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Kelsey Ford: From the Stacks: J. M. Ledgard's Submergence (0 comment)
Our blog feature, "From the Stacks," features our booksellers’ favorite older books: those fortuitous used finds, underrated masterpieces, and lesser known treasures. Basically: the books that we’re the most passionate about handselling. This week, we’re featuring Kelsey F.’s pick, Submergence by J. M. Ledgard...
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Maze Runner 01

by James Dashner
Maze Runner 01

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ISBN13: 9780385737944
ISBN10: 0385737947
Condition: Standard
DustJacket: Standard

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

A lost colony is reborn in this heart-pounding fantasy adventure set in the near future. Enter the world of the Elementals, which James Dashner called “completely gripping and full of intrigue, revelation, mystery, and suspense.”

 

Sixteen-year-old Thomas has always been an outsider. The first child born without the power of an element—earth, water, wind, or fire—he has little to offer his tiny, remote Outer Banks colony. Or so the Guardians would have him believe.

 

In the wake of an unforeseen storm, desperate pirates kidnap the Guardians, intent on claiming the island as their own. Caught between the Plague-ridden mainland and the advancing pirates, Thomas and his friends fight for survival in the battered remains of a mysterious abandoned settlement. But the secrets they unearth will turn Thomass world upside-down, and bring to light not only a treacherous past but also a future more dangerous than he can possibly imagine.

 

Written by an award-winning author, this dynamic series is perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers like James Dashners The Maze Runner and Marie Lus Legend.

“Plenty of action for readers who enjoy survival stories with a twist of the supernatural and a hint of romance.” –School Library Journal

“The novels captivating storyline, rapid pace, and cliffhanger ending are sure to leave fans of novels like Grants Gone series absorbed with the action and anxious for a sequel.” –Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Engaging characters and plenty of mystery, adventure, and action." -Publishers Weekly

 

Review

Praise for Elemental:

"Engaging characters and plenty of mystery, adventure, and action." –Publishers Weekly

Review

“Terrys world is remarkably like todays. . . . The romance and politics keep suspense ratcheted up. Intriguing—readers will be on tenterhooks for the next one.”

Review

Praise for Elemental:

"Engaging characters and plenty of mystery, adventure, and action." -Publishers Weekly

“Plenty of action for readers who enjoy survival stories with a twist of the supernatural and a hint of romance.” -School Library Journal

“The novels captivating storyline, rapid pace, and cliffhanger ending are sure to leave fans of novels like Grants Gone series absorbed with the action and anxious for a sequel.” -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Review

"Miller pens an enjoyable, fast-paced action novel that's full of danger, mystery, humor and violence, with lots of gross-out scenes and plenty of hairpin-turn plot twists that will keep readers guessing. An enigmatic page turner full of intrigue." -Kirkus

"This will grab teen readers just as Miller's Kiki Strike books grabbed middle-grade students. A thick, satisfying read that ought to keep readers up late." -Booklist

"Miller keeps every character grounded and believable, giving the story's horrors substantial impact. The resulting book often belies its cute title, in ways that will have readers racing to the end." -PW

"Miller has created a fantastic devil's snare, wherein the typical plotline of teens taking on a corrupt regime is given a new and exhilarating spin." -VOYA (starred review)

Review

“Terrys debut is a suspenseful page-turner with a highly sympathetic and strong female protagonist. A perverse sense of claustrophobic dread grows throughout the novel. . . . Will have readers waiting eagerly for a sequel.”

Review

“Debut author Terrys . . . treatment of medically induced amnesia is intriguing.”

Review

“Building on an intriguing concept, this novel offers readers a chance to consider the power of memory and the inescapable influence of one's past. . . . [Kylas] instincts and innate curiosity make for a refreshing change from the often overly naïve heroines of recent YA science fiction, and readers will enjoy watching her learn to be crafty in the face of danger and adult deception. What truly makes this novel stand out from the dystopian pack, though, is the well-crafted suspense. Layers of mystery . . . the shifting blend of half-truths, misdirection, and obfuscation heightens the suspense. . . . Readers will anxiously await sequels to come.”

