The Maze Runner, a YA novel by James Dashner

 

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Part I: Bibliographic information

Type: Novel, Series
Title: The Maze Runner
Series: The Maze Runner Trilogy

Writer: James Dashner

Copyright Date: 2009

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Type:  Fiction

Format: Book (

Genre: Young adult fiction

Subject heading: Amnesia, Juvenile fiction; Labyrinths, Juvenile fiction.; Cooperativeness, Fiction.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15 to 21

Characters: Thomas, Teresa,

Reading Level: Senior High School

Pages: 375

ISBN: 0385737947

Part I:  Reader’s Annotation, Plot Summary, Critical Evaluation

Reader’s Annotation -- An unknown entity has constructed an alternate reality is into which boys who have been robbed of their memories are randomly dropped to face a fight for their own survival.  The glade they are placed in is surrounded by a dangerous maze filled populated by flesh-thirsty beasts.  Newly arrivals Thomas and Teresa know they are key to finding a way to escape but the challenge pits them against the other Gladers and the beasts who populate the Maze.

Plot Summary -- The Maze Runner begins with the arrival of Thomas, the main character, into an arena where a game of sorts is underway that pits a group of young adults against horrific monsters that aim to kill them.  The community of youths is situated in a glade which is surrounded by a sophisticated three-dimensional labyrinth called The Maze.  The group consist of all boys, who arrive at random one per month, and each is assigned a role within a social structure that is created to establish order. Thomas knows right away that he want to be a Runner withi the Maze -- and the others laugh since no one immediately enters.  Many have been killed or poisoned into insanity by the beast, which are called Grievers.  Thomas is considered a Greenie as he is new to the situation, and others don’t trust him though all sense there is something special about him.

Fate soon intervenes and Thomas enters the Maze one night just before its doors close.  Though it violates the rules, he does so in order to save two other Runners who have faced a grizzly encounter that has them near death and with get out in time before the doors close for the night.  The other two realize this means certain death for all three of them.  But, due to Thomas bravado and will to survive the creature.

Thomas arrival is followed shortly but the arrival of the first a girl into the Glade.  He later learns she is named Teresa, and the two have know each other but the cannot remember from where or much about their past.  She has special visions and can send thoughts to him telepathically -- and, she is key to some knowledge about the Maze that may help them beat the Grievers and escape back to their previous existence.

There is tension among the Gladers who do not trust Thomas nor Teresa grows.  But Thomas enters the Maze again with the help of the lead runners who he has allied with and finds a few important clues -- including a message indicating that, “The Maze is a code.”  He also finds evidence that the entire arrangement is a set up by an outside entity that aims to test them in some way.  But few believe the Maze can be beaten and their fear of Thomas’ bold agenda grows.  The tensions lead to power struggle as the disturbed ones -- who have been poisoned by the Grievers in a process called the Changing -- begin to have visions of a tragic ending.  Thomas continues to believe he can help them all but he must fight both the Gladers who distrust him as well as the beasts that want to consume him.

Critical Evaluation -- The dystopian subgenre has reached its pinnacle within the Young Adult world with the tremendous popularity of The Hunger Games series.  In its footsteps comes The Maze Runner series by James Dashner.  While not so similar as to be a copycat series, the parallels are too obvious to not make the comparison.  In the not too distant future, a game of sorts is set up in which teens face a near impossible and potentially deadly scenario that forces them to fight for their own survival.  The challenge is one of physical prowess and strategy -- and in the process some there are some brutal and tragic deaths.  

It’s hard to fully explain the popularity of these works among young people other than to compare the genre as an offshoot of the ever-popular horror genre. Teens are drawn to the thrill of a scary situation -- and that’s been proven by the tremendous popularity of R.L. Stine and others.  These works also easily cross over from literature into popular entertainment and are often candidates for movie adaptations.  The Maze Runner has been optioned for a major motion picture to be released in early 2014 by 20th Century Fox (Dashner, March 6, 2013).  The books themselves are heavy on action and not deeply developed in terms of character.  But they continue to attract hordes of young readers, and The Maze Runner itself was recognized as YRCA pick in 2012, indicating strong reader appeal and a strong fan-base following for both the author and series.

