The Maze Runner
User reviews
33 reviews
Overall rating
4.1
Plot
4.4(33)
Characters
4.1(27)
Writing Style
3.9(26)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Good, fast book
Overall rating
4.7
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Nice story that unfolds really fast, and in an interesting way. I enjoyed this first part to the trilogy.
Good Points
The opening reminded me of Target Earth (1959). Good idea.
Worth It
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
5.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
The Maze Runner By James Dashner was an action packed medium paced book. The book starts off with the main character Thomas arriving in a metal box with absolutely no idea of what happened to him before. He is than welcomed by a group of boys to a small little society that's enclosed from the outside world called the Glade. After being shown the rest of the glade Thomas realized that he wont be leaving the glade anytime soon. Since it is closed off by huge chunks of wall called the maze that surround the glade. Now since hearing of this book I was quick to put it a side as it did not capture my interest whatsoever, just seemed like another version of the Hunger Game which I had already read. But after given it a second look, I could not put it down. I would recommend this to anyone who liked the Hunger games and the Divergent series.
The Maze Runner Review!
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Wish there was more introduction to the plot!
Good Points
I just finished The Maze Runner and I’m a little bit skeptical. I’m really glad I didn’t have any huge expectations, because although it was a good story it wasn’t as great as I thought it was going to be.
James Dashner shared with us a story about a teenage boy named Thomas who enters the Glade. When Thomas shows up he doesn’t remember anything about himself and he doesn’t know where of why he is in the Glade. The only thing he remembers is his name and that’s how we start off the story.
I think what made the book so slow for me was that Dashner took forever to tell us the background information and finally get into the story. The first few chapters of the book are just Thomas going around trying to find out where he is and why. like the books that tell us the background quickly in the prologue so we can get right into the story and I think if Dashner was to take a little time to write a prologue that told us what the Glade was and things like that it would have been a lot better, For me anyways.
I liked the few friendships Thomas had while he was in the Maze. Truthfully he really made about three friends including Chuck, Newt, and Minho. Out of those three Chuck was my favorite because he was with Thomas from the beginning and he was just plain old goofy I loved him! My next favorite was Newt because he was just an all around good guy. He hated the bad guys and he was a great leader! Lastly there was Minho who I liked because he basically took Thomas under is wing.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because of points I talked about in the beginning, but I’m going to give this trilogy another chance and go ahead and read the second book. Not right away but I’m going to give it a try!
James Dashner shared with us a story about a teenage boy named Thomas who enters the Glade. When Thomas shows up he doesn’t remember anything about himself and he doesn’t know where of why he is in the Glade. The only thing he remembers is his name and that’s how we start off the story.
I think what made the book so slow for me was that Dashner took forever to tell us the background information and finally get into the story. The first few chapters of the book are just Thomas going around trying to find out where he is and why. like the books that tell us the background quickly in the prologue so we can get right into the story and I think if Dashner was to take a little time to write a prologue that told us what the Glade was and things like that it would have been a lot better, For me anyways.
I liked the few friendships Thomas had while he was in the Maze. Truthfully he really made about three friends including Chuck, Newt, and Minho. Out of those three Chuck was my favorite because he was with Thomas from the beginning and he was just plain old goofy I loved him! My next favorite was Newt because he was just an all around good guy. He hated the bad guys and he was a great leader! Lastly there was Minho who I liked because he basically took Thomas under is wing.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because of points I talked about in the beginning, but I’m going to give this trilogy another chance and go ahead and read the second book. Not right away but I’m going to give it a try!
The Maze Runner
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
5.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Genre: YA Thriller
Where I got it: ODLC (the library’s e-book collection)
One sentence: Thomas wakes up with no memory of his past in a community of teens inside a giant maze, but as soon as he gets there, things start to change in the maze and in Thomas, as he realizes he might hold the secrets to finally escaping the maze.
Themes: Secrets, loss of memory, suspense, mystery, post-apocalyptic
Main character: I felt like there was very little characterization for the main characters, Thomas and Teresa. I couldn’t really connect with them beyond imagining what I personally would feel in the situations they were in. Thomas had Gary-Stu qualities; he showed up having no idea where he was, magically knew he wanted to be a runner, broke all the rules, became a runner anyway and earlier than anyone before, and ending up leading the entire group.
