Madison Meeks – Media Director 

mvm7037@psu.edu

Spoiler Alert

Science fiction, Dystopian, and post-apocalyptic. “The Maze Runner” is a science fiction, dystopian, post-apocalyptic novel written by James Dashner. “The Maze Runner” was released on October 6, 2009. The novel was later adapted into a film by 20th Century Fox in 2014. “The Maze Runner” has two prequel books “The Kill Order” and “The Fever Code.” The book also has two sequel books “The Scorch Trials,” “The Death Cure,” and “The Maze Cutter,” a novella “Crank Palace” has also been released.

“The Maze Runner” starts with one of the main characters, Thomas, waking up in an elevator that brings him into the Glade. The Glade is where all the teenagers have been placed, and it is surrounded by walls which are called the maze. Thomas has no memory of how he got there or who he is except for his name.

The Glade is run by Alby, with Newt as his second in command. Both are in charge of maintaining and enforcing simple rules. Every week the elevator rises from the ground and brings supplies like medicine, tools, and food. Every month the elevator brings a new boy who does not remember anything except his name. The question remains: What happened for them not to remember anything before they woke up in the elevator?

The walls that surround the Glade are made of concrete. The walls have an opening that closes every night to protect the teens from Grievers, which are creatures that live in the maze. No one knows very much about the Grievers. The Gladers are trying to stay alive and solve the maze, so they have members called “runners” who run through the maze and track where they are to try and find an exit to the maze. 

The day after Thomas arrives at the Glade, the elevator rises yet again, this time with a girl. The girl named Teresa is the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. She arrives with a note saying that she is the last person who will ever be delivered into the Glade. Theresa then goes into a coma. 

When Thomas goes to visit her, he recognizes her but does not remember anything about her except for her voice. When she wakes up, it is revealed that they knew each other before the Glade and that they can telepathically communicate with each other. Well, that was not in the movie! It is an important detail of the whole series and it did not make the movie. The movies are good even though they are missing a few important parts. 

Rant aside, Minho, one of the runners, and Ably go into the maze to see what they think is a dead Griever, but it is not. The Griever attacks and stings Alby. Minho tries to help Alby out of the maze and Thomas runs in to help just as the doors of the maze close. The three get stuck in the maze and Minho wants to leave Alby and look for shelter. Good friend right? Wrong! Thomas refuses to leave Alby and climbs the vines on the wall of the maze and attracts three Grievers’ attention. Minho then kills the three Grievers by leading them over a cliff. Thomas, Minho, and Alby are the first to survive a night in the maze. The next morning a meeting is held to discuss what to do with Thomas. Some say to punish him and others say to relieve him of punishment.

What will happen to Thomas? What about his telepathic connection with Teresa? Will the Gladers ever make it out of the maze? Find out these answers and more in “The Maze Runner.” This novel is so underrated compared to other popular young adult book series. “The Maze Runner” is perfect for people who like dystopian novels like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent.”