Title: The Maze Runner Series

- The Maze Runner (2009) - The Scorch Trials (2010) - The Death Cure (2011)

Author: James Dashner Publisher: Delacorte Press Reviewed by Mr. Mark E. Rodrigues Review:

The maze runner ★★★✩✩

Last year a student recommended this book to me. I think she did that

because of the film, which was released in 2014. It is a post-apocalyptic story

written in a style to attract teenagers who are interested in The Hunger Games

series. The Hunger Games is a great story for all our students, but The Maze

Runner will probably only be suitable for some.

The first book of the series builds up the story. The main characters don’t

know what is going on and neither do the readers. This can be a little bit

frustrating, but it does make you continue reading since you want to discover

the mystery. The more you read the more violence and horror is introduced

into the story. The maze is some kind of twisted, sick game made by people

only known as the ‘Creators’. They go through so much suffering in the book

and some beloved characters even die at the end, which makes me wonder

whether any girls would like this book.

There is only one female character in the first book and she isn’t

introduced until almost the end. The film may have been popular with girls

because of all the handsome boys but I’m not sure many girls would like this

book.

The Scorch Trials

★★★★✩

The story-telling is better and everything moves a

lot faster in this book than the first book, and there are

more twist and turns. It is set in a place called ‘The

Scorch’, which is much more terrible than the Maze.

There are horrible, sick human-creatures called ‘Cranks’ – which kind of

resemble zombies. There is much more violence – death and injuries – than

in The Maze Runner. At least the female/male character ratio is improved.

Many more female characters are introduced and a bit of a romantic love

story is hinted at.

At the end of every chapter there is usually a cliff-hanger, which makes it

a good book to read on the bus.

The death cure

★★★★✩

We finally find out why all these terrible things

are happening and more about the post-apocalyptic

world. The reason is just as horrible as all the things

that have happened to the main characters but it does

make sense and explains all those bad things.

The ending is kind of predictable but the finish of the series is exciting

and there are moments when you don’t want to put the book down.

The series as a whole is OK but if you want to read this you should like

books with A LOT of violence!