Secondary characters: I found that I liked some of the secondary characters like Newt, Minho and Chuck better than Thomas or Teresa, simply because they had more depth. They had faults that I could connect with and were interesting to read.
Writing style: A little dry. Sometimes I knew there was an intense moment and I just couldn’t get into it because of the writing. I like how Dashner came up with new slang for the Gladers because it really expanded the world and reflected the fact that they had been so separated from the rest of the world that their vocabulary had evolved differently.
Plot: This is what really drew me into the story. I loved the idea of the maze and how Dashner wove in the post-apocalyptic bits. The only part that really disappointed me was the ending (see section below). It probably should have just cut off when they left the maze.
Best scene: Where Thomas, Minho and Alby spend the night in the maze
Positives: Plot, suspense, gasp-worthy epiphanies, setting, mysteries of the maze
Negatives: Characterization, some dry writing, ending.
Ending: A little disappointing after a good rest of the book. Probably could have waited until the next book, just because it was so different from what the rest of the book had been.
Verdict: A good, suspenseful read. The few flaws did not distract me too much from the great plot. I will definitely read the next book.
Rating: 7.6 / 10
Author: James Dashner
Genre: YA Thriller
Where I got it: ODLC (the library’s e-book collection)
One sentence: Thomas wakes up with no memory of his past in a community of teens inside a giant maze, but as soon as he gets there, things start to change in the maze and in Thomas, as he realizes he might hold the secrets to finally escaping the maze.
Themes: Secrets, loss of memory, suspense, mystery, post-apocalyptic
Main character: I felt like there was very little characterization for the main characters, Thomas and Teresa. I couldn’t really connect with them beyond imagining what I personally would feel in the situations they were in. Thomas had Gary-Stu qualities; he showed up having no idea where he was, magically knew he wanted to be a runner, broke all the rules, became a runner anyway and earlier than anyone before, and ending up leading the entire group.
Secondary characters: I found that I liked some of the secondary characters like Newt, Minho and Chuck better than Thomas or Teresa, simply because they had more depth. They had faults that I could connect with and were interesting to read.
Writing style: A little dry. Sometimes I knew there was an intense moment and I just couldn’t get into it because of the writing. I like how Dashner came up with new slang for the Gladers because it really expanded the world and reflected the fact that they had been so separated from the rest of the world that their vocabulary had evolved differently.
Plot: This is what really drew me into the story. I loved the idea of the maze and how Dashner wove in the post-apocalyptic bits. The only part that really disappointed me was the ending (see section below). It probably should have just cut off when they left the maze.
Best scene: Where Thomas, Minho and Alby spend the night in the maze
Positives: Plot, suspense, gasp-worthy epiphanies, setting, mysteries of the maze
Negatives: Characterization, some dry writing, ending.
Ending: A little disappointing after a good rest of the book. Probably could have waited until the next book, just because it was so different from what the rest of the book had been.
Verdict: A good, suspenseful read. The few flaws did not distract me too much from the great plot. I will definitely read the next book.
Rating: 7.6 / 10
MAR-VO- LES
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by LUNA
the title i gave this review is nothing but the truth 100% the truth.
the book is amazing i do have to admit i read for four hours straight!!!
it was so captivating ........ there also was a matter of the amount of how grusme
the book is ...........but it was so worth it i could not stop!!!!!!!! it has certianly never been done before it is new and untoched .........both thumbs up!!!!!!!!!
Really Good Book
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
I believe that this book is extremeley gripping, the plot and how James Dashner make me feel like I was
also in the shoes of the characters, overall this book is pretty awesome! I am still hoping that the rest of the series will be good or even better than this first one
also in the shoes of the characters, overall this book is pretty awesome! I am still hoping that the rest of the series will be good or even better than this first one
Great plot, but lacks a bit of interets in times
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
I really do not know what to think about this book. For the most I liked the plot, but it wasn't my favorite book. I did like the characters. I enjoyed the friendship between Thomas & Chuck.
I will pick up the next book, but I do not when. Do you think I should? Will the story I get better as it processes?
I will pick up the next book, but I do not when. Do you think I should? Will the story I get better as it processes?
Good, familiar book
Overall rating
3.7
Plot
4.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
If you liked The Hunger Games then you will like this story. The book feels really familiar but still has
enough unique aspects to keep it interesting. It's worth your time to read it.
enough unique aspects to keep it interesting. It's worth your time to read it.