Review

“A wonderful, fast-paced tale. It has a fascinating premise: treat juvenile offenders humanely by removing all thoughts that caused their misbehavior; but at what cost does that humane treatment come? This could definitely continue as a series.”

Review

"A high-octane thriller...the cinematic approach and constant action make this a satisfying page-turner."—Publishers Weekly

Review

"A thriller at its core... Massive explosions, deadly shoot-outs, and harrowing escapes make this an exciting read for boys."—VOYA

Review

"Car chases, explosions and action galore—awesome."—Kirkus Reviews

Review

"The cliff-hanger ending will have readers clamoring for the next installment in this exciting series."—Booklist

Review

"A sci-fi book that reads as fast as a locomotive—and the action is just as nonstop. Be forewarned  before you begin to read—you wont be able to put it down until the very last page.”—Examiner.com

Review

"This novel demands a sequel... a good choice for teen readers seeking action and thrills."—Library Media Connection

Review

Praise for FROZEN:

 

From MARGARET STOHL, New York Times bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures trilogy:

“De la Cruz and Johnstons FROZEN is as fearless as a futuristic Game of Thrones for YA readers - and equally addictive. This epic new take on classic sci-fi and fantasy is equal parts wild and wildly romantic. More dragons please!”

 

 

From ALYSON NOEL, New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals and Soul Seekers series:

“Like Lord of the Rings in reverse, with a dash of Ridley Scott's hard-boiled military fun, this swoon-worthy adventure is an original and thrilling escape that will break your heart and make it soar at the same time.”

 

 

From JAMES DASHNER, New York Times bestselling author of Maze Runner:

“FROZEN is the perfect mixture of everything I love in a book. It's hard to find the right words to describe how unique, and how fun, it was to read it. Humor, suspense, twists, and above all, originality. I was lost in the fascinating world of Nat and Wes. Highly recommended.”

 

 

FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

“Fans of The Hunger Games will no doubt enjoy sinking their teeth into this exciting book.”

 

 

FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS:

“De la Cruz and Johnston score a hit. The action soon accelerates and readers will find themselves completely immersed in the authors dangerous world. Lots of fun.”

 

 

FROM BOOKLIST:

“Their imaginative vision of the Remaining States of America (RSA) includes polluted oceans that have swallowed entire coasts, ruthless mercenaries, rigid class systems and magic. A dashing young mercenary guides Nat on a journey filled with gangsters, unethical government officials, and danger from every possible source. (For) the writers' many fans or those hungry for yet another post-apocalyptic future.”

 

 

FROM SEVENTEEN.COM:

“The mix of adventure and fantasy will have you addicted!”

 

 

FROM ROMANTIC TIMES:

“A one-sitting read. The world-building in Frozen is absolutely addictive. You'll really feel like you're traveling through this frozen, post-apocalyptic country (with) the setting, the realistic characters and the fast pace.”

 

 

FROM NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS:

“The well-paced action is taut, the characters diverse and finely drawn. And while this is a multiple book series, the ending of this first story is fully satisfying and doesnt leave the reader dangling until the sequel comes out.”

 

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An essay from Melissa de la Cruz:

 

Our Shared Homeland is Arrakis

The cab driver in San Antonio looks us up and down. With a smirk, he drawls, "You Army?" to my husband. "That how you met?"

 

I laugh, but inside I am furious at the Miss Saigon stereotype, that we had been mistaken for an American G.I. and his Asian bride. I write novels for teenagers, and we are in town for a library convention. "No," my husband, a bookish architect, answers. "We met in New York."

 

Truly, we never thought of ourselves as a "mixed race" couple. There were so many couples of similar diversity within our social circle that we had long ago stopped thinking of ourselves as different from each other. We both attended Columbia (he for graduate school, I as an undergraduate), we both thought the perfect Thursday evening was one spent at the "free admission" night at the Met or the Guggenheim, and most importantly, we both loved science fiction and fantasy novels.

 

As a teenager I devoured all six original "Dune" novels by Frank Herbert, a triumph even among science fiction aficionados, as the books get progressively dense and obscure after the first one. Mike had done the same, and did me one better: he had written a fan letter to the author. He had even received a reply from Random House. It read, "Your author is A) no longer at this publishing house B) unable to return fan mail C) deceased." "Deceased" was circled as Herbert had passed away in 1986, several years before Mike had written him.

