Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Posted By CarrieK on September 5, 2009
Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Genre: YA dystopian fiction
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review copy from publisher
First line: He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.
The Maze Runner
In The Maze Runner, Thomas wakes up on an elevator. He knows his name is Thomas, but that’s all he knows – his memory has been wiped. The elevator opens in to a place called the Glade, a square piece of property that exists at the center of a huge maze of stone walls. The Glade has four doors in the walls that surround it; the doors open onto the maze during the day and shut every night. Every thirty days, another teenage boy is delivered to the Glade. The boys are trying to solve the maze, a feat that seems impossible, because every night, the walls in the maze move.
Thomas has no memory of life before the maze, but for some reason the Glade feels familiar to him. He also knows that he’s supposed to be a Runner, one of the boys charged with exploring the Maze each day while the doors are open – and before the Grievers come out.
James Dashner has created a unique vision of the future, one that is as terrifying as it is mystifying. This world is full of interesting characters: Thomas, our hero who can’t follow the rules when it means leaving someone to die; Alby, the leader of the Gladers, who is more afraid of going back to the real world than staying in the Glade; Chuck, who just wants to go home to a family who loves him; Newt, the one who believes Thomas may be the answer to it all.
The Maze Runner is a very visual book – the images of the Maze, the Glade, the Homestead are all well-drawn. The Grievers are disgusting and horrifying. This book would make a fantastic film. I absolutely can’t wait to read the second – and third – installments in this trilogy.
Highly recommended.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of The Maze Runner and couldn’t agree more with your review. It was an awesome book, and I am very excited to read the next ones in the series.
Wendy – I know! I just wish we didn’t have to wait so long for the second book.
[...] Comments Wendy on Book Review: The Maze Runner by James DashnerCarrieK on Bookish links for Saturday, September 5, 2009Beth F on Bookish links for Saturday, [...]
I was just over at another blog where someone had this on their wish list and was thinking this sounded good. I am glad to hear that it actually is! Thanks for your great review, Carrie.
Literary Feline´s last blog ..TGIF: Random Fun. Not so Bookish Thoughts. Well, Mostly Not.
LF – you’re welcome!
I love dystopian fiction. Is this suitable for the tween crowd? I’m thinking we might need to hunt it down on audio.
Sandy´s last blog ..The Best of…Kevin Demetroff’s Top 10 Books (Part I)
Sandy – I’m going to let my tweens read it – it doesn’t have any sexual content, but there is definitely violence and a bit of blood.
I looked at our library, and they don’t even HAVE this book, audio or hard copy! I figure we will get through our Harry Potter audios, then I will try to do a library loan for this one.
Sandy´s last blog ..The Best of…Kevin Demetroff’s Top 10 Books (Part I)
Oops, Sandy – I forgot to mention that the book isn’t officially released yet – I read an ARC. It comes out on October 13th.
Oh I have to mark this review and come back! I’m about half-way through now, so I don’t want to read your review, but I’m sure I’ll be finished by the end of the day! I even had dreams about it all last night!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Review of The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
Rhapsody – I know! It is so vividly written, I couldn’t stop thinking about it, either.
Just finished! Quite the mind-blowing ending! And how rude of the author, not to have the next volume ready to go!!! :–)
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Review of The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
Rhapsody – I know – a whole year to wait!
Uh oh. I feel a book buying expedition on the horizon. This sounds great.
Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Fishing Journals by Louis Gary Lamit
Beth – yes, definitely a must-read. It comes out in October.
This book sounds interesting. Thanks for your great review!
Andreea – you’re welcome!
I’m so happy to see that you think this is a winner! I’m thrilled to have received an ARC, but just haven’t got to it yet. You have encouraged me.
Joy – I hope you like it as much as I did!
Wow! Everyone seems to be loving this one. I think I need to add it to my wish list.
Kathy´s last blog ..Review and Giveaway: Blame
Kathy – I think you would really like it.
I’m thrilled that this is so good! I have an ARC and I’m reading it very soon. Now I can’t wait!
Meghan´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon: Free Time!
Meghan – just make sure you have lots of uninterrupted reading time – you won’t want to put it down!
I have this one in Mt. TBR… Glad to see you enjoyed it! Thanks for the great review!
Melissa @ Melissa’s Bookshelf´s last blog ..Audiobook Review: A Wizard of Earthsea
Melissa – you’re welcome – I hope you enjoy it!
This sounds good!! I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the review!
Melody´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday
Melody – you’re welcome.
This one sounds good!
stacybuckeye´s last blog ..The Xibalba Murders, by Lyn Hamilton
Stacy – it sure is!
This sounds like an exiting book! I’ve just opened my mind to dystopian fiction this year, The Hunger Games was my first.
Ladybug´s last blog ..It’s all about Monday
Ladybug – If you want to try a dystopian novel for grown-ups, my favorite is Children of Men by P.D. James. (It’s very different from the film adaptation.)
I read the ARC also – could not put it down. I liked it even better than the Hunger Games, and I loved the Hunger Games. This is going to be another fantastic trilogy.
Donna – saying you liked it better than HG Is praise indeed!
I’ve been hearing so much about this book all of a sudden! Your review has definitely made me want to read it.
S. Krishna´s last blog ..BBAW: My Posts
Swapna – It’s definitely a must-read.
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[...] buried within his mind.” My thoughts: “I absolutely loved this YA dystopian novel (my review), and passed my ARC on to Dad. He loved it, too – and we’re both waiting impatiently [...]
WHEN DOES THE SECOND ONE COME OUT???!!!!!!??? PLZZ…SOME1 TELL ME!!!
Lisa – It comes out sometime in the fall of next year. Long wait, I know!
WHEN DOES THE SECOND ONE COME OUT???!!!!!!??? PLZZ…SOME1 TELL ME!!!
Great review!!! I so agree with you that it would make an excellent movie.
Bookfool, aka Nancy´s last blog ..The Maze Runner by James Dashner -YA Dystopian Challenge read #2
Nancy – he’s a very visual writer – I could see everything in my mind as I read. I think the Grievers would be horrifying on screen!
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can someone please tell me where can I find some pictures about the Glade? Maze? Grievers? I really want to see it for myself. Thanks!
Derrik – I haven’t seen any pictures like that, but if I come across some, I’ll let you know.
hello all i I am the father of a 9 year old boy who loves to read and came home from his 9 year old friends house a girl . she gave it to him to read saying she has read it is this a book for 9 year old children? thanks in advance
Rob – this book is definitely written for an older age group than that. I’m letting my 12 year old read it, but it is a bit violent in parts for a 9 year old, in my opinion.
I absolutely loved the book. It was unpredictable, very visual and it was unique. Although I find the author a little bit odd, (He blogs about the weirdest things) The Maze Runner was amazing.
Anna – I agree – very unique and visual – would make a great movie.
[...] more? James Dashner’s website has much more information on The Maze Runner. Books and Movies, Devourer of Books, Rhapsody in Books Weblog, and Karin’s BookNook have reviews on The Maze [...]
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[...] buried within his mind.” My thoughts: “I absolutely loved this YA dystopian novel (my review), and passed my ARC on to Dad. He loved it, too – and we’re both waiting impatiently [...]