How would you react if you woke up in a strange place with no memory of how you got there, or any memories at all really?
Only your name.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a thrilling story, set in a apocalyptic world, of a teen boy who wakes up in at the bottom of a dark hole with no memory, only a name. Thomas.
He’s met with a large group of boys who pull him to the surface and introduce him to the strange world of the Glade. The Glade is an area in the center of the maze where they’re all safe from the dangerous monsters that roam the maze at night, called Grievers.
Thomas learns that everyone in the Glade came to be there the same way he did with the same lack of memory. And that they’ve all been given a role to play to ensure everyone’s survival. Including the role of maze runner. A few individuals with stamina and drive to go out into the maze and try to find a way out. Something Thomas instantly feels drawn to.
And then the norm of the maze is shattered by the arrival of Teresa, a girl. The only girl.
I really enjoyed this book.
The writing is smooth with superb visual descriptions that flow like a movie. The mystery of the maze is quite hard to resist and will have you reading well into the night.
Thomas reminded me very much of Harry Potter. A boy of average ability with a large curiosity of an unknown world and a drive to lead his friends to safety. Anyone who enjoyed JK Rowling’s limited third person narrative will most likely enjoy the similar narrative of the Maze Runner.
Looking back, my only real complaint is the message the lack of gender diversity makes with only one girl among a hundred boys. Especially once you find out the reasons behind the maze.
The only other aspect of the book I disliked was the fact Thomas and Teresa developed a quick attraction to each other and didn’t immediately jump to the conclusion they were twins/siblings after discovering their ability. Also their ability existing at all was kind of a stretch for my suspension of disbelief.