The Maze Runner series ~James Dashner~

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?

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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?)

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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.