I assumed this book was going to be good, but I didn’t know I was going to love it this much. I really did love this book. At first I thought the book was going to be a bit to slow paced for my taste, but it didn’t take long to pick up. I even found myself at first getting a little bit annoyed, like Thomas that I was receiving so little answers like Thomas, but like I said it quickly picked up. The plot and the characters kept me impressively interested, along with that fact that half the chapters ended on a cliff hanger that made me want to read more. There is a lot of mystery that needs answers so thankfully it is faced pace enough to give answers, but also opens up doors to future events to take place in the other Maze Runner novels. I have a feeling this will be my favorite book in the series because it is a great start to the series, but I won’t know until I read the rest of the books which I am excited to do.

This book is flat out amazing. Perfectly paced, and interesting characters; a real page turner. Once you start reading it, its hard to put down.

There has to be a way out; every maze must have a solution. They have been searching for two years, yet the boys are no closer to solving this maze than they were when they first entered it. Thomas's arrival in the glade, at the centre of the maze, appears to follow routine, at least for the next twenty-four hours, after which every pattern is broken and things start going crazy.

Thomas arrives in the maze with no idea of who he is and where he's been. He feels totally lost and confused. No one answers his questions, they brush them away with the excuse that he is the newbie, he just doesn't understand. Of course he doesn't understand, none of the boys answer his inquiries.

While reading this novel I felt as though I was trapped in the maze with the boys. I found my heart starting to race while Minho and Thomas were running to escape the grievers. I still don't know what grievers really are, but they are horribly nasty creatures. I felt anxious each time they approached a corner of the maze. In fact, I felt like Thomas, so many questions and very few answers.

The glade itself is a fairly straightforward place. Rather simple in fact. It has housing, farming, and a forest with a burial yard. The maze and it's reason for existence is complicated. Then there is a world beyond. What is happening out there and how does it result in the boys being locked in the maze. This story gives me lots to ponder and look forward to. There are two further novels in this series: The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure. Coming in August 2012 is the prequel The Kill Order.

It took me a while to get into this book. It opened up slowly but it was interesting because you're looking through Thomas' view. So in a way you're experiencing this alongside Thomas. This had a certain Lord of the Flies ring to it, with the boys in their own groups and at times resorting to violent clashes and they even have their own lingo (which takes a while to figure out, but you do get the hang of it). Naturally, you'll find Thomas stuck in the middle of everything, as he tries to figure out what really goes on in here especially when Theresa enters the story. The concept of the book was interesting, what was more interesting was the group of boys managed to stay and work together (you'd think they run amok and start bashing each other on the head after being stuck together for a while).

What I liked were the Grievers. Now those were really interesting. I liked reading the real close call moments where Thomas was pretty close to getting killed. They were interesting and at least provided a good amount of the action part of the book. The action does pick up through the second half of the book, and towards the end, you end up being blindsided with what really is happening. The ending will either make you frustrated, or eager to know more. I fall in the latter. It was a giant cliffhanger but well done to make you wanting to read the second book.

Although the book does pick up, and the pace quickens, there are so many questions asked, and few are answered. It does get frustrating whenever Thomas does ask something and everyone seems to either avoid the question entirely or just shrug it off. It's irritating to read, and you certainly do feel Thomas' frustration. It's irritating to see the other boys not answer what seems like very simple questions and it doesn't seem fair to Thomas that he's kept in the dark when all he's trying to do is make sense of things.

I'm going to pick up the next book for sure as I'm itching to find out what's going to happen next. Readers of dystopian fiction will most certainly enjoy this book, but it's also encouraging to see that this book also seems to cater to male readers as well. It's a refreshing change and I think it's a well done book to please the target audience. Even if you don't fit the target, don't hesitate to pick this book up. Especially if you're into the Lord of the Flies theme. Mix this with a bit of dystopia and science fiction and you'll get a well written book with an excellent cliffhanger that will make you want more out of this series.

i LOVEE this book!!!! it is by far one of the most amazing books i have EVER READ!!!! i have read every book and honestly you can not put any one down at all!!! james dashner (the author) is making a prequel to it about when the sun flares hit!!!!! it is amazing and it comes out in august! best books i have ever read no joke!!!!!

