Teen Librarian's review of The Maze Runner

After a slow start, James Dashner's upcoming novel "The Maze Runner" takes off as a twisty thriller packed with action and suspense. Let me set the story up first, since it is a bit high concept. Our teen hero Thomas suddenly wakes up in the Box alone, scared, and with no precise memories of his past life. Turns out the Box is a one-way elevator that regularly delivers one boy to the Glade, a protected area surrounded by towering walls, a complicated maze that shifts every night, and fearsome creatures known as Grievers. Although the Box brings memory-scrubbed boys ("greenies") and supplies from some unknown entity, it cannot be used for a return trip. The boys -- some of whom have spent years in the Glade -- have devised a well-ordered society complete with occupations governed by Keepers, council meetings, and strict rules to maintain order. Maze Runners (as their name indicates!) spend the daylight hours feverishly dashing through the Maze, mentally recording everything they see, so they can complete detailed maps each evening. When the Maze shifts overnight, they repeat the process the next morning, racing back at night to the Map House to draw new maps and compare the results. With no other visible means of escape, the Maze seems to be their only hope.

There are other complications. The Grievers are a hideous combination of oozing slug and mechanical nightmare, which I bet boys, in particular, will think are awesome. Although they typically emerge in the Maze only at night, a Griever's needle-like sting causes a boy to undergo a process called the Changing, in which memories of their former lives can be recovered. The toll, however, can be devastating, ranging from psychosis to death. Also, as an added bonus, sometimes the Grievers just shred you up into little pieces. Ack!

Shortly after Thomas enters the Glade, while he's still confused, bitter, and afraid, the Box brings forth its first-ever girl. Before entering a coma-like state, she delivers a warning that everything is about to change, and it sure does. The sun grays out, the walls fail to close at night, and Grievers start attacking the Glade with regularity. It looks like the Creators of the Glade and Maze want to bring their twisted game to a final climax ... one way or the other!

Before this happens, from the moment Thomas impulsively jumps through the still-closing walls to save two boys -- which means spending a night in the Maze with the Grievers -- the book jets off at a furious pace, which just about makes up for the slow first third. I appreciate how difficult it is to lay out a complicated mythology, to set up rules for your story's universe, but I found myself annoyed by the other boys' callous initial treatment of Thomas. Their continued refusal to reveal any substantive information about the Glade, Maze, or Grievers was frustrating as a reader. I also cringed every time Thomas repeatedly described the failings of his memory, which, again, brought the story to a screeching halt.

I worry that the draggy beginning might turn off male readers, particularly reluctant ones, which is a shame because the remaining two-thirds are as good as any teen lit out there today. Once the story finds its rhythm, we're treated to an entertaining mix of adventure, mystery, and sci fi with larger themes regarding the price of order, the consequences of punishment, and the morality of seemingly bad deeds. Plus, there are hidden codes, telepathic links, mysterious clues ("WICKED is good"), great bursts of ingenuity, and compelling examples of bravery, cowardice, and sacrifice. Although the obvious comparison here is to "Lord of the Flies," the final stand, in which a small band of boys decides to challenge the Creators directly despite being grossly outmatched, reminded me of the doomed heroism of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

In the end, we get a glimpse of the warped world outside the Glade and then a set of whiz-bang climaxes that set up another book. I, for one, am really looking forward to following Thomas through the next dystopian adventure, and I'm sure most readers will feel the same way. Despite the awkward start, I'd definitely recommend "The Maze Runner" to readers in grades 7 and up, especially boys. Although the characters use substitute curses ("klunk" being my favorite), some of the violence and darker themes might be a bit heavy for younger middle schoolers. Look for "The Maze Runner" in October!