book review the maze runner

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The maze runner: maze runner trilogy, book 1.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 38 Reviews
• Kids Say 262 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Debra Bogart , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Teens are the pawns of evil adults in violent dystopia.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the scenes of violence are stronger in this book and more graphic than those of, say, The Hunger Games , partly because at times it is adults murdering children, and not from a distance or out of sight. The teens stranded in the Maze have their memories wiped, but they are still aware…

Why Age 13+?

Depicts a violent world where chosen children in a maze are mere pawns. They fac

Mostly made-up slang words, such as "klunk" and "slinthead";

Some of the boys refer to the only girl as "hot."

Any Positive Content?

Thomas sets a strong example by doing what he knows is right and risking his per

Many teen readers enjoy post-apocalyptic or dystopian fiction because it is so d

Violence & Scariness

Depicts a violent world where chosen children in a maze are mere pawns. They face mortal danger from the monsters outside the walls and mortal danger inside from boys who have been stung (but not killed) by the monsters. Some boys go insane. Boys attack monsters with guns, knives, and spears. Adult Creators of the Maze control everyone in it and don't stop at murdering children. Disease and pestilence run rampant in the outside world. A climax where many characters are killed by gunfire.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Mostly made-up slang words, such as "klunk" and "slinthead"; the word "shuck" is used often and it's hard not to think it's the word "f--k" every time you see it. Some usage of the words "butt," "crappy," and "sucks."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Role Models

Thomas sets a strong example by doing what he knows is right and risking his personal safety, and later his life, to save the others. He quickly recognizes the value of having even one friend and does everything to protect that friendship. He feels responsibility for the younger teens, and is willing to go against authority.

Positive Messages

Many teen readers enjoy post-apocalyptic or dystopian fiction because it is so dark and over the top. They can judge the actions of an out-of-control world from a safe distance. Even in this dystopia main characters follow their consciences and risk their lives for others.

Parents need to know that the scenes of violence are stronger in this book and more graphic than those of, say, The Hunger Games , partly because at times it is adults murdering children, and not from a distance or out of sight. The teens stranded in the Maze have their memories wiped, but they are still aware on some level that they are being held captive and endangered by adults, not monsters or other children. Some of the teens in the Maze go insane from the fear, the attacks, or in one case, the memory of the world he had left behind. Main characters are conscientious and risk their lives to save others.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (38)
• Kids say (262)

Based on 38 parent reviews

Gruesome dystopian novel with plenty of blood and torture scenes.

11+ for certain rage of people, what's the story.

Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up in a place called the Glade, where towering walls close at night to keep a colony of boys safe from the monsters outside them. They have all had their memories erased, but Thomas remembers just a little too much. The world is in catastrophe and they are living in the Killzone, mere animals in a bizarre experiment. Soon Teresa, the first girl, arrives and tells them the game is on. Some boys think they are better off in this cold, cruel place than going back to where they came from -- they have formed a society after all, with rules and jobs like farming and even butchering their own meat. But Thomas turns out to be the leader they've needed to form their own army, revolt against the monsters, and take on the people who have set them up in this very cruel and isolated world. Of course the outside world may have its own scary challenges.

Is It Any Good?

This is a fast-paced adventure in a very dark and pretty violent post-apocalyptic world. It is reminiscent of The Lord of the Flies , without the inventiveness of The Hunger Games . Readers who enjoy dystopian novels will enjoy it, and Thomas is a strong role model who does not fall easily into peer pressure or give up his own sense of what's right. Readers will root for him, and for Teresa, and the complicated relationships between the other boys will keep readers guessing.

Part of the attraction of THE MAZE RUNNER will be the world the boys and Teresa inhabit for most of the book, a world with no adults where kids make their own rules. The story makes up for the sometimes bumpy prose, and the invented slang is a little jarring since there are no clues about how far in the future the story is supposed to take place, or why the boys have made up their own words. A cliffhanger ending will gear up teens for the second in the trilogy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what happens when a group of boys are left to survive without the normal rules and laws of society. Who becomes the leader? What happens to those who won't follow the new rules?

The boys arrive one at a time but become acclimatized to their new society very quickly. Why do they form loyalties so quickly?

Why do you think the Creators use children in their Maze instead of adults?

The boys and Teresa have all had their memories erased. Is there really a memory-wiping device or drug available?

Book Details

• Author : James Dashner
• Genre : Science Fiction
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Delacorte Press
• Publication date : October 1, 2009
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
• Number of pages : 375
• Last updated : July 12, 2017

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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What to read next.

The Hunger Games, Book 1

Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

The Giver, Book 1

Unwind: Unwind Dystology, Book 1

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner - review

First The Hunger Games, then Divergent and now The Maze Runner, a dystopian novel, is being adapted as a film and will be released in cinemas later this year.

The Maze Runner is the first book in a trilogy written by the American author James Dashner. The book was first published in 2009. The similarities between The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Maze Runner are striking. Firstly, the setting is a post-apocalyptic world with an authoritarian regime, secondly a young teenage hero or heroine decides to fight against the rulers, and finally the heroes are being tested in a trial and have to fight for life or death.

In The Hunger Games the hero, Katniss Everdeen, and the world the story plays in, Panem, are introduced at the beginning and only later in the book the actual trials start. Quite in contrast, The Maze Runner kicks off directly in the middle of the trial and as the title says, a seemingly unsolvable maze must be solved.

Thomas, the sixteen years old hero, remembers nothing about himself except his name. His memory has been wiped, as have all the memories of the Gladers, the teenagers who inhabit the maze. The only thing Thomas can recall is that he must solve the Maze to save himself and the other Gladers. The maze is gigantic and the fifty boys who are caught in it live on a farm in the middle of the maze, an area called the Glade. Every day a small number of the boys, the Runners, leave the Glade and head out into the unknown to find a way out and Thomas wants to become one of them.

As if solving a gigantic maze wouldn't be challenging enough, the walls of the maze move every night to create new dead ends and new paths. And each night the walls directly surrounding the Glade, the place where the boys live, close and shield the Gladers against the dreadful monsters that inhabit the maze. It has been two years since the first boys have found themselves in the maze with wiped-out memories and now Thomas has joined them. He soon notices that he knows more about the maze and the reason why they have all been placed in it. With his help the Gladers are closer to solving the maze than ever before.

The story is very action-packed and reading the book feels very much like watching a movie. In contrast to The Hunger Games, where twenty-four boys and girls must kill each other, The Maze Runner seems more like a mystery book. In my opinion, The Maze Runner is more suitable for younger readers. Reading The Maze Runner really feels more like watching a movie. The book is also written in the the third person, whereas The Hunger Games is written in the first person, which allows reals insight into Katniss's thoughts and puts you in the middle of the action.