A Fun Read
Overall rating
3.7
Plot
4.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
The Maze Runner by James Dashner is another title in the uber-popular genre of YA books about teenagers in dangerous “fight-to-the-death” games. But in this case, the main character, Thomas, is not on television…probably. He doesn’t really know the truth because his memory is wiped.
Thomas, along with the rest of the cast, are stuck in the middle of the Glade. Right next to them is the mysterious Maze with ever changing walls. Somewhere, deep in the Maze are evil Grievers which are half slug, half robots ready to attack.
Will Thomas be able to solve the Maze and lead the other kids to freedom or is he actually their worst enemy?
My nine-year-old son loves, loves, loves The Maze Runner. He read it start to finish in one day. To me as an adult it seemed predictable but fun. I wish there were more female characters but I appreciate Dasher’s brilliance in crafting a book that makes adolescent boys want to read.
Thomas, along with the rest of the cast, are stuck in the middle of the Glade. Right next to them is the mysterious Maze with ever changing walls. Somewhere, deep in the Maze are evil Grievers which are half slug, half robots ready to attack.
Will Thomas be able to solve the Maze and lead the other kids to freedom or is he actually their worst enemy?
My nine-year-old son loves, loves, loves The Maze Runner. He read it start to finish in one day. To me as an adult it seemed predictable but fun. I wish there were more female characters but I appreciate Dasher’s brilliance in crafting a book that makes adolescent boys want to read.
JB
Jennifer Bardsley
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Overall rating
3.3
Plot
3.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
The Maze Runner is the first novel in a series set in a dark post-apocalyptic world.
Our central character is sixteen-year-old Thomas. When he wakes inside an metal elevator car, he has no memory of how he got there or who he is, except for his name.
Thomas learns that he is part of community of around 50 teenage boys known as the ‘Gladers’. The boys live in an artificially created environment that is managed by an unseen and unknown group simply known as the Creators, that communicate through deliveries via the elevator car.
The ultimate goal of the community is to solve a maze built beyond huge grey stone walls that are over a hundred feet high. Each night the entrance to the maze closes protecting the boys from the Grievers, a horrific monster that is a mix of metal and flesh that can bite, sting and kill.
Each boy in the community has his own role that he does in order to keep the society functioning. The Runners run through the maze mapping it out. A position Thomas feels himself drawn to.
Everything changes on Thomas’ second day when a mysterious girl, Teresa, arrives in the elevator car. The Gladers were not expecting another delivery for another month – the pattern in the Glade. Teresa is the first girl to arrive and she will be the last delivery – no more Gladers, food or supplies.
Thomas also feels that he has connection to her. Teresa and Thomas are somehow connected to the mystery of the Glade. Will they be able to work with the other boys and help everyone escape the maze?
The novel is written in third person, but the narrative strongly favours Thomas’ point of view.
The Maze Runner series will be popular with readers of dystopian fiction.
Our central character is sixteen-year-old Thomas. When he wakes inside an metal elevator car, he has no memory of how he got there or who he is, except for his name.
Thomas learns that he is part of community of around 50 teenage boys known as the ‘Gladers’. The boys live in an artificially created environment that is managed by an unseen and unknown group simply known as the Creators, that communicate through deliveries via the elevator car.
The ultimate goal of the community is to solve a maze built beyond huge grey stone walls that are over a hundred feet high. Each night the entrance to the maze closes protecting the boys from the Grievers, a horrific monster that is a mix of metal and flesh that can bite, sting and kill.
Each boy in the community has his own role that he does in order to keep the society functioning. The Runners run through the maze mapping it out. A position Thomas feels himself drawn to.
Everything changes on Thomas’ second day when a mysterious girl, Teresa, arrives in the elevator car. The Gladers were not expecting another delivery for another month – the pattern in the Glade. Teresa is the first girl to arrive and she will be the last delivery – no more Gladers, food or supplies.
Thomas also feels that he has connection to her. Teresa and Thomas are somehow connected to the mystery of the Glade. Will they be able to work with the other boys and help everyone escape the maze?
The novel is written in third person, but the narrative strongly favours Thomas’ point of view.
The Maze Runner series will be popular with readers of dystopian fiction.
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