Reviewed by G. Ritzke, February 2024
Thomas appeared in The Box. Not knowing where he was or why he was there, he’s suddenly thrown into a new life with his memory wiped. He’s with what they call themselves “Gladers” on a random plot of land with gigantic walls surrounding them. These walls make up a maze, in which only the Runners are allowed to be out there. After arriving everything seems the change in the Glade, like no more supply deliveries, and an extra “greenie” for the month. The longer he’s there he finds more information about the people, each “Glader” has a job, and they do it every day from sun up to sun down. Though Thomas finds out some information, it’s not enough to cure his curiosity of what the place actually is. After breaking the number one rule, not going into the maze unless you're a Runner, they discover something that might help them finally get out.
This book is full of new friendships, adventures, and expecting the unexpected. While figuring out where he is, Thomas also has to help the “Gladers” find a way out of the place they’ve been stuck in for years. This book is full of twists and turns, and nothing you’d expect. James Dashner creates a perfectly crafted book about the world gone wrong and what part these special characters have in helping to fix it. This is a very well-written and crafted book. I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and dystopian fiction world books. Don’t forget to read the rest of the series if you liked this one.