The characters in this story form alliances in their struggle to survive the Maze.  They are also faced with the challenge of creating a social order that’s intended to protect them but also becomes a source of paranoia and conflict between the youths.  Insanity and selfishness creep into the mix -- and, Thomas, whose sense for beating the systems is stronger than with the others, becomes both idolized and demonized by the various factions.  The narrative is pushed forward as the stakes are raised from the outside and some kind of end to the status quo is foreseen and feels increasingly imminent.  The potential for death is ever present and this sense of impending doom maintains the tension within the otherwise fairly simplistic storyline.

Part III: Author Info

Dashner was an accountant by trade and only began his writing career later in life.  He is the father of four children and currently resides in Utah.  His website says that he grew up with a love for reading and wanted to be a writer though his early attempts were not great.  His influences include the Lord of the Rings series as well as the Narnia tales.  Like many young adult writers, he maintains a website and has blogged about his experiences in becoming a successfully published author.

In addition to the Maze Runner trilogy and it’s prequel, Dashner has  published several books with similar science fiction themes, including The Infinity Ring series that explores time travel; the 13th Reality series that creates an alternate universe based on 12 riddles to be solved; and, the Jimmy Fincher series, which aims at a slight younger reader (9-12 years old). (Dashner, 2013)

Part IV: Curriculum Ties, Diversity, Booktalk Ideas, Challenge Issues

Curriculum Ties, if any --  This book might be explored in conjunction with “The Lord of the Flies,” a novel that is often read in secondary English courses.  The interpretations that apply to the former could be discussed in the context of the later.  It might be a good assignment to compare and contrast the two works in an essay or other format.

Diversity of Cultures --  There seems to be some racial and cultural diversity within the characters. But there are no specific cultural references to speak.  Perhaps this reflects the loss of collective memory or simply that this matter is a non-factor in the story.

Booktalking Ideas -- This book might be discussed in the context of the meaning of “dystopian”.  The definition of genre in fiction could be explored and some characteristics of this now popular theme explored.  This could be followed by ideas why this genre has become popular with teens and what the reflects about our present social state.

Challenge Issues -- This novel has a fair degree of violence both between the boys and as an imminent threat from the Grievers, which grotesque monsters whose main function is to kill the boys. Some parents might find these images objectionable and they may not be appropriate for all readers.  However, the work is written for the young adult reader and themes are not any more graphic than other novels in this genre.  

Part V: Reasons Chosen

This 2009 novel was distinguished in 2012 with the YRCA middle reader award and recently has been optioned as a film to be released next summer. Frankly, I choose it because I see it circulating frequently and I wanted to know what it was about. It is the first of a three-book series (four if you include the recently released prequel) by up-and-coming YA author James Dashner.  For the reader who enjoys action-driven narrative with young adult characters, this series has immense appeal.  By Dashners’ own admission, the premise is reminiscent of “Lord of the Flies”.  But these works are placed in the not-to-distant future in which a mysterious game of survival is presented to a group of random young adults that have no idea why they were chosen.  While not the literary equivalent of its inspiration, “The Maze Runner” has a certain appeal in its dynamic interplay between the group of boys as well as it’s endless desire to move forward into an intriguing puzzle of a plot.  I included this novel because I think for certain reader-types -- mainly, teen boys -- this series will be likely to get them reading where other books might leave them flat.  It’s not too juvenile in in characters to attract an older teen reader but not so complex as to lose the reluctant ones.  The maze also rewards both savvy and athleticism -- traits that boys are likely to appeal to.  And, Dashner’s ability to create a vivid world within the confines of this prison environ is reminiscent of a game setting wherein the rules and keys to victory become an integral part of the reading experience.

Part VI: Citations

Dashner, J. (2009). The maze runner. New York: Delacorte Press.

Dashner, J. (2013, March 13).  Just Saying Hello. Blog entry.  Retrieved from http://www.jamesdashner.com/blog/

Dashner, J. (2013). Website. Retrieved from http://www.jamesdashner.com/books/