 

Whatever differences we had seemed exotic and only made us more interesting to the other. Mike was from a blue-collar family from Kirtland, Ohio, a rural suburb of Cleveland, where his parents sent all four boys through the local public schools and rarely went on vacation. I had grown up in Manila, where my family had lived luxuriously, with a houseful of servants, chauffeurs and three-month-long European holidays. While my teenage years as an immigrant in San Francisco were distinctly more humble, I clung to the memories of my rarified childhood.

 

Mike grew up in a house that never locked its doors. I grew up in a house surrounded by armed guards and barbed wire. Weekends meant helping his dad around the house, whereas I only saw my dad on Sundays before his tennis game. His parents never went out to dinner as his mother cooked every meal. My parents owned several restaurants and even at home, had a private chef. His mother made pies from scratch. My mother taught me to plan catering menus.

 

It didn't seem like it would be a problem when we met. After all, we agreed on all the important things--that Robert Heinlen's "Starship Troopers" was a work of genius, that Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" was the best series ever written, that Piers Anthony's "Xanth" novels went deeper than their shallow light-heartedness. We were fond of both the "Stars Trek" and "Wars." The only point of contention concerned Tolkien's trilogy. I was a staunch resident of Middle-Earth while Mike preferred the "Dragonlance" series, a cheap knockoff in my opinion.

 

Then, we moved to Los Angeles, bought a house, had a baby, and we no longer agreed on anything. I planned to hire a nanny since my mother had done the same. Mike thought it was scandalous and indulgent as no one in his family had ever hired a caretaker for their children. I was adamant about stretching our housing budget to the limit, as my dad the former financier had taught me the most important part of one's financial arsenal was a solid credit line. "There's no such thing as cash, only leverage." But Mike's parents didn't use credit cards and the thought of carrying such a heavy mortgage caused him many sleepless nights. I reveled in hosting massive parties. Mike preferred a quiet house. I liked to spend; he needed to save.

 

Our differences, once so innocuous, became a wedge between us. My parents and sister's family had moved to Los Angeles, and as a dutiful Filipino daughter, I assumed we would spend every weekend with my family. Mike felt claustrophobic at the idea and spent Saturdays sitting sullenly in my parents' living room, his annoyance obvious to everyone but me. We hired my father to sell our apartment. We fired my father after he failed to sell it. Then we hired him again after our new real-estate broker tried to talk us into a fraudulent sale wherein the buyer would fix the price in order to scam money from the lender, and give us a kickback. My father finally sold the apartment, but not before feeling wounded at our disloyalty.

 

It was bruising to realize how truly different we were--in outlook, background, and philosophy. We landed on a therapist's couch two years ago after more than a decade's worth of bickering and resentment. We were convinced we had nothing in common other than our love for our child. Was there anything left to our relationship? There had been so many fights and insults hurled over the years that we could not remember what had drawn us to each other in the first place. We were strangers to each other, firmly entrenched in our separate camps, in the worlds that defined us before we had moved to New York to shed these very identities in the first place.

 

Therapy helped but it was through writing our fantasy novel that we found our common ground once more. It was a surprise to discover it was easy to talk to each other again, as we adopted a shorthand lingo crafted from our shared knowledge of classic science-fiction and fantasy: "That's sort of Bene Gesserit, isn't it? Maybe our wizard should be more like an Aes Sedai?" or "She's less like a Daenerys and more like an Irulan." or "So it's like the spice mélange, except it doesn't fold time and space." We could crack each other up by just uttering the word "KHAN!" at any given moment.

 

From there, we began to agree on other things--that maybe it was okay if we didn't visit my family every weekend, and that it was probably a good idea to put aside some money for retirement. That we were lucky to find such a loving caregiver for our daughter, whose employment in our household allowed us both to work.

 

Some things never change though. He's still trying to get me to read those Dragonlance books. Maybe I should. He might have a point.  —From The Huffington Post

Review

"Ducie skillfully builds tension and smears it with a liberal coat of blood and grime. Will's lurking suspicion that the Rig is hiding something leads to a supernatural reveal that will please dystopia and sci-fi lovers, ramping up the story's danger an excitement."