I think The Maze Runner definitely is a good book and I am looking forward to the movie, which will be action-packed and thrilling, just like the book. However, in comparison to The Hunger Games The Maze Runner doesn't feel as realistic and serious, thus isn't as engaging and shocking.

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THE MAZE RUNNER

From the maze runner series , vol. 1.

by James Dashner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2009

Boys come to the Glade via an empty freight elevator with no memory of how they got there or of their prior lives. This disorientation is made more frightening when they realize that to survive they must lock themselves in every night to avoid the horrors of the Grievers, beings that are part machine, part animal—and altogether deadly. The boys in the Glade send out Runners each day to find a way out through the Maze that surrounds their one patch of safety, with no success. Life goes on until one day the elevator delivers a girl. She brings a message: She is the last child to be sent, and there will be no more deliveries of food or supplies. Now the Glade is cut off, and as the Grievers gather for an all-out attack it’s clear that it’s now or never—the Maze must be solved. Dashner knows how to spin a tale and make the unbelievable realistic. Hard to put down, this is clearly just a first installment, and it will leave readers dying to find out what comes next. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-385-73794-4

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2009

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT DYSTOPIAN FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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More In The Series

BOOK REVIEW

by James Dashner

More by James Dashner

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

by Lauren Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2023

A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.

The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.

Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023

ISBN: 9798987380406

Page Count: 538

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

More About This Book

From the Giver Quartet series , Vol. 1

by Lois Lowry ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1993

Wrought with admirable skill—the emptiness and menace underlying this Utopia emerge step by inexorable step: a richly...

In a radical departure from her realistic fiction and comic chronicles of Anastasia, Lowry creates a chilling, tightly controlled future society where all controversy, pain, and choice have been expunged, each childhood year has its privileges and responsibilities, and family members are selected for compatibility.

As Jonas approaches the "Ceremony of Twelve," he wonders what his adult "Assignment" will be. Father, a "Nurturer," cares for "newchildren"; Mother works in the "Department of Justice"; but Jonas's admitted talents suggest no particular calling. In the event, he is named "Receiver," to replace an Elder with a unique function: holding the community's memories—painful, troubling, or prone to lead (like love) to disorder; the Elder ("The Giver") now begins to transfer these memories to Jonas. The process is deeply disturbing; for the first time, Jonas learns about ordinary things like color, the sun, snow, and mountains, as well as love, war, and death: the ceremony known as "release" is revealed to be murder. Horrified, Jonas plots escape to "Elsewhere," a step he believes will return the memories to all the people, but his timing is upset by a decision to release a newchild he has come to love. Ill-equipped, Jonas sets out with the baby on a desperate journey whose enigmatic conclusion resonates with allegory: Jonas may be a Christ figure, but the contrasts here with Christian symbols are also intriguing.

Pub Date: April 1, 1993

ISBN: 978-0-395-64566-6

Page Count: 208

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1993

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS | SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

by Lois Lowry ; illustrated by P. Craig Russell

by Lois Lowry

More by Lois Lowry

by Lois Lowry ; illustrated by Jonathan Stroh

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Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 18th August 2019  - Last updated: 12th January 2024

Categories Book Reviews , Books

After reading this Maze Runner book review you’ll know exactly why everyone raves about this young adult dystopia book by James Dashner. Keep reading for my full The Maze Runner review!

The Maze Runner is a young adult dystopian story and if you haven’t already heard of it, you’re going to be hearing a lot about it soon. The film adaptation of this story has already hit cinema screens in the US and is scheduled for release in the UK on 10 October 2014.

It’s not hard to see why this story was snapped up by 20th Century Fox as it’s a gripping story full of twists and turns set in a world that will no doubt make an impression on the big screen.

The Maze Runner Summary

This story starts when Thomas arrives at the Glade in the box. Thomas has absolutely no memories about his past or who he is and is very confused by his surroundings, which is to be expected given that the Glade is occupied up of a small group of teenage boys (no adults and no girls) and is enclosed within the confines of massive stone walls.

Thomas soon discovers that these boys are trapped in the Glade, which is surrounded by a huge maze, full of dangerous creatures called Grievers. Everyday, the walls open, revealing the Maze and the Gladers send out ‘runners’ to try and figure out a way out of the Maze. The Gladers have already been trapped for two years but they still haven’t found a way out.

Because every night, once the stone walls close, the walls of the maze change. Escape seems futile. Everyday is the same in the Glade, that is, until Thomas shows up, when everything starts to change. Ordinarily, only one new person arrives at the Glade a month, but the day after Thomas arrives, another person is delivered via the box. A girl.

A girl that recognises Thomas, no less.

Things are changing in the Glade and it seems like the time to finally escape has come – but only if they can figure out the code – and their escape mission will not be easy.

The Maze Runner Book Review

Although  The Maze Runner is written in the third person, it follows Thomas as he tries to figure out what the hell is going on – what happened to him (and the other boys), where they are and what their purpose is. I didn’t connect as much with Thomas as I expected to but he is definitely a strong male lead and a great character to read about.

Not all of the characters in the story like Thomas and I think that that feeling rubbed off slightly on me as there were times when I questioned whether I really trusted him. 

With so many character with little to no memory of who they are and where they’ve come from, it can be a little difficult to figure out which characters to trust and the success of this story is probably down the huge amount of suspense that the reader feels.

It is not until the very end of the story that anything really becomes clear and when it does, you kinda wish you hadn’t found out what’s really going on.

Dashner has created a unique and terrifying world which will probably haunt me in my dreams tonight.

It’s very Hunger Games -esque as you’ve got a group of young kids fighting for survival against what they assume is a system that adults created to test them. Why they are being tested, they have no idea.

The difference is, however, these kids are working as a group to try to survive so themes of friendship and how a society should function are important.

Listen to Maze Runner for free with an Audible trial !

Although all the main characters are children, if their age was never mentioned, I could very well believe that this was a tale for adults. This is classified as a YA novel, however, there is nothing remotely ‘childish’ about this book. This is a serious tale of survival and I have to be honest, Dashner’s imagination frightens me.

There isn’t much romance in  The Maze Runner but you can see that there is something developing between Thomas and Teresa, the only girl in the camp. There are some nice moments between these two but this definitely isn’t one of the main plot points. I look forward to this blossoming in future books!

I am a big fan of romance in YA books, but in this case, I didn’t really care that there wasn’t all that much of it because there was so much going on in terms of friendships and the developing ties between different characters.

All in all, The Maze Runner is definitely up there with top YA dystopia novels such as The Hunger Games and The 5th Wave and if you haven’t read it yet, then you absolutely must pick up a copy before the film comes out next month. The cliffhanger at the end of The Maze Runner makes sure that readers will want to pick up the next book and I cannot wait to see how the plot develops from here.

