitude, by Anita Shreve =-.
Great review! I’ve heard some good things about this book. Might be time to add it to the TBR list…
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesdays =-.
I didn’t really love this book. I might have been in the wrong mindset for it; I read The Thirteenth Reality by James Dashner a year or two ago, and didn’t like it, so I may have had a bias reading this one. I didn’t get the sense of dread you mention; I was mostly annoyed with the constant “I’m so frustrated I can’t remember my past!” I did appreciate the ending, though, but I’m not sure I’ll continue reading the series.
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..goddessladyj: The kittens woke me 5 min before my alarm today. Both on my pillow, Athena licking herself on my left, Rodney making biscuits on my right. =-.
Just received this one last week — YAY!
I just know I’d love this book. It has lots of elements I like: action, YA, dystopia, life-and-death situations.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Today’s Read: The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl =-.
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it too and for all the same reasons as me. It was just such an EXCITING read!!! I can’t wait for the next one; after an ending like that, you just want to pick up the next one and keep going!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Happy Birthday! =-.
This is a great review, Meghan! I think you enjoyed a bit more than I did, but I did really like it. Yay for us for posting on release date!
.-= Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner =-.
Oh, great review! I had been interested by this one but now I know I just have to read it! I love dystopias and you make it sound like one I can’t ignore
.-= Kay´s last blog ..Review : Life as We Knew it =-.
I really enjoyed The Maze Runner – the fast pace, the dystopian themes, the pervading sense of doom… It was a great heart-pounding read. I was really impressed! Great review, too!
(I’ve linked to your review here.)
.-= Lana´s last blog ..The Maze Runner – James Dashner =-.
I don’t read much YA, but the plot of this one sounds fantastic. I think this would be a great book to read and share with my kids, especially my daughter, who loves dystopian lit. Thanks for the great review, I will be taking a closer look at this book.
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..In the Arms of Immortals: A Novel of Darkness and Light by Ginger Garrett – 313 pgs =-.
Well, as a 50 year old, I do use kids on a regular basis! This book sounds like one my whole family would enjoy.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..A chat with Elizabeth Kostova =-.
I’m still not sure about this one – not a huge fan of dystopian fiction, I’m afraid!
.-= Belle´s last blog ..Fitness Challenge: My First Tiny Progress Report =-.
So if you had to choose one dystopian novel to read, which would you pick–this one, or Hunger Games?
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..~Perfect~ Reads =-.
I just need to read this genre real bad. I have not tried it yet… but this one sounds something I will definitely like.
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Wednesday Cover Attraction =-.
I really want to read this! It looks really good.
.-= Kailana´s last blog ..Giller-a-thon =-.
I think I’m going to start this book today or tomorrow. Thanks for the review, I can’t wait!
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..Goldengrove – Francine Prose =-.
My sister and I use ‘kid’ all the time, including talking to our parents “hey, now, kids!” sort of thing, so that didn’t throw me.
I think I just don’t have quite the right temperament for this sort of book, I wanted too much to know WHAT the world outside of theirs was like and got frustrated that I couldn’t find out because they couldn’t. However, I’m VERY excited for the next book in the series because it looks like we’ll be able to explore that world.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..The Queen’s Mistake – Giveaway =-.
Great review! Will definitely add this to my wishlist!
.-= Melody´s last blog ..Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins =-.
You make this sound so good! I’ll keep an eye out for it, as it sounds like the sort of thing I’d enjoy. “Kid” is the sort of thing I hear all the time, so it wouldn’t bother me – it is strange how we all pick up on little things like that though!
[…] wanting to read this one for ages, ever since it was all over the blogosphere last year, but it was this review, that put it on the wishlist, so a bad blogger’s point to […]