The Mazerunner by James Dashner
Released: October 6, 2009
Read: October 2015 (and once before that)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format: Paperback, 375 pages
Series: Book #1 in the Mazerunner series
Series: Book #1 in the Mazerunner series
Description from Goodreads:
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Review:
When I first started reading the Mazerunner, I was thrilled: I knew as much as Thomas did, and didn't know what to expect. I felt oblivious to the world I was entering and wanted to know about everything: where Thomas was, what year it was, what was his backstory, why he was in an elevator, and who sent him to the Glade.
The idea of having a book based on a maze is quite brilliant. Everyone knows about mazes and labyrinths, but no one would know why these shanks were put there. Readers would instantly want to know the reasoning and how they manage to escape. Do they find a secret passageway? Does the exit involve a code or are they rescued? The questions go on and on, and, after finally admitting defeat, they'd need to read the book.
James Dashner, who I've met a couple times already, uses his humour to add hope and brightness to this dreary book. By having characters such as Chuck and Newt, you can clearly see each main characters role. Thomas, for example, is the key to everything, Newt is the optimist everyone looks up to, and Minho... well, you get the idea. Everyone and every scene is significant to the storyline, which fits together like a gigantic, ever-changing puzzle that resembles a lot to the maze itself.
When I first started reading the Mazerunner, I was thrilled: I knew as much as Thomas did, and didn't know what to expect. I felt oblivious to the world I was entering and wanted to know about everything: where Thomas was, what year it was, what was his backstory, why he was in an elevator, and who sent him to the Glade.
The idea of having a book based on a maze is quite brilliant. Everyone knows about mazes and labyrinths, but no one would know why these shanks were put there. Readers would instantly want to know the reasoning and how they manage to escape. Do they find a secret passageway? Does the exit involve a code or are they rescued? The questions go on and on, and, after finally admitting defeat, they'd need to read the book.
James Dashner, who I've met a couple times already, uses his humour to add hope and brightness to this dreary book. By having characters such as Chuck and Newt, you can clearly see each main characters role. Thomas, for example, is the key to everything, Newt is the optimist everyone looks up to, and Minho... well, you get the idea. Everyone and every scene is significant to the storyline, which fits together like a gigantic, ever-changing puzzle that resembles a lot to the maze itself.
Favourite Quotes:
“'Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?' Minho asked. "Go ahead," Newt replied. Minho nodded and faced the crowd. 'Be careful,' he said dryly. 'Don't die.' Thomas would have laughed if he could, but he was too scared for it to come out. 'Great. We're all bloody inspired,' Newt answered.”
“It's kind of hard to ask a dead guy what he did wrong.”
"Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does."
Rating: 9/10
Recommended if you like: mazes, James Dashner (he's hilarious), challenging/solving problems, books that have a lot going on at once (but not very obviously), half animal half robot creatures, dystopian, action/adventure, comedies
Keep flipping pages,
Lauren