I absolutely tore through this book and finished it in no time, desperate to find out what was going on. Dashner has now been added to my list of favourite authors and I would give this story 5 stars simply for the terrifying world that Dashner has created.

Buy The Maze Runner

If you liked this post, check out these: Divergent Book Review The Hunger Games Book Review Catching Fire Book Review Mockingjay Book Review Best Dystopian Novels for Teens

[First written in 2014, updated in 2019]

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Monday 19th of August 2019

I read the whole series a few years ago and I really hated it... I thought it was messy, most of the characters were not really likable and it was just quite complicated, even though the first book was actually better than the rest. As for the movies, it's quite the same for me. The first one is good, but then it goes way too far, become to complicated and as you said, it's hard to know who you can trust ...

Thursday 22nd of August 2019

Oh no! I really enjoyed the book and film when I first read/watched them Movies never live up to expectations set by the book though, this one included!

Sunday 8th of November 2015

You know what I'm like Laura lol - Ive seen the movie but haven't read the book (yet). Thanks for hosting this :D Charlotte x

Mummy To The Max

Saturday 7th of November 2015

This book looks like a great read. I will look out for it so I can download it to my kindle.

Agata @BarkTime

Friday 6th of November 2015

I loved the movie and would like to read a book too as I was told it's much better.

The Mummy Balancing Act

Wednesday 4th of November 2015

I'm more of a film girl than books these days, but I find book adaptations to be mostly good.

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The maze runner, by james dashner, recommendations from our site.

Dashner’s 2009 dystopian science fiction novel is the first book in The Maze Runner series and was adapted in 2014 for the cinema; the film starring Dylan O’Brien was a major hit. Our protagonist Thomas, along with his new companions, find themselves at a loss when they arrive at the strange and ominous ‘Glade’ under mysterious circumstances. None has any idea how they arrived nor what has happened to the outside world. Trapped, their sole objective is escaping this haunting maze—but to do so they must survive a myriad threats and perils.

From our article Books like The Hunger Games

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Word of Mouth

Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, the maze runner.

Imagine that you find yourself in a big metal box clanking upward. As you suddenly realize that all you really know about yourself is your name, the door to the box slides open to reveal a group of teenage boys matter-of-factly looking you over and welcoming you to “the Glade.” This is 16-year-old Thomas’s puzzling predicament in this gripping thriller, the first of a trilogy.

Thomas is jeered at as the newcomer as he struggles to find any explanation at all for his new surroundings and his lack of memory. Alby, the leader of the Glade, intimidates him, but Newt, Alby’s second-in-command, is much kinder. Regardless, neither have the answers to his frantic questions. Newt hands Thomas over to young Chuck, who takes him under his wing, showing the “greenbean” around and explaining as much as he can.

The Glade, Thomas discovers, is an enclosed space surrounded by stone walls. Outside the walls is an enormous labyrinth known simply as “the Maze.” The Gladers (all of whom appear to be equally clueless as to why they are there and who they truly might be) work hard at different jobs: some garden, some raise livestock, and some butcher animals for meat. And a number of their positions are less than quaint: some take care of the injured and the ill; others handle the dead.

The job that instantly intrigues Thomas is that of Maze runner. Maze runners race through the Maze every day, hoping to reach the end that might lead them home. But they return before dusk when the enormous stone walls surrounding the Glade slide shut, cutting off the Maze entrances from the Glade. This wouldn’t be too bad, but once night falls, the savage creatures known as Grievers begin their hunt. These beasts have been known to kill Gladers or, even worse, injure boys and cause them to go through a time of torture called “the Changing.” In spite of the dangers, Thomas still yearns to become a runner.

Another mysterious group entrenched in their lives is “the Creators,” those who have placed the boys in the Glade. Every week, the Creators send food and supplies to the Glade, and once a month they send another teenage boy. But the day after Thomas’s arrival, a girl shows up in the box --- and although Thomas does not remember how or why, he knows they are somehow connected. The girl speaks only one sentence before lapsing into a coma: “Everything is going to change.” Also, in her hand is a note that reads, “She's the last one. Ever.”

Despite being in a coma, the mysterious girl manages to communicate with Thomas in a most unusual manner, but Thomas doesn't have much time to dwell on this strange development. Things are changing within the Glade: Thomas's aspirations to enter the Maze have come true in an unexpected way when he makes a split-second decision to rescue another Glader, which lands him in a controversial position within his new community. Additionally, he discovers that danger is coming, and the Gladers must choose either to perish or to fight despite nearly impossible odds.

THE MAZE RUNNER is an irresistible page-turner of a thriller that should appeal to any fan of suspense and adventure stories. Its intriguing premise is somewhat reminiscent of (although not at all derivative of) the TV show “Lost.” Author James Dashner manages to give us not only plenty of plot at a great pace but also well-rounded characters to root for (Thomas is particularly well fleshed out, but even the secondary characters are quite believable). The tension rises steadily in the Glade's dark and ominous atmosphere. Hats off to a bombshell that is the cliffhanger ending, which leaves us with the urgent question: When does the next book in the series hit the shelves?

Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon on October 6, 2009

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

• Publication Date: August 24, 2010
• Genres: Science Fiction
• Paperback: 375 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• ISBN-10: 0385737955
• ISBN-13: 9780385737951

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Book Review

The maze runner — “the maze runner” series.

• James Dashner
• Dystopian , Futuristic , Science Fiction

Readability Age Range

• Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House Inc.
• ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2011, and more

Year Published

The Maze Runner by James Dashner has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the first book in “The Maze Runner” series.

Plot Summary

Feeling drugged, Thomas wakes up in an elevator car with no memory except his name. He finds he is part of a community of about 50 teen boys called Gladers, and all share the same pattern of memory loss. Their leader’s name is Alby. In an artificial environment built as an experiment by unknown, unseen scientists called Creators, they live in the Glade, and their lives revolve around trying to solve the Maze, a gray stone structure with walls hundreds of feet high. Entrances to the maze automatically close at the same time every night, which protect the Glade from Grievers — large part-animal, part-mechanical monsters that bite, sting and sometimes kill.

Occasionally a Griever stings one of the boys. If the victim returns to the Glade in time, he can be injected with a serum that saves his life; but it causes a strange, painful process. The boys call it the Changing — when part of the victim’s memory returns — but those who have lived through the Changing all agree that the real world is one they don’t want to return to. The few boys who have undergone the Changing say they have seen Thomas in it, and they are convinced that he is bad or perhaps a spy.