This was a great book! Once I started I couldn't put it down! Can't wait to start of the next book in the series!

Great book for teens (girls included). Our bookclub group is made up of 6 girls and we all LOVED it! It starts of good and gets better and better. Half way through the book it becomes impossible to put down. Very little information is given about why the boys have been put into the maze but this didn't take away from the book at all. It keeps you guessing throughout. Since there are so few details right from the beginning, it makes the reader feel like one of the characters; trying to figure everything out right along with the characters in the book.
We liked it so much that we have started "The Scorch Trials".

Loved the book, was able to lose myself with the character Thomas And become totally absorbed in the action and love within theirs book.

I don't get the appeal of The Maze Runner. I thought the writing was too simple, and unrealistic. Nowadays teen fiction has to be able to speak to everyone. I, as an adult, can understand that some things are just meant for kids. However, I feel that this book was even insulting to the intelligence of young readers. I get the impression that the book was thrown together over night. I just think that James Dashner is underestimating his audience.

I really disliked Thomas as a character. I didn't his voice, and I don't think that there was any character development. It seems like he plucked his thoughts and feelings from thin air. There was no reasoning.

Putting aside the lack of depth in the characters, I was very unattached to the story. I sometimes felt a giant "so what?!" welling up in my chest while reading. The very last bit sort of piqued my curiosity, but nowhere near enough to carry on with this series.

I just don't get what the big deal about this book is. It sort of failed on all fronts for me. I didn't really care for the Dashner's writing style, I thought Thomas was an @$$#0!$, and there really didn't seem to be any relationship development-Thomas just stated that he didn't like a character, or that he loved someone "like a brother". I also couldn't really wrap my head around some of the information & events. (Spoilers) I mean how did Thomas manage to push someone up a wall when that person likely weighed more than him? How would ivy support the weight of a person, much less someone pushing another person up a wall?
Without showing anything happening outside the Maze, I found it difficult to believe that, people would find testing, and killing children for an experiment acceptable.
I really don't understand the hype for this book. I am not a teen, just another adult with a love of teen novels. I'm going to assume this is one of those teen novels best left to teen readers.

I'm going to say this right off the top, James Dashner is an amazing writer. The Maze Runner has an intense and intriguing opening that immediately pulls the reader right into the story, throwing them right in beside a lonely and confused Thomas in a creepy elevator shaft.

"He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air."

Dashner's pacing is perfection. The story flows along so nicely you almost don't realize as you sneak up on the ending. I was so involved in Thomas's character, trying to figure out why he seems so familiar with everything, yet why most of his memories are missing. Trying to put all the clues together to find out what is happening so everyone can escape the horrors of the maze. The author doesn't give too much away too early, he lets the reader discover the important aspects of the plot as the characters do. I love this in a storyteller. It keeps you reading, turning every page one right after the other until you reach the mind-numbing conclusion.

One of my favourite aspects of The Maze Runner is the new language the characters create during their time living with one another. Completely devoid of memories of their past they quickly develop their own entertaining slang. I love how this allows the boys in the book to "swear" as boys often do, but without having the book filled with profanity.

"Klunk's another word for poo. Poo makes a klunk sound when it falls in our pee pots."

That quote seriously made me snicker out loud on the subway... embarrassing...

The chapters were short, yet involved, which keeps the readers interested and coming back for more. The characters were alive and vivid, allowing the reader to become emotionally invested in them (which is not always a good thing!)

I highly recommend this book to everyone, male or female, old or young, I think there is something in it for everyone.

I remember when I first heard of The Maze Runner, I wasn't actually too excited to read the novel right away. I may have judged the book by its cover a bit because it lacks the beautiful touch I'm always more drawn towards. But you know how the saying goes... and with The Maze Runner, I'm glad I finally caved into the praise and read it, even if it was a while after it was first released. The first time I read it, the second novel was about to be released, and a part of me is glad I didn't read it right away because it wouldn't have been fun waiting for the next book!

Like I was saying, I definitely should have listened to the recommendations sooner! The Maze Runner is like one crazy and thrilling roller coaster ride, filled with plenty of twists and turns to keep your heart pounding as you read. The beginning starts off slow as we learn more about the mysteries and dangers outside of the Glade... but the intrigue steadily builds up as the Gladers tried to solve all the riddles. And when we reached the climax of the novel, James Dashner couldn't have added any more suspense if he tried!