—Booklist

Synopsis

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.

Synopsis

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'sTeen 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 #1New York TimesBestselling Series
AUSA TodayBestseller
AKirkus ReviewsBest 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 asa fusion ofLord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, andLost. EW.com
Wonderful action writing fast-paced but smart and well observed. Newsday
A]nail-bitingmust-read. Seventeen.com
Breathless, cinematic action. Publishers Weekly
Heart poundingto 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 asexciting for readersnew to the series. Shelf Awareness, Starred
Take a deep breath before you startany James Dashner book. Deseret News"

Synopsis

A mysterious and powerful fantasy adventure from a Schneider Award winner

In the near future, most of the population of the United States has been destroyed by the plague. The few remaining survivors live in colonies on the barrier islands off the East Coast. In one colony near Cape Hatteras, almost all the members have elemental powers and can control wind, water, earth, and fire. All but sixteen-year-old Thomas. When the Guardians, the powerful adult leaders, are kidnapped by pirates seeking to take over their colony, it is up to Thomas and a small group of teens to save them and preserve the mysteries of the island.

Fast action, strategy, and mystery churn together into a bold and fresh fantasy from an award-winning author.

Synopsis

A Meth Dealer. A  Prostitute. A Serial Killer.

Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called

prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young

criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to

graduate. The rest disappear.

Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel

recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame.

They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will

they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?

Synopsis

Debut author Teri Terry has written a brilliantly compelling, original and thought-provoking novel about an uncomfortably plausible future.

Kyla has been Slated—her memory and personality erased as punishment for committing a crime she cant remember. The government has taught her how to walk and talk again, given her a new identity and a new family, and told her to be grateful for this second chance that she doesnt deserve. Its also her last chance—because theyll be watching to make sure she plays by their rules.

As Kyla adjusts to her new life, shes plagued by fear. Who is she, really? And if only criminals are slated, why are so many innocent people disappearing? Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self-preservation. She knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she cant let anyone see her make the wrong move . . . but who can she trust when everyone is a stranger?

 

Synopsis

The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

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 thirty 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.

Synopsis

Debut author Teri Terry has written a brilliantly compelling, original and thought-provoking novel about an uncomfortably plausible future.

Kyla has been Slated—her memory and personality erased as punishment for committing a crime she cant remember. The government has taught her how to walk and talk again, given her a new identity and a new family, and told her to be grateful for this second chance that she doesnt deserve. Its also her last chance—because theyll be watching to make sure she plays by their rules.

As Kyla adjusts to her new life, shes plagued by fear. Who is she, really? And if only criminals are slated, why are so many innocent people disappearing? Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self-preservation. She knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she cant let anyone see her make the wrong move . . . but who can she trust when everyone is a stranger?

 

Synopsis

“As fearless as a futuristic Game of Thrones.”— MARGARET STOHL, New York Times bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures trilogy

From Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston, the New York Times bestselling authors of the Blue Bloods and Witches of East End series.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

 

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say its a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, its a place where Nat wont be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

 

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all. This is a remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

 

Synopsis

Tate and his father dont exactly get along. As Tate sees it, his father has unreasonably high expectations for Tate to be the best—at everything. Tate finally learns what hes being prepared for when he steals one of his dads odd tech inventions and mercenaries ambush his school, killing his father and sending Tate on the run from aliens who look just like humans.

All Tate knows—like how to make weapons out of oranges and lighter fluid—may not be enough to save him as hes plunged into a secret interspecies conflict thats been going on for centuries. Aided only by his girlfriend and his estranged mother, with powerful enemies closing in on all sides, Tate races to puzzle out the secret behind his fathers invention and why so many are willing to kill for it.

A riveting, fast-paced adventure, Scan is a clever alien thriller with muscle and heart.

 

Synopsis

In the vein of great box-office blockbusters, the high-stakes romance here sizzles within this page-turning thriller that will leave readers feeling like they are flying through the streets of New York.