Chuck, the youngest in the compound, is assigned to Thomas to help him acclimate. He is the only one to offer Thomas friendship. Thomas spends his first couple of days learning the ropes and various work positions, such as Baggers and Sloppers . Runners are the boys who daily run through the Maze, and when they return just before night, they map the section they ran since each night the walls move, reconfiguring the Maze. The group has been working for two years to figure a way out of the Maze. Thomas notices that parts of his new life somehow seem familiar, with fleeting impressions of memories just out of reach. He feels driven to be a Runner.

Every month, a new boy arrives in the elevator. But on Thomas’ second day, the elevator brings a teen girl. Nearly comatose, Teresa has little memory remaining, and it is quickly fading. She remembers that she is being sent as a trigger to begin the end of life in the Glade. Later, when Teresa emerges from her coma, Thomas discovers that Teresa can communicate telepathically with him, and they deduce that they must have known each other before their arrival.

One evening, as time draws near for the walls to close between the Maze and the Glade, two of the runners have not returned. As the walls nearly finish closing, Thomas sees the two runners but realizes they won’t make it. Breaking the No. 1 rule to never leave the Glade at night, he squeezes through the walls at the last second, and he is terrified to find himself in the dark silence of the Maze. Miraculously, Thomas and the two runners survive their night in the Maze by outwitting several Grievers. Because no one has ever survived before, Thomas becomes a hero and then is promoted to Runner.

The end to life in the Glade is triggered when they all awaken one day to the absence of what they thought was a sun, and the fact that they exist in a fabricated place seems more apparent. Supplies stop arriving, and the walls stop closing, compromising their protection from the Grievers. The community is thrown into a panic. They learn that the Grievers plan to kill one child a day until they’re all dead.

Thomas finally decides that the best way to solve the Maze is for him to get stung and endure the Changing in order to retrieve some of his lost memory. His plan succeeds when the Grievers invade the Glade. Thomas goes through the Changing and learns from it that the boys in the Glade have above-average intelligence and are part of an experiment to test for survival of the fittest. The Creators took them from their homes when they were young, following a catastrophic event called the Flare. Some of them have had their brains altered. The ones who survive are to be used for an unidentified but important purpose. He also learns that he and Teresa were part of the group that planned the Maze.

Thomas comes up with a dangerous plan to escape. The plan works, but half of the group dies in the process. Their escape from the Maze ends in a confrontation with two of the Creators, who mind-control another boy who had disappeared earlier from the Glade. The boy throws a dagger aimed at Thomas, but Chuck moves in front of it and is killed. Suddenly an apparent rescue group arrives on the scene with weapons, shooting and killing one of the two Creators. Then they flee, along with the kids. They board a bus and drive for two hours to a new location. During the ride, a woman tells Thomas and Teresa about the outside world’s catastrophe: A massive solar flare scorched the earth, leaving millions of people dead and diseased. Much of the earth has become a wasteland. She tells them that this group they are with now is against the Creators and their testing of children. Book one ends with a memo from the World in Catastrophe: Kill End Department (WICKED), known to the kids as the Creators (scientists). It says that what the adolescents just lived through was only the first stage of their trial.

Christian Beliefs

Wooden crosses serve as grave markers. Alby refers to God in a discussion with Thomas.

Other Belief Systems

Authority roles.

The Creators believe the end justifies the means, even to the point of allowing children to die. The woman scientist at the end tells Thomas and the group that “everything happens for a reason” after Chuck dies.

Ever since the Glade’s last leader died, Alby has led them. Though he and all the boys have experienced being the newbie or Greenie, Alby doesn’t have any empathy for Thomas, and he is short on politeness. He recognizes his shortcomings as a leader after he’s gone through the Changing. In the final battle with the Grievers, Alby is the first to sacrifice himself. He hopes to draw away the Grievers from the rest of the boys and prefers death to a return to life in the real world. Newt is second in command. He tempers Alby’s gruffness and is often the voice of reason.

Minho is the Keeper of the Runners and stands up for Thomas after Thomas saves his life. However, when he and Thomas spend the night in the Maze, Minho runs away, reasoning that their chances for survival are better if they split up.

Profanity & Violence

Invented slang and mild profanity are used, such as clunk, shuck-face, shuck it, runtcheeks, slinthead, wettin’ yourself, crap, holy crap, shut your hole, fart, butt, bloody, klunk (another word for poo ) and shank appear throughout.

One of the boys is banished to the Maze and certain death when he is placed in a leather collar at the end of a long pole, then shoved into the Maze just before the walls close. In the graveyard, Thomas sees the remains of a boy who had been sliced in half by an unseen force during an attempt to escape back through the elevator. Ben, who is undergoing the Changing, attacks Thomas. Alby appears and shoots Ben with an arrow that enters Ben’s cheek with a “wet thunk.” His blood is black like oil, and his finger twitches. Thomas then retches violently.

The Changing process is gruesome and is described in detail a couple of times with severe seizure-like symptoms and bulging, discolored eyes and skin. Alby tries to choke himself during his Changing. Alby gets a gash on his head, which bleeds into his eyes. Plenty of screaming, stabbing, bleeding, slimy yellow goo, etc. happens in the final battle with the Grievers.

Chuck throws himself in front of Thomas to save Thomas from a thrown dagger. His death is described in detail as the dagger buries itself in his chest. Thomas holds Chuck as he convulses then dies, and Thomas’ hands are wet with blood. Thomas then flies into a rage and attacks the boy who threw the dagger, beating him with his fists until he lies still and senseless. Then a group of people shows up with guns. One of them takes aim and kills one of the Creators, leaving her bleeding profusely. They continue shooting at the other Creators before fleeing, taking the Gladers with them. They board a bus that runs over a hysterical woman, the wheels thumping over her twice.

Sexual Content

When Teresa arrives in the lift, one of the boys shouts that he’s “got dibs” on her. When one of the Med-jacks bends over Teresa to check for a heartbeat, another boy shouts he gets the next “shot” at her. Alby warns everyone not to touch her. Thomas feels a chill sweep through his body when Teresa shakes hands with him, holding his hand for a long time. While Teresa is mentally communicating with Thomas, she suggests that perhaps they had been lovers at one time. He senses a pleasant chill that causes him to trip and fall while he’s running the Maze. In spite of there being plenty of room on the bench, Teresa presses her body next to Thomas when she goes to sit with him. Thomas squeezes Teresa’s hand to reassure her as the battle with the Grievers begins. With separate rooms assigned to them for the night, Thomas telepathically tells Teresa that he wishes she were in his room.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Suicide mention: One of the boys says they all ought to slit their wrists rather than try to fight all the Grievers in an escape.

Movie tie-in: Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. To better understand how this book and the movie differ, compare the book review with Plugged In’s movie review for The Maze Runner .

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The Maze Runner (Book Review)

 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.

