Number of Pages 375 Pages Genre Dystopian Fiction

Number of Pages: 375 Pages Genre: Dystopian Fiction Author’s Purpose: James Dashner wrote this book to explore some major themes. Themes like “what does it take to surivive? ”, “the importance of community and friendship”, and “the ethical and moral responsibility of science” are all explored in the novel. Fiction vs. Nonfiction The Maze Runner is a dystopian novel about a novel is aarework of fiction. It group of young boys. This (and one girl) who dropped into the “Glade”. The Glade is a follows a typical plot structure community of boys, all who have no memory of of exposition, their previous lives, who live inside a giant, rising action, unsolvable maze. Within this maze are giant climax, falling action, and half animal, half machine monsters known as resolution. “Grievers”, whose sting can be lethal. Since When it is not based Thomas arrives in the Glade, start to there go on realthings events, are no wrong. Then, when the only girl ever to arrive or other reference in the Glade, Teresa, pictures shows up, shouting cryptic messages and triggering strange events, materials thatthe one might find in boys have no choice but to fight to get out of a nonfiction book. the maze alive. The Maze Runner By James Dashner

Major Characters: • • • Thomas: Main character and protagonist; he leads the boys in their quest to leave the maze. Gally: Antagonist: he hates Thomas and claims to have seen him in memories. He does not want to leave the maze. Newt: One of the leaders of the Gladers. He helps Thomas and guides him throughout the book. Chuck: One of Thomas’s best friends, he is one of the first to befriend Thomas and the youngest of the Gladers. Getting him home to his parents is a huge motivation for Thomas. Teresa: The last person sent up in the box and the only girl in the novel. She helps Thomas crack the code of the maze. Final Evaluation: Theme: • How do people survive horrific events: While I did like this book, I did feel like. The boys must rely on each other and their there were some major plot holes in relationships to motivate them the story. The action was non-stop, and to survive. • The Importance of friendship: It I liked the characters, but sometimes is the relationships between the things would happen and I was not sure boys, and the need to protect why. I know this book is part of each a series, other, that motivates many of the boys. and hopefully some of my questions The Maze Runner Big Question will be answered in the. Connection: upcoming My Big Question, “how do people survive horrific novels. I would recommend this book events”, connects very clearly to this book. Thomas and to anyone who likes novels the boys must rely onlike each other, and their sense of community, to Games. overcome horrific obstacles. Divergent and Hunger

Works Cited Dashner, James. The Maze Runner. New York: Delacourte Press, 2009. Print.