The Maze Runner by James Dashner

It was suggested to me after my last post that instead of blogging about series as a whole after I have finished it, I should blog about each book individually. So, I start with bringing you the first book in The Maze Runner Trilogy, The Maze Runner.

This book was recommended to me after I finished The Hunger Games because it shares the post-apocalyptic/dystopian theme that I love so very much. I started this book Thursday and found it very difficult to put down.

The plot centers around a place named "The Glade". The Glade is in the center of a maze. Within this maze live a group of boys. No one remembers how they got there or why, but the longest surviving members have been there for about two years. Naturally, their main goal is to get out of there. But, for the past two years they have not been able to find a way out of the maze. It doesn't help that the walls move every night. To top it off, they are forced to stay within the Glade portion of the maze at night because the walls close. But, that is better than the alternative, because if you are caught in the maze at night you become the prey of "Grievers", half flesh, half robotic creature bent on killing you with their multiple appendages and poisonous needles.

Ever month a new boy is delivered the Glade. The story opens with Thomas being delivered. Like the other boys he has no solid memory of the life before. He can remember images, the way things work, but not his family or his last name; his memory has purposefully been wiped. The arrival of Thomas seems normal, like every other newbie that shows up. But, it's not. After Thomas arrives, nothing is the same.

Thomas is important, but he can't remember why. Everything about the maze seems familiar, but he can't figure it out. Then, the next day, another person arrives. Not only is it unprecedented to get two newbies in as many days, but this one is a girl. She arrive bearing a foreboding note: EVERYTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE. Will they be able to survive? Will they all die? Will they get out of the maze?

This story is completing riveting. How the characters figure out what is happening to them and why is intriguing and will keep you guessing.  I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in this series, The Scorch Trials.