About the Author, 

James Dashner was born in Georgia but now lives with his wife and kids in the Rocky Mountains.

My Thoughts, 

After a friend suggested this book to me, it being a good one to read for a story I’m working on, and seeing it (AKA buying it) at Barnes & Noble, I finally read this book. And my goodness did I love it! It had me laughing, asking questions, and caring very quickly. The witty dialogue and slang reminded me of my own family and friends in a way and it was just all out amazing! 

After waking up in a dark box and entering into the Glade, Thomas is thrust into an adventure especially with no memories and when a girl, the only girl there , shows up unconscious with a note saying she will be the last kid to come.

The maze and Grievers were both terrifying and thrilling but I really loved little Chuck. He was the cutest little kid that I have read in a novel. He was always so optimistic and positive which created good comic relief for the novel. I read this book in two days. It was an amazing read with a good, heart wrenching ending.

Ratings, 

The Maze Runner has mentions of wounds, blood, death, and their slang is very close to real cuss words.

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Book Reviews

The Maze Runner by James Dashner: Book Review

I have an affiliate relationship with  Bookshop.org  and  Malaprop's Bookstore  in beautiful Asheville, NC. I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase merchandise through links on my site. Read more on my  affiliate page .

Thomas suddenly awakes in a box as a group of other teenage boys looks down at him, calling him unfathomable names like “shank” and “greenie.” He has no idea how he got there or where he came from. All he remembers from his past is his name.

He eventually learns that this group of 50-60 boys live in the heart of a maze. They’ve been looking for a way out for years and haven’t found it yet. They must return to the Glade every night, or else they’ll be locked out and left for the Grievers. Thomas starts to have a feeling that he knows more about the maze than he first thought. Turns out he’s right.

Ya know, dystopian novels are just not my thing, yet I keep trying. At what point do I give up? Is it good that I keep trying or is it a waste of my time? I just don’t know.

My problem with this book was that absolutely no one would tell Thomas what was going on. Granted, they don’t know a whole lot about what’s going on either, but someone could at least say, as soon as they get him out of the box, “Look, dude. You’re in the middle of a gigantic maze. None of us knows how we got here. None of us remembers anything before waking up in that box. We get supplies weekly. Don’t get caught outside the Glade after dark because these horrible monsters that we call Grievers will kill you. Yes, we’ve been looking for a way out but we haven’t found it yet. Any questions?” Instead it’s just a whole lot of, “Shut up with the questions! We’ll explain tomorrow.” And then, when tomorrow comes, it’s “Shut up with the questions! I’ll get to that in a minute.” And then they don’t get to it for days. It felt like a cheap way to build suspense. I don’t think realistically that the whole scenario would play out like that. I know, I’m talking about “realistically” in a novel that has very little to do with reality (we hope), but human nature is human nature. We generally like to tell what we know.

I really–really–hated the ending.

The narrator, Mark Deakins, did do a good job. He has a fairly impressive cast of voices to keep track of, and they all did sound different, whether in pitch or in accent.

Dystopian fans will definitely like this better than I did. I won’t be continuing the series.

Read an excerpt .

Find author James Dashner on his website , his blog , Twitter , and Facebook .

Buy The Maze Runner at

I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s , my local independent bookstore, and Better World Books . I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.

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When I first saw your two star rating I was really disappointed because I have a copy of this I've been looking forward to! But, since you don't like dystopians anyway…I think it makes sense.

I wish you would find one that you enjoy – I love them!

Well, I like dystopian so I hope I like it better than you did. Your review made me smile, though. 😉

I'm way bummed to hear you didn't really like this one! It's one I'm looking forward to! But then again, if you don't really care for dystopian, that would make sense.

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Books of Brilliance

The latest book reviews and book news, the maze runner: book review.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

One of the dystopian novels that blew up in the 2010’s was The Maze Runner by James Dashner. It was unlike anything else out and many people gravitated towards it including me. Find out what made it stand out and why people were hooked. 

The Maze Runner Summary

Thomas wakes up and he is finds out that he is in a metal elevator that is going up. He cannot remember who he is or where he is now and how he got here. As the elevator finally reaches the top, Thomas finds out that he is in a fenced area with only boys occupying it.

The Glade, as the place the boys inhabit is known, is run by two boys. Alby is the leader and Newt is the second in charge. The maintain and enforce the rules and makes sure everything runs smoothly. And lastly, the elevator that brought Thomas to the Glade comes up once a month to bring food, supplies, medicine and weapons sometimes. And every month, a new boy comes up the elevator with no prior memories but his first name.

To escape the Glade, the boys have to solve the labyrinth, also known as the Maze. It is located outside the walls that surround the Glade. The Maze has high concrete walls that are covered in ivy that changes every night. And the Maze is home to creatures known as the Grievers that kill anyone they come across.

I will be talking about the whole series and not just the first novel. But I will not spoil anything for those that want to read it. The first book in the series was epic and really set up a terrifying dystopian world. You as a reader were invested and really wanted to know what the hell is going on in the Glade.

And eventually you get those answers. And they keep you hooked and reading the rest of the series. But the novels take a turn. After the Glade, you get a whole new story and that feels more like a standalone book then a trilogy. That is what irked me the most about the series. The books don’t connect well and leave you unsatisfied with its progression.

Lastly, I will say the violence and deaths in the novel don’t feel justified. The best example I can think of is Game of Thrones where everyone dies left and right. Its not the same to that extent but that is the first thing to come to mind. This was perhaps the worst conclusion to a series and has left me angry with even after reading it almost a decade ago.

If you haven’t read the series, then you aren’t really missing out. The first novel is great and I do recommend that one but stop while the sun is shining and just call it quits. So to summarize, I recommend the first novel in the series but not the whole series. And I have done this before but I stopped reading the other series after book one because I was not liking the direction of the novel. You can read that review here if you are interested. The movies did ok and you can check the movie and cast out.

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I agree. I don’t like how the books don’t connect well. It was a bit like that for Hunger Games but more so with Maze Runner. The movies were really good as well though.

Yea they should have been stand alone novels

I agree. Also isn’t your main focus for this blog on Y/A fiction? I read a huge amount of it and if you wanted I could give you some books that, as a teenager, I really like.

There isn’t a main focus on this blog. I just write about books I have read and YA is one of those genres.

Ok. I love your reviews though. They are so genius and thought through.

I enjoyed watching the movies and how they concluded it. Haven’t read the books though. Would recommend Lord of the flies by William Golding. It’s a masterpiece!

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Good review, Ahaqir. I haven’t read this, but it still sounds pretty good to me despite the flaws.

I have watched the first movie. Never really got the time to watch the others but then I bought the book too. You bet I also haven’t read it but this might just be the boost I need to get into it.

