Maze Runner #1: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

[Jude, The First One :)]

This is the Book we'll be reading chosen by our April Points Winner LunaBeth! Who will be reading along?

Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You're in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids -- the Runners -- venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines.

Thomas is the newest arrival to the Glade in this Truman-meets-Lord of the Flies tale. A motley crew of half a dozen kids is all he has to guide him in this strange world. As soon as he arrives, unusual things begin to happen, and the others grow suspicious of him. Though the Maze seems somehow familiar to Thomas, he's unable to make sense of the place, despite his extraordinary abilities as a Runner. What is this place, and does Thomas hold the key to finding a way out?

In The Maze Runner, Dashner has crafted a creative and engaging novel that's both mysterious and thought provoking.

[Rindya]

I read this book last year. It's good.

[Lexi]

This is one of my favorite series ever :D

[Amy]

I thought it was awful! Sorry..I know it has been a hit within groups like ours but I disliked it so much. It took me like 2 months to read and I usually read a book in 2 days! YIKES. I even started the 2nd one to see if it was better and it was not. I was thinking something like Lord of the Flies which was an amazing book! No pun intended. But I would to hear other thoughts on this book.

[Rachel]

Amy wrote: "I thought it was awful! Sorry..I know it has been a hit within groups like ours but I disliked it so much. It took me like 2 months to read and I usually read a book in 2 days! YIKES. I even starte..."

I didn't think it was that great either. Not as great as everyone else thought it was, but I will read the second one to find out what happens next. I kept thinking maybe by the end I would come to love it, but after what happened to Chuck, I just couldn't. Why Chuck?!?!

[Amy]

Right...Chuck, really!!! But I am glad I am not the only one. Thank you for your support on this one. I thought I would get tons of backlash for my comment. One thing I like is we can be honest and be ourselves. Open discussions. I love this site. I didn't know about it up until like 6 months ago.

[[deleted user]]

I wasn't a fan of the beginning - it was hard to get into. After a while though, I really like it! Waiting for Scorch Trials from the library - too much of a cliffhanger for me to not need to read the next book. :)

[Courtnay]

Loved The Maze Runner. I agree that the first chapter was hard to get into at first, but as soon as I finished (I was on a trip to San diego at the time) I made my dad drive me in a rental car to get the Scorch Trials. Can't wait for the next book!!

[Melissa]

I downloaded a free sample for my Kindle and read the first 2 chapters but didn't feel the urgency to purchase it; it didn't grab me, ya know?

[Lisa]

I loved this book. I have read the first and second one already(: It was awesome.

[RoseAnn]

I had a student in my Reading Enrichment class read this book. He chose it on his own and stuck with it to the end. Everyday he would say that he just couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I am currently reading it to see who I can recommend it to next. Not all book are right for all people.

[Lisa]

RoseAnn wrote: "I had a student in my Reading Enrichment class read this book. He chose it on his own and stuck with it to the end. Everyday he would say that he just couldn't wait to see what would happen next...."

That's true.

[Mya]

Good book.

[Isabella]

I've read book one and two, brill

[Mya]

Only one.

[Pam]

I read the series and loved it. I tried listening to The Scorch Trials on audio book but it was too slow and I had to have the book. I work in a middle school library and my kids all love these books.

[Mya]

Cool.

[lexi]

Im thinking of reading it. Think I should?

[David]

Definitely. Loved it, liked the sequel and really loved the third book :)