I liked the cast of characters, I really did... but most of all, I really liked Thomas. He has no recollection of his past, so he's sort of stumbling to connect all the lost pieces. The lost memories are locked away and the more Thomas tries to access them, the more he feels that they're slipping from his grasp. He's unlike the other Gladers in a certain way, and he's sure there's a way to escape the giant Maze that encloses the Glade... but he's just not sure how. Thomas does, of course, have his moments of weakness, but I liked how he tried to lead the boys into not accepting their fates of remaining forever in the Maze.

James Dashner's The Maze Runner has a perfect appeal for both boys and girls! And if you haven't read the novel yet, make you sure you also have the The Scorch Trials to read right afterwards because the ending leaves off on a cliffhanger note. I'm sure you'll be wanting to read what happens next to Thomas and his friends right away!

You can also read this review at:
http://midnightbloomreads.blogspot.com/2011/10/maze-runner-by-james-dashner.html

Mini Book Review: Totally hooked from the first chapter, this book is a fabulous addition to the dystopian genre. Sorta reminds me of a mix of The Running Man, Lord of the Flies, The Outsiders, Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games all mixed into one. I couldn't stop imagining the characters of Thomas and Chuck as Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly from The Game of Thrones. The storyline is exciting with tons of non stop action and plenty of twists and turns guaranteed to keep even the most reluctant reader entertained. It is quite bleak and violent at times so I wouldn't recommend it to the sensitive reader. I was sent the second book in the trilogy, The Scorch Trials to read, and now I am counting down the hours until the kids go to bed so I can finish it. I need to know what happens and what is really going on. Only complaint is that I felt as lost as the characters into what was happening, but I guess that's half of the enjoyment I guess, just left me a little frustrated and thinking WTF at times. Now hubby leave me alone and kids go to bed, Momma wants to read -- this might be a late night


4.5 Dewey's


I bought this from Chapters because I was intrigued with the storyline -- and read it now because I received the second book from Random House to review

This book was special. I had a hard time ever putting it down, especially for about the last 200 pages which I've read one shot in the middle of the night since I just couldn't. put. it. down.

Seriously, and I cannot say this enough, this was recommended seeing as I was a fan of the The Hunger Games: Everyone who has enjoyed this series should also enjoy James Dashner's terrific work, although I have to say as similar as both topics are, the angle in which he realized the book was completely different. The plot twists and turns and you never really know how the hell the Gladers will resolve this Maze, or if they ever will. I will not say more because I don't want to spoil anybody's fun but, seriously, this book was one of my favourite readings in a long time.

The twists, turns and the growth if the characters made The Maze Runner highly addicting. I couldn't put it down. Something about this book is amazing. Hopefully it will get more recognition for its awesomeness.
Loved it~

This teen-fiction debut from author James Dashner is an enjoyable sci-fi read, though it may not appeal to many young adults today. It starts with the male protagonist, Thomas, waking up in a dark elevator with no memories, save for his name. He cannot recall his family, his friends, or even how he came to his current location in the first place. Once the shaft takes him where it wants, he enters a mysterious world of terrifying boundaries. Known as the Glade, it is like a miniature universe on its own - confined by towering walls that reveal never-ending mazes during the day, and which move to close securely during the night. Beyond the maze, once the sun sets, poisonous slugs called "Grievers" prowl the corridors for anyone unlucky enough to have been locked out. There are other boys living in the Glade, all of which are bent on solving the maze and surviving on what they have in the meantime.
However, shortly after Thomas's arrival, the elevator delivers another "prisoner", though she is the first girl to arrive. She carries with her an alarming, eerie message to be heeded by the rest of the Gladers. Once the clockwork of their little universe starts to break apart, the boys panic and are more desperate than ever to find a way out.
Thomas, as a main character, is not very appealing. Of course, it may be too much to ask that he be strong and warrior-like in the face of the unknown. Nevertheless, his constant questions and inability to obey direct orders are, for the most part, quite irritating. He takes advantage of the fact that he is the "Newbie" and carelessly disregards certain laws that the Gladers have enforced to maintain order. Also, he doesn't seem very invested in helping them find a way out, as he keeps many secrets to himself. This is very frustrating, because the Gladers might have known what to do with the information that Thomas was intent on hiding.
At any rate, the Maze Runner is an intriguing, haunting sci-fi read. Its pace is slow, but the sheer creativity involved in the storyline more than compensates. It is almost like a futuristic version of 'Lord of the Flies,' with an added twist of fantasy. Unfortunately, teen consumers today will probably not be so interested in it, because it does not have the unrequited, forbidden love aspect to it. If anything, it is obvious that Thomas will eventually fall in love with Theresa - the one and only girl - perhaps in another book in the series. But, for now, at the most, she is just someone that he likes to talk to. For anyone who enjoys fictional books about solving puzzles, escaping emprisonment and avoiding slimy monsters, the Maze Runner is highly recommended. However, for Sarah Dessen fans and even Twilighters, the relationships in this novel will probably fall a little flat.
In conclusion, the Maze Runner is an intriguing read with a mysterious backdrop. However, although it was a nice story, I don't feel particularly compelled to continue investing time into the series.