Cam has come to accept the rhythm of his life as a bike messenger: racing up and down the streets of New York City from one run to the next. With no family to rely on and a mountain of debts, at least its an honest way to help pay off his dangerous debtors. Cams whole world comes crashing down on him one day when he runs into a beautiful stranger. After falling out of the sky and wiping out Cam and his bike, she disappears before he can find out anything about her. When he starts to see her around town, he quickly realizes that she is part of an underground group of teens who have turned NYC into their own parkour playground—running, jumping, seemingly flying through the city like its an obstacle course. Cam becomes fascinated with the sport—and the beautiful stranger, Nikki. He falls in with the group, and they offer him the chance to make some extra money. But when the stakes become life or death, Cam is torn between following his heart and sacrificing everything to pay off his debts.

Synopsis

In this action-packed fantastically-imagined thriller, fifteen-year-old Will Drake has made a career of breaking out from high-security prisons. His talents have landed him at the Rig, a specialist juvenile holding facility in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. No one can escape from the Rig. But Will Drake likes a challenge . . .

Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Will Drake has made a career of breaking out from high-security prisons. His talents have landed him at the Rig, a special juvenile holding facility in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. No one can escape from the Rig. After hatching some escape plans—and making the first real friends of his life—Drake quickly realizes that all is not as it seems on the Rig. The warden is obsessed with the mysterious Crystal-X, a blue glowing substance that appears to give superpowers to the teens exposed to it. Drake, Tristan, and Irene are banking on a bid for freedom—but can they survive long enough to make it?  

Video


About the Author

James Dashner is also the author of the 13th Reality series. James was born and raised in Georgia, but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his family. After several years working in finance, he is now a full-time writer.

Kids Q&A

Read the Kids' Q&A with James Dashner

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What Our Readers Are Saying

Share your thoughts on this title!
Average customer rating 4 (3 comments)

