Bookish Sundays

Title: The Maze Runner


Author: James Dashner

Category: Fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]:  When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

c/o Barnes & Noble

The Hunger Games has a lot of hype right now since they just released the first movie.  The trilogy was definitely amazing; a well written, thorough, detailed, and somewhat original novel.  Captured readers left and right.  But now that you've finished all three books...what to read next?

The Maze Runner is in a similar category as Hunger Games.  Young adults/children thrown into a situation they cannot control, trying to figure out how to release themselves from the hold of the all-powerful.  The storyline itself has similar characteristics, but slightly veers off after the first novel.  There is fighting, despair, heartache, romance, suspense, and friendship, all of which captures you and takes you into the heart of an apocalyptic world in which there are the fortunate and the destitute.  If you liked Hunger Games, this is definitely the next series you should pick up and get lost in, but don't expect a high level of writing or an epiphany at the end of the novel; this is a young adult series, suitable for most ages, and not a high quality piece of work.