“The Maze Runner”

Reviewed by Craig Richard

“The Maze Runner” by James Dashner is set in an impossibly massive labyrinth. Its central chamber, aptly named The Glade, is where the characters survive on what they can grow and are provided.

No one knows how they got there or even how it was constructed.

The novel is a dystopian science fiction that takes place at an unknown time and an unknown place in the future.

The main character, Thomas, awakens to nothingness – seemingly enveloped in darkness. Upon later inspection of his surroundings, he discovers he is inside of a metal box.

Not even allowing him to come to his senses, the box lurches upwards much like an elevator.

He cannot remember where he came from, what he looks like, or even how old he is. He can, however, remember seemingly useless information like his first name.

When he finally does reach the top, he is greeted by boys in his exact same situation, all with one goal: to escape the maze. His arrival also causes a clamor because it has not been a month since the previous newcomer.

The following days are even stranger because another person arrives and seems to have a connection to Thomas.

He experiences everything that the maze have to offer, even its less-than-friendly residents called Grievers, whose sole objective is to kill anyone that they catch.

Several topics are explored in “The Maze Runner,” such as what circumstances justify making unethical decisions and to what extremes people will go to save something valuable to them.

I enjoyed book; it is an easy read, but do not let that stop you from reading it. It is literally suspenseful from the first page to the last. Twists and turns appear at every page, which make you not want to put the book down.

There are interesting questions posed that make you think. I recommend this book to a young adult audience and anyone who likes suspense.

Craig Richard is a junior in the academically gifted program at Hahnville High School. He enjoys reading, fishing and playing video games.

Editor’s note: Book reviews are published weekly during the summer in agreement with Hahnville High School gifted English teacher Deborah Unger in conjunction with the Brown Foundation Service Learning Program.