I’m not a big fan of dystopia stories, so the end of the first movie which hinted another “adventure” just got me thinking meh..pass.

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Book Review: The Maze Runner

In recent years, the "Post-Apocalyptic" book genre has taken the world by storm- filling book shelves and enthralling readers all around the globe. But with the rising popularity of this market, an influx of new books have followed, and as such, it has become harder and harder for readers to find good post-apocalyptic novels. For the case of "The Maze Runner", one of the most popular novels in the genre, James Dashner has managed to exceed the status quo and produce a tremendous read.

The story is set in a distant future, where a group of teens are mysteriously teleported into a giant, stone maze. Not only has their memory been cleared, but they also have no indication as to why they have ended up in this position and what means they must take to escape.

Their situation complicates even further, given that the maze doors close every evening. During the night, vicious monsters roam free and devour any humans in their way. The teens, who have declared themselves “Grovers”, attempt to map the maze, but doing so poses obvious threats to their safety.

Enter Thomas, a new “Grover” arriving in the maze. As he learns his way about this new reality, the story follows his point of view in first person perspective. Thomas eventually comes to terms with living as a Grover, but one night, as he crosses into the outer layer of the maze, his world is turned inside out.

Over time, Thomas must confront these imminent struggles, while also attempting to solve the grand puzzle of the maze. Readers are kept on edge through the entire novel, with hidden twists and turns on every turn of the chapter.

I would certainly recommend this read for teens and adults alike. While it’s true that the novel is aimed at a young demographic, its plot is engaging for even some of the most mature readers. The ending simply cannot be predicted, leaving readers to make their own speculations about the mysterious origins of the maze.

One complaint I might file is that there is somewhat of a lack of character development. The plot is so action-packed that it would see Dashner decided to leave out some of the more subtle nuances of a good novel.

If you decide to not read this novel, I would suggest as an alternative “The Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. The plot bears some parallels to that of the Maze Runner, but makes up for a majority of its imperfections.

Overall, “The Maze Runner” stands to be a top-quality post-apocalyptic teen-novel, making for an engaging read. The story sheds light on the natural instincts of teens under true isolation. In doing so, it echoes a number of themes which leave readers to draw meaningful questions about life, nature, and the purpose of humanity.

Reviewers Grade: 10

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• COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS AND DRAGONS

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Genre: Dystopian/Apocalyptic, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult

Thea James is one half of the maniacal duo behind The Book Smugglers. She is Filipina-American, but grew up in Hawaii, Indonesia, and Japan. A full-time book nerd who works in publishing for her day job, Thea currently resides in Astoria, Queens with her partner and rambunctious cat. COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS & DRAGONS (available August 31, 2021) is her first cookbook.

40 Comments

I haven’t read this one yet, but it is totally on my radar. I read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Gone. Loved each of them.

Have you read The Knife of Never Letting Go? Dystopian YA book on crack!! An Adrenaline rush from page 2!

I read this last month, and also loved it! I thought the ending was just incredible.

Jaime – Talk about a gut-punch! I loved it, and I do like it when authors aren’t afraid to go certain places with their endings. The only frustration is knowing we have to wait a whole freaking year for the next book! 👿 I’m so glad you loved The Maze Runner too!

What a great concept for a book! You have done your evol pimping ways yet again.

Rhiannon Hart

You’ve made me really want to read this one now. I think I’ll buy it next week!

KB – You knows how much of a pimp I am 😈 This is a great one, really enjoyed it! I hope you get a chance to read it and lemme know what you think!

I teach junior high gifted and just read Maze Runner over the Thanksgiving weekend–WOW. loved it! I also loved Hunger Games and both of the choas walking books by Patrick Ness–if you haven’t read them yet, run don’t walk to go get them–sooooo well done. Can’t wait for the second part of the Maze story–Scorch something???

😆 loved this book but other reviews where dead wrong 👿

The Book Smugglers » Blog Archive » Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

[…] did I read this book: I truly enjoyed The Maze Runner, Dashner’s first book in this post-apocalyptic/dystopian/SF adrenaline rush of a series, and […]

Jennifer (An Abundance of Books)

I really enjoyed your review and included a link to this post in my own Maze Runner review.

I especially liked your comment about “Lost” – I too felt that I was trying really hard to figure things out but got enough little answers that I don’t thinkg Dashner will leave me hangin’ . 🙂

The Maze Runner | One More Page

[…] Reviews: The Book Smugglers Steph Su […]

I absolutely hated this book with a passion. I literally was upset I spend my time reading it. It’s some of the worst writing I have ever read, the only reason I kept reading it is because the author drags out the simplest parts and give no details until the very end. And even then they don’t make sense.

The Maze Runner « Tanz

[…] The Book Smugglers […]

Well, I didn’t hate it as much as anna, but it certainly doesn’t deserve a rave review. The premise is good but Dashner just doesn’t come through. The writing is flat and derivative (the opening scene is a complete rip-off from Murakami’s Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World) and the characters are one-dimensional. There is a lot of weak and lazy writing. The long tease is never really satisfied and the actual resolution is bogus. If the key clue was going to be given to the boys in the maze, why wouldn’t they get it from the outset, 2 years before the events in the book? I have lots of other problems, but they would involve spoilers, so I’ll leave it there.

loved your review im after going out and buying the second one thinking it was the first one so would it be ok just to carry on from the second one or should i start from the first one??? 😀 😉

the ending of the book was just smashing and i loved how chuck sacrifised himself for the sake of the gladers ❓

The Maze Runner | UTSIKT FRÅ LIA ~ VIEW FROM THE HILLSIDE

I found the review so helpful! I loved the Maze Runner, but the Scorch Trials (the second book to the sequel)but it wasn’t as good as the first book! Most reviews aren’t helpful=P…but yours was, so thanks! 😉

Lol, jk. I hated this bullshit.

Five Years of Book Smuggling… | The Book Smugglers

[…] Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner (11/12/2009) 2. The Half-Year Mark: Best Books of 2012 (so far) (7/2/2012) 3. From the Page to the […]

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jacob otteni

The book is awesoe but totaly not horror :opps: :cry

I love this book SO MUCH! However I was a little disappointed with the two sequels and prequel… I think The Maze Runner was the best one. The series went a bit downhill from there.

MagicianWinnipeg

Famous Magicians from Winnipeg An Evaluation Of Winnipeg’s Magicians

For those who taught me something, I thank you. Here are my views, although I have mixed feelings about many magicians in Winnipeg. Remember, these are only my views regarding some renowned Winnipeg magicians. You may not agree!

A short film about the Magicians in Winnipeg was released last summer. Entitled “Pick a card, any card”, this video shows us some of Winnipeg’s working magicians.

