The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I decided to read this book after it was compared to Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy. Dashner places the reader in The Glade along with the main character Thomas as we are both kept in the dark so to speak. The reader finds out little bits of information at the same time as Thomas in an attempt to solve the puzzle. Dashner has said that his book is a cross between Lord of the Flies and Ender’s Game.

Thomas wakes up in a dark metal box. Then the movement begins and it is as if he is in an elevator. The top opens up and he sees that he is surrounded by 60 boys all looking at him. Thomas remembers nothing about his past but his name, but simple facts do occur to him. He cannot remember his family, where he came from or even his own age. What he does learn about life in The Glade his first day there is ask no questions. The Glade is situated in the middle of a maze that reconfigures each night. And there are unspeakable creatures that roam the maze at night. Thomas is ready for the second day to begin since he will go on a tour of the Glade and get to ask some questions. Soon the alarm rings to signal that someone new is coming up in the box. This is unusual first because only one boy comes each month and Thomas just arrived yesterday but then the new arrival turns out to be a girl. A note states that she will be the last arrival ever. The girl appears to be dead until she says ”Everything is going to change” and then lapses back into her coma.

This book was hard to put down and just like Collins’ books, each chapter ends in a cliffhanger. Few questions are answered at the end as the action for book two is set. The Scorch Runner is due out in October 2010.

Check out James Dashner's blog at http://jamesdashner.blogspot.com/