The Maze Runner series
is yet another series since The Hunger
Games that details a dystopian society and the turmoil therein. These books describe the journey of a
group of teenagers who are forced to enter a series of tests, at which time
they are evaluated in order to discover a cure from a disease known as the
Flare. These teenagers are originally trapped in a maze. They face their
deepest fears as they try and decode the secret to the Maze. Upon escape, they
are sent through the Scorch Trials, a laborious race to an uncontaminated
haven. The third book in the series describes the group’s internal battle
between discerning ally from enemy, life from death, and right from wrong.
My favorite thing about this series wasn’t even a thing, but
rather a person: Newt, labeled as ‘The Glue’ of the experiments. In the Maze,
he was the leader, and everyone recognized his gift of careful discernment. He
had been injured by a Griever monster, and barely escaped with his life. This
terrifying event traumatized him; yet, he did not give up. He fought through
the Maze and through his fear. In the end of the series, Newt understands his
capacity to kill so he sacrifices himself by requesting death. He is my
favorite character because he was created to embody one of the most important
themes in this series, “Innocence destroyed.” Yet, he revolts against the pressure
to lose his innocence, and even chooses death over fully embracing evil.
I had heard much about these books, mostly good reviews. The
author was exceptional at writing an air of horror and ‘creepiness’. (I even jumped a mile high once, so enwrapped in the story
I was.) However, I thought the writing style made the story difficult to
visualize, which effected the connection between myself and the characters. I
think about these books often, even though I finished reading them a while back,
and I think that’s because the themes in the books are so relative to struggles
I face.
Are the people I consider friends truly on my side? How should I react
to the feeling of betrayal? Will I still love my friends when they change?
~
Oh, and here’s a picture collage
thing of Newt that I found on abbiemarie1998.tumblr.com.
(Yes, I was too lazy to make my own and also, what could I make to compare to
this one?)
~
Oh, and I read the prelude, The Kill Order, and it sucked.
Yay: I now know the origins of the Flare.
Boo: What a horrid, sad, depressing, poorly-written prelude.