`
lilianxcheng , July 12, 2012 (view all comments by lilianxcheng)
The Maze Runner thrives on the suspense and the fantastical setting. Just like Thomas, the protagonist, we are thrown into the Glade being just as (if not more) confused as him. The technology, the creatures, the absurdity of the situation was like a video game as we follow Thomas on his journey to solving it. The pace was fine, Dashner knows how to keep my attention with action. But one of the biggest issues are the characters: especially Thomas, who despite his bravery doesn't seem like a smart guy; he only "solves" the whole thing by relying on past memories. However, The Maze Runner is comprised with many surprising elements that draw me into the story, keeping me reading to find out how the pieces fit together. An exciting (even if dark) story of a group of teenagers trying to solve their way out of a dire situation. Plot: Thomas wakes up in an elevator and is led to The Glade, a town of only boys surrounded by a Maze. There are also monsters that lurk the Maze at night, so that nobody is allowed out of The Glade after the walls close. Every week, supplies are sent from the elevator, and every month a new boy is sent. There are different jobs: farmers, cooks, police officers, janitors, etc. And then there are the Runners, a group of elite Gladers sent to run in the maze everyday to find an exit. The Maze changes everyday, and for two years, an exit hasn't been found. Thomas feels strongly tied to being a Runner, but before think about it-a girl comes up in the elevator. Language: The Gladers have their own slang, which I suspect might be a way to bypass swearing for a novel targeted towards young teens. The abundance of strange words bogs down the story a bit and leaves me in complete confusion in the first chapter. The slang could have been used a bit less so the reader has a stronger grasp of what's going on. If anything, it sounded like the boys were using the slang to intimidate people. Gradually we begin to know what words stand for and it becomes less of a distraction. However, I am not sure why they start creating slang that makes them sound like cavemen even though they all know English. If you are fine with the slang in Moira Young's Blood Red Road, The Maze Runner's language won't faze you. Dark: There's no gore, but there are a LOT of deaths. Thankfully, their deaths usually don't arise from unnecessary fighting. The Gladers generally know they have to work together, and killing one of their own is just not helping the situation. Characters: I am confused as to why The Maze Runner is written in third person limited instead of first person. Obviously we can't have such a suspenseful story in third person omniscient: there wouldn't be any secrets if the narrator is supposed to know everything. We only get follow Thomas and knows what he knows, but the third person stance leaves me unable to understand Thomas. I want to know what is going inside his head. Because of the narrator, the other characters, although many of them likable, don't get enough depth. Thomas: Protagonist and one of the reasons why The Maze Runner has a slow start: it's because he SO CONFUSED, with so many questions. HOLD YOUR HORSES AND WAIT FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN, DUDE! Makes me want to yell at him to stop interrupting the story with his questions. He is like the annoying kid in class that doesn't know when to shut up. I know why his peers ignore him half the time now. It just might be a guy thing, or a sign of his natural curiosity. I applaud his bravery, his intelligence, but I expected more to solving everything than just remembering stuff. A bit of a let down to be honest. Despite his talkative, curious nature, his determined demeanor makes him a good leader--and one of his best traits. Teresa: Maybe my head was in the gutter, but one girl amongst like forty guys...wouldn't you be expecting them to procreate? Anyway, she still remains pretty much a mystery. I want to like her, but I don't know her. Thomas and Teresa share a connection, but whether it's romantic or not, I don't know. Minho: A supporting character and the Keeper of the Maze Runners. He is also my favorite character (maybe it's because he is Asian? I love supporting minorities.) Unlike Thomas, he is less optimistic, but a strong leader nonetheless. Newt: Despite the ridiculous nickname, he is a charismatic leader. He is more calmer one in the group. I definitely like him more than Thomas as well. Grievers: The "monsters" that make the Maze so scary. When they were first introduced I thought they were like gigantic buffalos (since they were ramming windows)...but it turns up they are just six feet long, mechanized, ugly slugs. Actually now that I imagine it, they seem ridiculous. I rather have a buffalo. They can kill, and sometimes sting to give someone flashbacks. I am puzzled with the flashbacks for they seem to be an intentional product of the Grievers. If it was intentional, they wouldn't be built with those needles in the first place, right? But if the needles were intentional, then why brainwash everyone? But if the flashback needles were un-intentional, why create the needles and stick them in the Grievers? Ending: GIVE ME MY ANSWERS! I'm feeling a bit cheated right now (even though I know it's a strategy to get me to continue the series.) The Maze Runner gives me these half-answers that don't quite tell me why people would waste so much time and money on such a elaborate maze. Do people have nothing better to do? SPOILER ALERT: So you waste two years conducting this thing when you could just gather them all to work together? Aren't more brains better than a few traumatized ones? (or worse yet, the murderous ones?) Overall, I did like the suspense, the world-building. But I am disappointed that my curiosity wasn't quenched: the answers given just left me with even more questions. I hope I will get some logical answers in the sequel, and all this stuff isn't just introduced for the heck of it.

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Jemima , November 17, 2009 (view all comments by Jemima)
Dashner has created a strange but believable world that captured my interest and kept me reading.The Maze Runner sets up a very suspenseful story with an end-of-the-world type theme. At first it seems that the action is confined to trying to solve a maze, but by the end of the novel the setting has broadened and new mysteries are hinted at. I look forward to reading the next installment and finding out what is going on. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspenseful science fiction and particularly to teenage boys: what with the heroic young male protagonist, the spots of blood and gore plus the mysteries to solve, it is a great choice for them.

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CC , November 16, 2009
An excellent YA novel and such a page turner! James Dashner has created an eerie blend of "Lord of the Flies" and "Hunger Games". I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced can't put down book.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780385737944
Binding:
Hardcover
Publication date:
10/06/2009
Publisher:
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
Series info:
Maze Runner Trilogy
Pages:
400
Height:
1.22IN
Width:
6.32IN
Thickness:
1.25
Series:
Maze Runner
Series Number:
1
Age Range:
12 to 17
Grade Range:
7 to 12
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2009
Series Volume:
01
Author:
Antony John
Author:
James Dashner
Author:
Joe Ducie
Author:
J. J. Howard
Author:
Sarah Fine
Author:
Walter Jury
Author:
Kirsten Miller
Author:
Teri Terry
Author:
Melissa de La Cruz
Author:
Michael Johnston
Author:
James Dashner
Author:
James Dashner
Subject:
Science fiction
Subject:
Amnesia
Subject:
General-General
Subject:
Visionary & metaphysical

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