I thought this was going to be boring at first because it just didn't connect at first. The idea is great, but the thought of puzzles muddled my thoughts.
I heard so many great things about it, that I just took the chance. Immediately, I fell in love with the idea.
The problems were smart, and the way how the Gladers had to keep seraching for a problem really got to me. It makes sense as those who truly are intelligent never give up when there's no reasonable answer.

So, last year when those book award thingies were going on at Chapters, I saw online a book that was in the Best Hero Section of 2011 ( I don't think it was a winner). I wasn't sure this would be a good book, because well.... Maze Runner? Are you serious. But, I was sick and tired of going to Chapters and seeing stupid vampire books or cheesy lovey dovey nonsense. So I told myself, let's just try this since lots of people are recommending it.

BEST DECISION OF MY LLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFEEEEEE!



I'm not going to go into details about the book since there are already so much other reviews... but honestly this book is THE BEST I've ever read in my teenage years. it's been awhile since i've read a good book and i can't even describe it. The only con was that in the beginning it was a bit slow as many other books.
And of course ( SPOLIER ALERT), in the end when the main character saw one of his best buddies get shot in the Scientists Lab. Truly made me shed some tears.

You see, I usually read books within a day but because of school this book took a while. However it still doesn't change how much i love it. I also love the second book, and I CAN"T WAIT FOR THE THIRD.

I never had a favorite author until now ( Except for Robert Munsch, LOL... Elementray days!) Thanks James Dashner.

P.S.
I gave this book to my friend for her ISU on Books about Heroes, and she liked it! So this is great for any Book Report in general.

So, what are you waiting for.... GO GET THE SERIES!

I liked where the author was going with this one. Never trust what you see around you, the government isn't telling you everything. The ending left you on such a cliff hanger I have to go out and get the Scorch Trials

--

Just like most of the other Gladers, Thomas woke up in a dark metal box - without any memories of his past life, or any idea where he was. But this is no news - once every month another boy is delivered to the Maze, and they have adjusted accordingly. But the day after Thomas arrives, the Box is occupied once again. By a girl. That isn't the only thing that's going to change in the Glade. As more and more piles onto Thomas's shoulders, the more determined he is to find the pattern of the maze - and the closer he is to helping all of the Gladers find a way to escape.

--

This book received a lot of positive reviews, and were nominated by the Teen Read Awards for having the Best Hero. I think that this novel should have been the winner! Thomas is a character that you can't help admire as you continue reading through this book. His determination to solve the maze and his constant curiosity about everything around him made this book 10 times more fun to read. You feel his frustration and you hurt with him when he's upset.

The setting of the Glade, and the terrifying creatures called Grievers that roam outside the doors at night only add the mysterious ways of the Maze. As you slowly put together how everything works, you're also secretly falling in love with every single aspect of the life in the Glade and the complete story.

Holding a final battle worth re-reading and a hero that is hard to compare, James Dashner did an awesome job with The Maze Runner, and I can't wait to read The Scorch Trials. Check out his website, (it has a cool opening thing, and a really fun maze game.)http://www.jamesdashner.com/ And I'll give this one a 4/5. An awesome book!

Later Cheese Graters,

MRR