The Maze Runner Reviewed By Carter Whyte

The Maze Runner is a science fiction novel written by James Dashner. The Maze Runner is about a group of boys with no memory that are trapped in an enclosure surrounded by a maze. Every night the maze doors close and the “Gladers”, as they call themselves, are trapped inside. The Gladers think that if they make it through the maze they can escape. However, when the maze closes giant half machine half slugs, called grievers, are released inside and kill anything that moves. New people appear in the maze from a cold metal box. When a new Glader called Thomas appears, weird things start to happen. One new person a month is added to the maze. However, not even two days later after Thomas arrives, a new person appears.  This time it is a girl, whose name is Teresa.

No girl has ever come into the maze before. The girl is in a coma and she has a little piece of paper that has the words the end is now written on it. Thomas realizes that the Gladers must solve the mysteries of the maze in order to survive. Most of the Gladers hate Teresa because they think she is responsible for bringing the changes that start happening. When you get stung by a griever you go through a changing which lets you gain some of your memories back. Some of the Gladers who went through the changing have visions of Thomas helping the people who trapped them in the maze. These Gladers start turn on Thomas and blame him for their problems. Thomas is stubborn and he takes a stand to convince the others that the maze is the problem not him and Teresa. Thomas is also brave and won’t back down from the Gladers or the maze.

James Dashner accurately portrays being trapped in a never ending puzzle. Not only is everyone trapped in the maze, but they start to turn on each since it is easier than figuring out their own problems. James Dashner uses the words and the actions of the Gladers to show them turn on each other. The reader sees throughout the story that the Gladers slowly turn on Teresa and Thomas. You can see Thomas try to prove himself trustworthy and can see the Gladers start to trust him. Thomas doesn’t back down no matter what happens. Overall, James Dashner tells the story with heart, and a passion that keeps the story of the maze in your mind. The Maze Runner makes you feel trapped in the story with the Gladers. It made me ask the question what caused the Gladers to be trapped in the maze?