Although a cameraman came out to film me on Canada day, my contribution to the film didn’t make it past the cutting room floor. I can not help but believe that this is due to the fact that I was performing manipulation that day. “Flourishes”, as they’re recognized in magic are “not magic” according to many magicians. Even though my manipulations were published in genie magazine in 2011, absolute manipulation isn’t consistently respected by magicians; who consider it to more similar to juggling.

When I whip out a cobra cut, a flipback fan or a cross cut some magicians put their underwear in a knot. Others think I am awesome because they understand the ability and discipline required. You also see me one day and in case you are a Magician, come speak to me! I always love sharing magic with others. Even if you are a complete noob, come and speak to me. I am open to sharing my magic alongside you!

i love The Maze Runner book. I could’t put the book down.:)

Francesca Moore

I hadn’t heard of this book until I stumbled across the movie trailer on the Goodreads website. I’m really looking forwards to seeing the film but need to read the book first. Bought myself a copy and am planning to read it on a beach in Greece in the next couple of weeks.

I LOVED The Maze Runner!! It was one of the best books I have read, I am not joking. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in 3 days! It made me smile, laugh and cry. It mad you feel like you were included and actually in it! I cried at the end because 1. i can’t ell you this ‘coz it will spoil the end 2.The book was AMAZING and 3.I didn’t want it to end! I would definitely recommend this book! 10/10

Amazing piece of work by Dashner. It is a horrifying-thrilling Sci-Fi book that keeps you at the edge of the seat even after the end!

Itssss..realllyy tooo good to read..the book keeps u glued to it until u reach the end n unfold the DAM GOOD MYSTERY!! L**E it

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Book Review: The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

This dystopian adventure is exciting from start to finish. It’s a must read for anyone looking for a fun story of friendship and bravery.

Previous review: Books Review: Defending Jacob by William Landay

Many new series in young adult literature feature futuristic, dystopian societies that revolve around a heroine who saves the day. Friends have told me that their teen sons are not interested in books where the main characters are girls, so The Maze Runner series may appeal to teen boys more because the protagonist is a male teenager.

The Maze Runner , The Scorch Trials, and The Death Trials by James Dashner are about a group of teen boys who are the only occupants in a futuristic world. Sun flares destroyed their “normal” world, leaving them to live in a large courtyard with no adults and no understanding of what is happening to them. The boys, aware that they need a plan in order to survive, scrape together a makeshift society even though they lack resources and leadership. Thomas, the protagonist, arrives in this new world with no memory of his prior life. The three books follow Thomas trying to figure out his role in this world , although he intuitively knows that he has been tapped to be a leader.

Throughout the series, Thomas remembers pieces of his past and understands his role in this new society. He realizes that he has been sent to this new world for a bigger purpose and he reluctantly accepts this role. Not everyone is going to remain in this new world and Thomas knows that this decision will be his.

Although this book takes place in the future, there are many universal themes that are just as relevant today. For example, the trials of friendship. Many times, Thomas does not know if someone is a friend or foe. He must take a chance and hope for the best. Another universal theme – searching for normal – is ever present. Thomas just wants to be a normal teen. But he has to handle adult responsibilities that have been thrust upon him. His extraordinary skills, such as bravery and the ability to telepathically communicate with another character, separates him from the other boys and this makes him feel different and alone. He learns to trust his own instincts and ignore the insecurities that are part of many of his decisions. Ultimately, he has to figure out if the end justifies all of his actions.

I read the first two books in five days and then waited impatiently for the third one. Have all three books ready to go. I finished one at 2:00 a.m. and started the next one at 2:01 a.m.  And just when I thought I was done with Thomas and his friends, a prequel, The Kill Order , came out.

Eca Taylor is the former circulation specialist for Your Teen Magazine.

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Maze runner series: a christian response.

High octane, fast-paced adventure books for teens , the Maze Runner books raise interesting questions if readers can stop long enough to ponder.

The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner. Delacorte.

• The Maze Runner . 2009. 375 pages.
• The Scorch Trials . 2010. 394 pages.
• The Death Cure . 2011. 368 pages.
• ( The Kill Order ; a prequel. 2012. Not covered in this review.)
• ( The Fever Code ; another prequel. 2016. Not covered in this review.)

Reading Level : Teens , ages 12-15

Recommended For : Teens, ages 14 and up

When Thomas arrives in the Glade, in a box, he is utterly bewildered. All he remembers is his first name. No other memories: no last name, no parents or family, no idea where he is or why. The other boys in the Glade only increase his confusion as they talk in words he doesn’t know, about things he doesn’t know (“Grievers” and the “Maze”). Thomas is a smart kid who catches on quickly; he’s also a spunky kid who refuses to back down from bullies or shirk the duties of justice.

The boys are trapped in a Glade surrounded by high walls. Outside the walls, the Maze surrounds them on all sides. The goal: to escape the Maze. As Thomas regains memories, reconnects with a girl named Theresa, and uses his brain, he suddenly see the way out. But the way out demands supreme faith and courage. In succeeding books, Thomas and his friends must continue to bring to bear all their reserves of courage and wisdom as they continue to seek a way out, a way forward.

Big Questions in the Maze Runner Books

The Maze Runner books, at their core, raise big questions: Who do we trust? How do we know who to trust? How do we even know what is really true? What is reality? Who are our friends? And yet, the Maze Runner books are so chock full of action (including zombie-esque “Cranks,” a lab-created disease called the Flare, crazy technological weapons, nefarious government organizations, drastic climate change from sun flares, and more), that the deeper questions get a little buried. Readers barely have time to process what has just happened before they’re racing, alongside Thomas, through yet a new danger. As is often the case with series like this, the first book is the best and works as a stand alone. The successive books get caught up in the action and spinning readers along without satisfying conclusions. Readers are left with more questions than answers.

These books are BIG business. Movies have been made, and the books are best sellers. They’re worth reading alongside your teens if “all” their friends are reading them. Sure the language is crass. Yes, they’re crazy violent in parts. But overall, they are relatively tame compared to much teen literature, especially when compared with other zombie stories or dystopian/apocalyptic stories. Quick reads, they will appeal to reluctant readers, readers who may be struggling to keep up, or readers who have such a heavy academic load that they need a little “brain candy” at the end of the day. But do take the time to ask your teens what they think. Probe a bit deeper: there is no adult authority in this series that Thomas and his friends can trust. It’s up to them, and they continually have to choose NOT to trust the authority figures. The Maze Runner series alone isn’t going to cause teens to reject authority, but a steady diet of similar titles starts to plant seeds….

