What I'm Reading: The Maze Runner Series

Have you ever wondered how teachers spend their snow days? Do we lament the lost day of learning? Do we plan for what we need to do when the schedule gets back to normal? Do we take naps, or perhaps teach our dogs new tricks? The answer to all of these questions on this snow day for this teacher, is yes.  

But, I also spent some time working on book two in The Maisy Files, and I spent some time reading a new series that I'm loving.  The Maze Runner series by James Dashner is definitely not something that readers of The Maisy Files should be reading.  But, it's incredibly addictive.  

The narrator is the main character, Thomas, who has woken up in a new place with no memories.  The Glade is home to a bunch of boys and some deadly creatures who live in the mysterious maze.  We soon learn that the lives of the boys are centered around solving the maze that the "creators" have plopped them into.  They hope that solving it will be the key to their release from it.

With no knowledge about their past lives, the boys have created their own community in the Glade.  Each boy has a job and Thomas wants to be a runner in the maze.  Each day, the runners map the maze and compare it to the previous days' maps, because the walls move and it changes each night.  Things seems to be rather routine in the Glade. Every day, each boy does his job, the runners run the maze, and meals are eaten.  Until, one day, a new, unexpected person arrives, and everything changes.

Follow Thomas on his journey.  You will not be disappointed.  The book ends on quite a cliff hanger, though many questions are answered by then.  Luckily, book two can be in your hands immediately!  Personally, I'm enjoying listening to the audio book versions.  If you're a fan of audio books, you should give them a try.  The narrator does a great job! 

***Update*** I've completed the entire series and I thought the conclusion to the series was written very well.  The series consists of The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure.  There is a prequel, but I have not read that one.  The series takes the reader on such a twisting and winding journey that ensures everyone will be surprised multiple times.  Personally, I liked being surprised by multiple events in the story.  If you liked books like Divergent or The Hunger Games, you should give these a try!

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