The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, Book One)

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, Book One)

By James Dashner

294 ratings 484 reviews 568 followers
Book 1 of 5 in the  The Maze Runner Series
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 9 - 12Grades 3 - 8X5.3101182

Book one in the blockbuster Maze Runner series that spawned a movie franchise and ushered in a worldwide phenomenon! And don’t miss The Fever Code, the highly-anticipated series conclusion that finally reveals the story of how the maze was built!
 
   When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
   Outside the towering stone walls that surround them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
   Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying: Remember. Survive. Run.

The Maze Runner and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials are now major motion pictures featuring the star of MTV's Teen Wolf, Dylan O’Brien; Kaya Scodelario; Aml Ameen; Will Poulter; and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. The third movie, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, will hit screens in 2018.
 
Also look for James Dashner’s edge-of-your-seat MORTALITY DOCTRINE series!

Praise for the Maze Runner series:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
USA Today Bestseller
Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick
 
“[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the FliesThe Hunger Games, and Lost.” —EW.com
 
“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.” Newsday
 
“[A] nail-biting must-read.” Seventeen.com
 
“Breathless, cinematic action.” —Publishers Weekly
 
Heart pounding to the very last moment.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
Exclamation-worthy.” —Romantic Times
 
“James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.” —Shelf Awareness, Starred

Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book.” —Deseret News

Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
ISBN-13: 9781910655108
ISBN-10: 1910655104
Published on 9/3/2015
Binding: Paperback

Book Reviews (468)

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I usually do not like reading science fiction books because they seem to have the same stereotypical plot, however, I definitely love this book. It kept me captivated with its twists and turns and unexpected plot lines. I like how the main character, Thomas, is likable because it's hard to read a book when the main character is irritating. The epilogue made me want to read the rest of the trilogy to know why Teresa wrote "Wicked is evil" on her arm. The pieces that were scattered throughout the plot connecting, in the end, was enjoyable to read. I definitely recommend this book.

I recently read (binge read?) the whole Maze Runner series, and the first one is the most suspenseful of all of them. The main character Thomas wakes up in the middle of the "Glade," which is a huge clearing with a farm, a small forest, and a couple buildings. Every morning the huge doors on every side of the Glade open, and "runners" spend the whole day exploring the maze. If they don't make it back by the end of the day they will get trapped in the maze, and be at the mercy of the creatures in the maze. The whole backstory of the maze is full of twists and turns, and I guarantee you won't be able to put the book down! I would recommend this book to the moon and back and this is definitely 5/5!

Well written, to the point, i like.

Gamer512 Gamer512

The Maze Runner My book review is on The Maze Runner by James Dashner. The story starts when the main character Thomas wakes up without memories in an elevator and is transported to the Glade, which is a safe area that is surrounded by a maze. He becomes a runner and runs through the maze looking for the exit. At night the doors in between the maze and the Glade shut, the maze shifts, and grievers come out into the maze. The grievers are a strange mix of mechanical and living parts, they are monstrosities that will sting you causing extreme pain and making you remember things. The book is about the kids trying to survive and escape the maze. What I liked about this book was that the author had a writing style that just made me want to read more of it. For example, when Thomas entered the Glade for the first time the author gave a lot of detail about the people there and what the Glade looked like. The book was interesting and it entertained me with a good plot. I especially liked it when Thomas climbed up the rocks and tied Alby up in the vines. I liked it because it was tense and had lots of suspense and I respect Thomas for doing it because he saved his friend. I also liked the characters and all of the nicknames and conflict. The nickname I liked the most was the “Rat Man”, it was funny because his face made him look like a rat. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian future books. Enjoy the book and don’t get stung by the grievers!

I’m glad we got a long vacation, and what I did was read. I have a list pinned in my wall of the books I must read; I mean which I WANT to read as ever. But unfortunately, all the bookshops and libraries were closed, so my only choice was read the pdf. I downloaded the pdf the same day, and read it, and I couldn’t put the book down. I couldn’t take my eyes of it. I was obsessed by the book. This book is about a boy named Thomas, who woke up in a box, and he was sent to which seems like another world. He finds some other boys in the place, which they call the glade. He thinks everything is ridiculous. Anybody will think everything is ridiculous if they wake up in a glade. The next day, another girl comes t the glade, who Thomas thought was familiar even though he could not remember who it was. He finds out that he could telepathy with the girl. However, they find a way out of the glade, and next, they get to know they are going to have another challenge the scorch trials. I recommend this book to everybody, this book can be read by anybody, and I’m sure everybody of you’ll will enjoy it as much as I did.

NewtFAN NewtFAN

I love this book. I has been my favorite series.

It seems like every book I read during quarantine earns a top spot on my favorite books list, and this book is no different! I can't wait to read the next one. Estimated 16 year old Thomas wakes up in a dark box that is slowly creaking up a shaft, with no memory of who he is or how he got there. The only thing he remembers about his past life is his name, Thomas. When he gets out of the box, he learns that he is in a place called the Glade, and every other boy there arrived in the same fashion. Everything is going smoothly until the next day a girl arrives. Then everything descends into chaos; the girl falls into a coma, speaking to Thomas through her mind. She arrived clutching a note in her hand saying that she was the final person to be delivered. Thomas decides that he wants to be a Runner, who searches the mysterious maze surrounding the Glade for clues on how to escape. The next week, supplies aren't delivered, and soon after, the sky goes gray. No sun, no night or day. Many blame Thomas for all of the strange happenings, but he knows they are wrong. This book is sort of a mystery, because no one knows how the "Gladers" will survive. There are many shocking twists and turns, and this book is not for the faint-hearted. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did, and that it makes a top spot in your favorite book list as well.

Detailed, without giving spoilers, i like.

it had me going off the walls because i could only read for a hour

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I it is really good and I think that the author (James Dashner) has a huge imagination to think of all this. This book is very enthusiastic and addicting. I had many favorite parts and I hope you do to. I don't want to give you any spoilers but I will sum it up for you. Thomas , a teenager, arrives in a glade at the center of a giant labyrinth. Like the other youths dumped there before him, he has no memory of his previous life. Thomas quickly becomes part of the group and soon after demonstrates a unique perspective that scores him a promotion to Runner status -- those who patrol the always-changing maze to find an escape route. Together with Teresa, the only female, Thomas tries to convince his cohorts that he knows a way out. I really hope you like the book!

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