Considerations:

• Violence : People are wounded and die, often in gruesome ways. The series as a whole is quite violent.
• Images : Plenty of blood and assorted graphic imagery is used for the violence. These books aren’t illustrated, but there IS a movie version.
• Language : Very minimal profanity/vulgarity in terms of the usual words we suspect, but copious made-up slang terms that are transparent stand-ins for the usual suspects (in terms of vulgarity; there is little to no real profanity). For example, “klunk” is used in the following scenarios: “Go take a klunk.” “Klunkhead.” Etc.
• Sexuality: Overall, these books are pretty tame for a contemporary young adult series. A little kissing here and there; Thomas finds himself conflicted over two young women and obviously wishes for more of a relationship with them, but it’s portrayed more as a genuine relationship rather than simply lustful thoughts. All in all, it’s very much in keeping with the average teen sensibilities.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 3 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 3 out of 5

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Resource: Lord of the Flies : a Christian Response
• A Review : MindWar by Andrew Klavan , another sci-fi thriller for teens (but one that is highly recommended)
• A Review: Shepherd Suspense Novels by Andrew Huff , real-world action that reads like a movie (fast-paced, nail-biting!)

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The Maze Runner Series Complete Collection Boxed Set (5-Book) Paperback – Box set, August 29, 2017

• Print length 1952 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 7 - 9
• Lexile measure HL770L
• Dimensions 5.63 x 4.38 x 8.38 inches
• Publisher Delacorte Press
• Publication date August 29, 2017
• ISBN-10 1524771031
• ISBN-13 978-1524771034
• See all details

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About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Delacorte Press; Box edition (August 29, 2017)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1952 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1524771031
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1524771034
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 11+ years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL770L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.63 x 4.38 x 8.38 inches
• #12 in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction Action & Adventure
• #27 in Teen & Young Adult Dystopian
• #926 in Children's Books (Books)

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My Thoughts on Maze Runner Complete Book Series

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These are the books I ordered

Rhea Richard

Customer Review: Not printed correctly!

Customer Review: Not as advertised

Customer Review: Very disappointed.

About the author, james dashner.

James Dashner is the #1 NY Times Bestselling author of over a dozen books, including The Maze Runner series (movies by 20th Century Fox, now owned by Disney). He grew up in Georgia but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his wife and their four children. For more information on him and his books, events, etc., please visit jamesdashner.com.

Customer reviews

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 82% 12% 4% 1% 1% 12%
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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 82% 12% 4% 1% 1% 1%

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Customers say

Customers find the book ending really good. They also say the writing quality is well written and exciting to read. Readers say the book is great for all ages. Opinions are mixed on the pacing, characterization, and plot. Some find the characters rich and realistic, while others say they're not well developed.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book ending really good, great, and perfect for keeping all of the books together. They also say the quality is good.

" Great books and great series for a teen. Then they can watch some of the movies. :)" Read more

"...reading books and these were a set he really wanted - these books didn’t disappoint he’s been reading and very much enjoying them...." Read more

"...my daughter for her birthday I recommend it for all teenagers is amazing books ." Read more

"...Back to the books:The Maze Runner: This book is awesome and done really well. The book starts as a big mystery and just continues...." Read more

Customers find the book very exciting to read, well written, and interesting. They also say the books are worth the extra time, have plenty of action, and keep them hooked.

"...Really good subject matter that is exciting and interesting " Read more

" Fun reads , but I found the basic premises in the various books a little hard to swallow...." Read more

"...It makes you want to read more and leaves you on a cliff hanger and make you want to read the next book and the next...." Read more

"...very end of the last book, Dashner does something different and very interesting by taking you back in time to how it all started. Awesome idea!..." Read more

Customers find the writing quality of the book well written.

"... Well written , strong narrative, well developed characters, distinctive voices, excellent world building...." Read more

"Great set of books. And they were so great to read . Couldn't put them down." Read more

"...But, the story and characters are interesting enough, and well-enough written , that I keep coming back for more...." Read more

"...and pages are missing, as well as a group of pages we’re not cut and unreadable . Returned and tried to re-order, the exact same thing happened!..." Read more

Customers find the book great for all ages, teenagers into post-apocalyptic stories, and new to the series. They also say it's a great value.

"Great books and great series for a teen . Then they can watch some of the movies. :)" Read more

"...A great read for teens , young adults, and adults, and this series comes with a prequel story to the Thomas adventure which... YOU MUST READ if you..." Read more

"...You made me a fan. I'm happy your stories apply to all ages . Thanks so much. I cannot recommend you enough.Cheers!" Read more

"Let me say this: It's a great book series for teens . That being said, as an adult, I found the themes presented in the books very underwhelming...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the plot. Some find the series full of page-turning suspense, compelling characters, and a solid plot. They also appreciate the fairly short chapters and the book really makes you think. However, others say the ending is disappointing, the story lacks depth, and the evil gets too gruesome.

"...entire series and even at it's lowest points the series is full of page-turning suspense . I look forward to reading more from the author." Read more

"... Story gripped me instantaneously and I basically put everything on back burner until I inhaled all three novels...." Read more

"...many holes in the plot that never got filled in that the ending was just a total let down . I saw the movie in theatres and thought it was amazing!..." Read more

"...Action-packed with compelling characters and a solid plot , these books make a good read for anyone 12+...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the pacing. Some mention that the book starts off slow, but gets going. They also say the expositions are annoying and the shipping was a mess.

"Daughter was very happy with collection. Cried while reading, read all books fast ." Read more

"...based on the other reviews I have seen, but I can say that the shipping was fast and the price was great!" Read more

"...The Death Cure: The book starts off slow , but gets going...." Read more

"Product was great and shipping was super fast ." Read more

Customers are mixed about the characterization. Some enjoy the rich, realistic characters with distinctive voices. They also say the characters are well developed, but others find them not as well developed as they should be. They mention that there are few female characters and that basically everybody dies.

"...The story is full of memorable characters and has a fantastic setting unlike anything I've ever experienced in a book...." Read more

"...I found some of the lead characters far too philosophical . I can't believe most people in live-or-die situations are really like that." Read more

"...Well written, strong narrative, well developed characters, distinctive voices , excellent world building...." Read more

"...It had more progression to it and the characters were more likable ...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the emotional tone. Some find the book has thick emotions, a tense read, and sobering. They also cry while reading. However, others find the emotional development nonexistent and the book very depressing.

"Daughter was very happy with collection. Cried while reading , read all books fast." Read more

"...Anyway... 'Kill Order' proved to be strangely anticlimactic . General storyline is interesting enough but writing style is very sloppy at best...." Read more

"...The Kill Order has some of the most emotional writing I've read in a YA book, and once I'm done typing this review I'm going to download book five..." Read more

"...The emotional development was nonexistent , and the ways in which characters reacted to some situations didn't feel right to me...." Read more

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